Metro: Every Game In The Series, Ranked

Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro series takes place in the dark, apocalyptic setting of post-nuclear Russia, telling the story of Artyom as he goes from a mere tunnel-dwelling resident of his station to a fearsome Ranger. Throughout the series, players can expect a blend of intense FPS action along with elements of survival and psychological horror. The games are known for being especially immersive in the FPS genre, combining stealth and strategy with insane set-piece moments and battles against supernatural mutants.

For fans of the original novels or realistic first-person shooters in general, the series is sure to provide its fair share of memorable experiences, along with a compelling story and a wide range of themes spanning philosophy, religion, politics, and more. Most of the games can be enjoyed by both casual and hardcore gamers alike, which has earned the series something of a cult following over the past decade since its inception.

Updated on April 17, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Metro 2039 has been revealed, and it should be out later this year. We added a section at the end of the article discussing the upcoming FPS game.

4

Metro Awakening

A Highly Immersive & Terrifying VR Experience

Metro Awakening is the latest entry into the series, and is unique in the sense that it is the only game in the series which requires VR. On top of being an exceptional technological achievement, the game does an incredible job at replicating the environments, creatures, and atmosphere of the original games. The story itself is a prequel to Metro 2033 and was written by the series’ original author, Dimitry Glukhovsky. Unlike the other games, though, it does not follow the journey of Artyom, and instead follows a station doctor named Serdar.

In addition to being an excellent VR experience, and arguably the most sophisticated VR game since Half Life: Alyx, it also expands on the game world in a meaningful way, exploring more themes of occultism and the supernatural, which are prevalent in the original novels. The only downside to Metro Awakening is the constraints it faces as a result of VR technology itself. Nonetheless, it still pushes the boundaries and is a worthy entry in the series.

3

Metro Last Light

A Perfect Sequel Expanding On The First Game

Metro: Last Light

8/10

Released

May 14, 2013

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Metro Last Light improved upon Metro 2033 in most ways. For some players, it is even considered the best game in the series, but as a standalone title, it is unlikely to make much sense to first-time players. Taking place between the events of Metro 2033 and Metro Exodus, the story follows Artyom as he is a more mature and established character and a member of the SPARTA Rangers.

Metro Last Light contains its fair share of memorable moments and has a more intuitive game design than almost any other title in the series. Most of the story takes place on the surface rather than in the tunnels, so the game has more of an action-oriented theme than the psychological survival-horror elements found in other titles. Metro Last Light is a great bridge between the more confined stealth gameplay of Metro 2033 and the surface-level exploration that features more heavily in Metro Exodus.

2

Metro Exodus

A Successful Pivot Into An Open-World Format

Shifting into more of an open-world format, Metro Exodus took a huge gamble by expanding beyond the confined environments and narrative-heavy focus of the original games. However, it was pulled off extremely well and retained the atmosphere of the original games while adding new elements, characters, and mechanics, all of which enhanced the experience. The game’s pacing does slow somewhat during the second act, but aside from that, it produces some of the most memorable moments in the entire series.

With Artyom in more of a senior leadership role by the time of Metro Exodus, it is arguably the best game in the series when it comes to the development of its characters and Artyom’s relationship with them. The varied environments keep gameplay dynamic, as players can use cars, boats, and even ziplines to make their way around the map. Metro Exodus still retains many of the survival elements present in other games, such as the need for gas mask filters and charging Artyom’s meager electrical light.

1

Metro 2033

The Iconic Original Holds Up Today As A True Masterpiece

Metro 2033

Released

March 16, 2010

ESRB

M // Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence

Based on the original novel by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033 is the series-defining title that tells the story of Artyom’s development from a mere tunnel-dweller in VDNKh into a battle-hardened traveler. The game also introduces the key factions, cultures, and creatures that remain present throughout most of the series later. Considering the game originally released over a decade ago, and the Redux version only alters the visuals, the gameplay holds up incredibly well and is one of the best stealth shooters around.

On top of having many of the best moments, characters, and perhaps the best storyline of the series, too, Metro 2033 also perfectly portrays the desperation of the people living in the game world. Guns and equipment are not as advanced as they are in later games, which can lead to extremely tense situations with uncertain outcomes. It is also possible to have multiple different endings, even though it is not explicitly mentioned. There is still plenty to discover, and that applies to both new and returning players alike.

The Future of Metro: Metro 2039

A new Metro game is on the horizon, with 4A Games targeting a Winter 2026 release. Garnering quite a bit of excitement for its reveal, Metro 2039 has the potential to be one of the year’s best first-person shooters, if not downright its best. The series has evolved from humble beginnings that barely drew any attention to countdown clocks that hype up the world in preparation for the next game’s showcase. Coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, Metro 2039 continues the franchise’s storied history of telling character-driven personal stories, all the while incorporating social themes like propaganda and influence from current events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As the Stranger, players step behind the mask of a person who lives beyond the city and the remaining survivors, and they are haunted by waking nightmares that are ripped from a horror game. For the humans that remain, decades of conflicts have subsided under the rule of a single leader named Hunter. Using fear to keep everybody under their control while speaking of a surface-level battle against otherworldly creatures, the Hunter is effectively a dictator.

While primarily cinematic rather than gameplay, the reveal trailer’s tone and visuals were deeply unsettling and atmospheric. Metro 2039 should be out by the end of the year, and who knows, could it be the greatest Metro game ever?