Do You Need To Play Metro Games In Order

Do You Need to Play Metro Games in Order?

So, you’re thinking about diving into the dark, gritty world of the Metro games? That’s awesome! But maybe you’re wondering if you need to play them in a specific order, like reading a book series. It’s a good question, and the answer is a little bit of a “yes, but also, not really.” Let’s break it down.

The Story So Far: A Quick Look at the Metro Timeline

The Metro games, based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, do have a connected story, and that story follows a general chronological order. Here are the main games:

• Metro 2033: This is where it all starts. We meet Artyom, a young man living in the Moscow Metro after a nuclear war.
• Metro: Last Light: This game is a direct sequel to 2033. Artyom’s journey continues, and the choices you make can really impact the ending.
• Metro Exodus: This one takes Artyom and his companions out of the Metro and into the vast, dangerous world above ground. It also serves as a direct continuation of the events of Last Light.

These are the main games in the series and each one adds something to the Metro Universe.

Why Playing in Order Is Recommended (and Why It’s Fun!)

Even though you could jump into any game, playing them in order makes the story much richer and easier to follow. Here’s why:

Character Development

Artyom, the main character, grows and changes throughout the games. He starts as a scared kid in 2033 and becomes a more experienced and thoughtful person by the end of Exodus. You see this progress, and that’s an important part of the experience. Jumping into Exodus first means you’d miss all of that development of Artyom. You also get to know and care about the other characters like Khan, Anna, and Miller. Seeing their stories unfold in sequence gives you a deeper connection to them and their struggles.

Story Progression

Each game builds upon the last one. Events in 2033 set the stage for Last Light, and Last Light leads to the events in Exodus. You’ll understand the political situation of the Metro, the threat of the Dark Ones, and the motivations of different factions much better if you play them in order. For example, understanding the post-apocalyptic world is crucial to really getting into the narrative of any of the games. Skipping ahead will make you feel like you’ve missed a chapter in a book, and you may have questions or feel lost about what’s happening.

Worldbuilding and Lore

The world of Metro, with its mutated creatures, strange anomalies, and different Metro stations, is amazing. Playing the games in order will help you appreciate how the world is built over time. Each new area you explore, each new creature you encounter, makes the world more immersive. Starting with the earliest entry, Metro 2033, helps you to see the full scope of Glukhovsky’s creation, because that is the start of the worldbuilding. You will get to see how the world changes through the series.

The Emotional Impact

The Metro games are not just about shooting monsters. They are about survival, human connection, and the choices we make in tough times. When you play in order, these emotional moments have a bigger impact. You will understand the character’s motivations better. Experiencing each game in order will also create a more emotional connection to Artyom and the people he meets and his journey. The series is full of great story telling, and playing the games out of order will lessen the emotional impact of the series.

Okay, But What if I Don’t Play in Order?

So, what happens if you decide to jump around? Well, it’s not the end of the world, but you might have a slightly different experience.

Playing Out of Sequence: The Potential Pitfalls

• Confusion: You may not fully understand the history between the characters, why certain factions are fighting, or what the deal is with certain creatures or events. This is the biggest issue, you may just end up confused by the story.
• Spoilers: If you play later games first, you’ll likely encounter spoilers for the earlier games. Some events are major plot points that are important to the series.
• Missing Character Development: You’ll not see how Artyom changes or learn his background. This will take away from the emotional aspect of the game series.
• Less Appreciation of Worldbuilding: The world is built up over each game, and you may not get to experience the full scope of this if you play the games out of order. You might not fully appreciate how the world evolved since the beginning.

Starting with Metro Exodus

It’s likely that you will find starting with Exodus the most confusing. This game is much more open than the first two, and is a direct continuation. Playing this first will be a jarring experience, and you may want to quit the series all together. So, I would advise against starting with Exodus, if you can.

The ‘Enhanced Editions’: What You Need to Know

There is also the fact that there are the enhanced editions of the first two games. These are not separate games, but enhanced versions of them. Metro 2033 Redux and Metro Last Light Redux are both enhanced version with better graphics and gameplay. Both of these games are remasters of the first two games in the series. So if you haven’t played the games, it’s better to go with the “redux” version of them, to get the best experience possible, if you don’t already have the original versions. Metro Exodus is not a “redux” game and does not have a remastered version.

So, What Should You Do?

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide:

Playing in Order

• Benefits: Best story experience, understand characters and lore better, emotional impact.
• Who Should Do This?: Newcomers to the series, people who love stories, those who enjoy character development.

Not Playing in Order

• Benefits: You can jump right into the one that interests you most.
• Who Should Do This?: People who have played the games before, people who only care about the game play, people who don’t care about the story much.

However, even if you don’t care about story that much, I would still advice that you play the games in order, especially if it’s your first time experiencing the series.

A Possible Path Through the Metro Series

Here is what I think is the best way to experience the series, if you are playing them for the first time.

1. Metro 2033 Redux: Begin your journey with the game that started it all. This will set up everything you need to know about the world and the story.
2. Metro: Last Light Redux: Continue the story with this direct sequel, which greatly expands on the characters and the lore.
3. Metro Exodus: This will be your last stop and allow you to complete Artyom’s journey. You will get the maximum emotional impact if you play the games in order before playing this game.

This will give you the complete story in order and offer the best emotional experience of the games. You don’t have to play the games in order, but I would always recommend it.

Ultimately, It’s Up to You!

In the end, the choice is yours. If you are mainly interested in the shooting and gameplay, then it is possible that it won’t matter. However, I would always recommend that you play them in order. Just be aware that you’ll have a richer experience if you start with 2033 and then move forward. Have fun venturing into the Metro! It’s a wild ride, no matter which order you choose.

So, if you’re planning on giving the games a go for the first time, then follow the order I laid out. That will give you the best experience with the game series.