Last updated on July 21, 2025
If you love games with deep atmosphere, tough choices, and an unforgettable story, the Metro series is a must-play. Inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels and developed by 4A Games, these titles drop you into a post-apocalyptic Moscow, where survivors cling to life in the metro tunnels after nuclear war has erased the world we knew.
With four main games released by 2025, the Metro universe is rich and immersive—but if you want to experience the story without missing a beat, it’s best to play them in the right order. Here’s how to dive in for maximum impact.
The Best Metro Game Order for Story
To follow the events as they unfold in-universe, play the games in this order:
Metro 2033 (March 16, 2010) – Where it all begins, introducing you to Artyom’s journey through the dangers of the metro and the surface.
Metro: Last Light (May 14, 2013) – Continuing Artyom’s story, exploring the aftermath of his choices and a looming new threat.
Metro Redux (August 26, 2014) – A remastered bundle of the first two games, featuring improved visuals and gameplay. No new story here, but ideal for newcomers or fans wanting a fresh look.
Metro Exodus (February 15, 2019) – A bold evolution, taking you outside the metro and across a devastated Russia, with new gameplay and narrative depth.
Metro 2033: Where the Story Starts
Metro 2033 is a first-person shooter with a strong survival horror focus, developed by 4A Games and based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novel. You play as Artyom, navigating the tunnels—and occasionally the ruins—of a post-apocalyptic Moscow, 20 years after a nuclear war left the city uninhabitable on the surface and the metro the only refuge for humans.
Gameplay Essentials
Not Just a Shooter: Metro 2033 blends action with survival horror, often encouraging you to sneak past or flee from danger rather than fight everything on sight.
Resource Management: Ammo is scarce and doubles as currency—spend it wisely at stations or use it for extra firepower. Scavenging for supplies and managing your gas mask filters, batteries for your flashlight, and med-kits is essential.
Weapons: The game features a mix of makeshift and real firearms, each with its own ammo type—from revolvers and AKs to heavy homemade guns and silent throwing knives.
Diverse Enemies: Human factions and terrifying mutants, including the mysterious Dark Ones, provide varied combat and stealth challenges.
Atmosphere: The metro tunnels are dark, claustrophobic, and filled with tension—rarely offering a safe moment. Above ground, radiation and monsters make exploration dangerous.
Metro: Last Light — Tough Choices, Even Tougher Consequences
Metro: Last Light picks up immediately after the harrowing events of Metro 2033, raising the stakes and questions at every turn. You now step into the shoes of Artyom as a fully-fledged Spartan Ranger. His new mission: track down and eliminate the last surviving Dark One. But, in classic Metro fashion, the lines between right and wrong blur quickly — in a post-nuclear Moscow where rules have vanished, morality itself seems up for debate.
Last Light intensifies the emotional and psychological weight of the series:
Direct Sequel: The story directly continues Artyom’s journey, exploring the aftermath of his previous choices and interactions.
Dilemmas Everywhere: What’s right? What’s wrong? The game constantly challenges your sense of justice and morality. In a world with no laws, every decision carries immense weight.
New Features: Expect new weaponry, a more cinematic storyline, and gameplay mechanics that push immersion even further.
Unforgettable Moments: From shocking story reveals to powerful moral crossroads, Last Light delivers memorable, hard-hitting scenes that stick with you long after the credits roll.
If you enjoyed the tension and world-building of Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light promises an experience you’ll remember for a long time—deeper choices, better visuals, and a post-apocalyptic journey full of surprises and consequence.
Metro Redux — The “Definitive” Edition for Newcomers
Metro Redux is the ultimate entry point for players new to the series or anyone looking to revisit the Metro universe with a modern touch. This bundle brings together both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light, but with a twist—everything has been visually overhauled and gameplay options have been expanded to suit every type of player.
- Remastered Graphics: Both games are rebuilt using the advanced engine from Last Light, offering upgraded visuals, atmospheric lighting, and sharper details that truly bring post-apocalyptic Moscow to life.
- Extended Content: Redux isn’t just a fresh coat of paint. Think of it as watching the director’s cut of a film in ultra-high resolution—complete with all the DLC, bonus missions, and extended scenes for a more complete experience.
- Customizable Difficulty: Choose from a wide range of difficulty and play style options, from a survival-horror approach with scarce resources to a more action-focused, forgiving mode—making it accessible for veterans and beginners alike.
- Updated Gameplay Mechanics: Enjoy improved controls, AI tweaks, and smoother performance, eliminating some of the rough edges of the original releases.
In short, Metro Redux lets you experience the first two entries of the series as they were meant to be played—fully realized and immersive, perfect for both newcomers and longtime fans wanting the best version possible.
Metro Exodus — Emerging Into a New World
Metro Exodus completely changes the pace of the series. After years spent in the claustrophobic tunnels beneath Moscow, Artyom and his companions break free, leaving behind the ruins of the Metro aboard the Aurora, a powerful steam locomotive. Their goal: to journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in search of a new beginning and, perhaps, hope.
This installment stands out for several reasons:
Open Environments & Exploration: Exodus replaces tight tunnels with expansive, open areas. You’ll traverse forests, deserts, and rivers—all rendered with remarkable detail and realism.
Dynamic Seasons & Visuals: The journey spans an entire year, letting you experience spring thaws, scorching summer sands, and frozen winter landscapes. Stunning graphics and weather effects immerse you at every turn.
Deep Choices & Consequences: Your decisions carry even greater weight, influencing the fate of your crew and shaping the ultimate outcome of the story. The narrative is packed with emotional twists, moral dilemmas, and unforgettable revelations.
Award-Winning Acclaim: Metro Exodus is widely celebrated as one of the decade’s best games, having been nominated for over 10 major gaming awards.
Whether you’re drawn to its next-level visuals, branching storylines, or the hope-filled adventure that pushes Artyom beyond the darkness of the tunnels, Metro Exodus delivers a bold, fresh chapter—perfect for fans eager to see what lies beyond the Metro.
Is the Metro Series Worth Playing?
Absolutely. If you want a shooter that offers far more than just “run and gun,” the Metro series is a perfect pick. These games deliver:
A Deep, Gripping Story: Each title dives into a richly imagined post-apocalyptic world inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels.
Well-Developed Characters: You’ll meet complex heroes and morally grey survivors whose fates shift based on your choices.
Real Consequences: In Metro, decisions matter. Your actions echo throughout the story, impacting both the world and its people.
Atmospheric Gameplay: Expect tense exploration, relentless mutants, and the constant weight of limited resources.
Now that you know the optimal playing order, you’re set for one of gaming’s most immersive journeys—where survival is earned, characters linger with you, and every tunnel could lead to hope or horror. For gamers craving a narrative-driven FPS that truly makes you think, Metro is a must-play experience.
