What Order To Play Metro Games

What Order to Play Metro Games

So, you’re ready to dive into the dark and dangerous world of the Metro games? That’s awesome! But wait, with three main games and a couple of smaller experiences, figuring out where to start can be a little confusing. Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you through the tunnels and help you experience the story in the best possible way. The Metro series is known for its gripping storytelling, creepy atmosphere, and intense action. Playing them in the right order really lets you understand the bigger story and how the world changes. Let’s get started!

The Chronological Order: Experiencing the Story as it Unfolds

The most common and recommended way to play the Metro games is in chronological order. This means playing the games in the order the story happens. This allows you to see the characters grow, understand the world’s history, and appreciate the subtle details that connect each game. Here’s the order you should follow:

Metro 2033

This is where the journey begins. In Metro 2033, you step into the shoes of Artyom, a young man living in the Moscow Metro after a nuclear war devastated the surface. He’s tasked with a crucial mission, venturing into the dangerous tunnels and facing off against both mutants and human factions. This game introduces you to the world, the characters, and the core gameplay mechanics. It’s the perfect start to your Metro adventure. You’ll learn about the different stations, how the Metro functions as a society, and what makes this post-apocalyptic world tick. It’s important to play this first to really get the base understanding of the Metro universe. You’ll see the beginning of the conflicts and learn about the different kinds of enemies, both mutated and human. Remember that Artyom starts here as a young and quite inexperienced individual, and you’ll experience his growth throughout the series.

• Introduces the main protagonist, Artyom.
• Establishes the core gameplay and mechanics.
• Sets the stage for the Metro world and its lore.

Metro: Last Light

Following directly on from the ending of Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light continues Artyom’s story. This game expands the world, introduces new factions and conflicts, and gives you a deeper look into the characters you met in the first game. It also improves upon the gameplay, with more diverse areas to explore and a bit more freedom in how you approach situations. Last Light takes the story to a new level, exploring more of the surface world and the secrets it holds. There are new threats to encounter and a lot more depth into the philosophical questions of humanity and survival. If you are playing in order you will definitely be captivated to see the story unfold in this title. You’ll also learn the consequences of the decisions that you made in the first game, which further enhances the experience.

• Continues the story of Artyom and introduces new characters and enemies.
• Expands the gameplay with new areas and more freedom.
• Delves deeper into the themes of morality and survival.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus marks a significant change in the series. While previous games focused on the claustrophobic tunnels of the Metro, Exodus takes you out into the vast and varied landscapes of post-apocalyptic Russia. Artyom and his Spartan companions embark on a continent-spanning journey aboard a train called the Aurora. This journey brings you to new locations, lets you experience different cultures, and provides a great conclusion to the trilogy. It is very important to experience the previous games before diving into this one because it will allow you to appreciate the story and character development to its fullest potential. The gameplay is also changed a lot in this title, as you have new crafting systems, and more open environments to explore, making it a fun game to play even if you did not play the previous games. It also provides a great conclusion to the journey that you began in Metro 2033.

• Features open-world environments for exploration.
• Continues Artyom’s story with a new chapter.
• Introduces a crafting system and new survival challenges.

Why Chronological Order Matters

Playing the games in chronological order offers several key advantages:

• Story Cohesion: You’ll experience the story as intended, allowing you to appreciate the growth of the characters and understand the connections between games. The games have a single overall arc, and experiencing them in order will maximize the enjoyment of the narrative.
• Character Development: Witness Artyom’s evolution from a young man on a mission to a seasoned survivor. You’ll also see how other characters react and how their personal journeys fit into the bigger story.
• World Building: Each game reveals new aspects of the Metro world, slowly building a richer and more detailed picture. You’ll better understand the history, factions, and the unique challenges of this post-apocalyptic universe.
• Gameplay Progression: The gameplay mechanics gradually improve over the course of the series. Starting with Metro 2033 will make you appreciate the refinements introduced in Last Light and the complete overhaul in Exodus.
• Emotional Impact: The emotional payoff of the story is most felt when playing in order, seeing the consequences of previous games unfolding, and the characters growing and changing over time.

Alternative Play Order: Exploring Other Options

While chronological order is the recommended route, there are some other possibilities that you might want to consider:

Release Order

Playing in release order would mean experiencing the games as they were initially presented to players. Here’s how it would look like:

1. Metro 2033
2. Metro: Last Light
3. Metro Exodus

As you can see, the release order is exactly the same as chronological order for the main titles. This means you get the same advantages of experiencing the story and the game mechanics as they were intended by the developers. Release order can add an extra layer of appreciation for the improvements made in each game, and see how the technology and design of games improved.

Starting with Metro Exodus

Some players are tempted to start with Metro Exodus because of its more open world gameplay and impressive graphics. While it’s a great game, starting with it can take away from the experience if you have not seen the previous games. You may be overwhelmed by the lore and not fully appreciate the history of the characters. Also, some of the gameplay changes in Exodus might not be as enjoyable without having the context of Metro 2033 and Last Light.

• You may miss out on character and world building.
• Gameplay changes may not be fully appreciated.
• Story will lack the emotional weight it has when experienced in order.

Should You Play the DLC?

The Metro games also have story-based DLCs that enhance the overall experience. It is recommended that you play them after completing each of the base games.

For Metro 2033, there are no story DLCs, so just move on to Metro: Last Light when you complete this game

For Metro: Last Light, play the story-based DLC after finishing the base game.

For Metro Exodus, the story DLCs should be played after you complete the main story, because they provide a great conclusion to the game.

Here is a list of the DLC and when to play them:

• Metro 2033: No Story DLC
• Metro: Last Light:
  • The Faction Pack
  • The Chronicles Pack
  • The Tower Pack
• Metro Exodus:
  • The Two Colonels
  • Sam’s Story

Each of these DLC adds to the lore and story by providing you with new perspectives from other characters in the series. The DLC for Last Light introduces interesting challenges and new ways to experience the world, and the DLC for Exodus provides new perspectives on the setting.

A Few Extra Tips

• Difficulty Settings: Don’t be afraid to adjust the difficulty to match your experience. The Metro games can be tough, so choose a setting that lets you enjoy the game without being overly frustrated.
• Explore Carefully: Take your time to explore the environments, as you’ll often find hidden resources and even bits of story.
• Listen to the Dialogue: The games have great dialogue, and paying attention to what the characters say will add to your enjoyment of the story.
• Conserve Resources: Ammo and other supplies are limited, so you’ll need to manage your inventory carefully.
• Stealth is Key: Often, the best way to get through encounters is by being stealthy rather than going in guns blazing.

By following these tips and playing in chronological order, you’ll have a fantastic experience with the Metro series. So go out there, explore the dark tunnels, and survive in the post-apocalyptic world!

Ultimately, the best order to play the Metro games is the one that fits your preferences. However, for the optimal story experience, the chronological order provides the most immersive and rewarding play through. You’ll get the whole story, the characters will develop as they are supposed to, and you will feel all the emotions the developers intended you to feel.