If you’re new to the Metro franchise and want to know the order to play the games, here are all the Metro games in release and timeline order.
Whether you want to play them based on when they released, or how the stories go in the timeline, we’re here to help. Let’s go over these two orders.
The Metro games in timeline and release order
This post-apocalyptic franchise of video games is based off of the novels by the Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky. While other authors followed with other Metro books, the Ukrainian game studio 4A Games developed them into video games. Luckily, the games are in the same release and timeline order, which makes everything a lot simpler.
Metro 2033
This is the first game both in the series and in the timeline. It’s the year 2033, as you’d expect from the title, and released in the year 2010. Metro 2033 is a survival horror FPS based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s first novel Metro 2033. Essentially, you play as Artyom, one of the survivors of a nuclear war who now lives in Moscow’s Metro tunnels.
Struggling for survival, you must face off against mutated creatures to save the other survivors. These creatures are called “Dark Ones,” and the further you get in the game, the more deadly they become. As a reminder, you’ll want to buy Metro 2033 Redux, which is the remastered version released in 2014.
Metro: Last Light
The second game in the series takes place a year after Metro 2033, which is the year 2034. The last remnants of life remain in the tunnels of Moscow Metro, and you’ll be playing as Artyom once again. You’re now tasked with exploring and delving further into the metro system.
You’ll be facing off against more Dark Ones and opposing factions. Releasing in 2013, Metro: Last Light is a direct sequel to Metro 2033 and takes place right after it. Just like the first game, Metro: Last Light Redux came out in 2014, so pick up this remastered version.
Metro Exodus
Releasing six years after its predecessor in 2019, Metro Exodus is a sequel to Metro: Last Light and takes place in the year 2035. You’ll be in Artyom’s shoes for the third time as you and the other survivors must flee the Moscow Metro system.
Your journey will take you across Russia on Aurora, a train that continuously grows as you recruit more survivors and get through the game. So, for the best experience, you should play Metro 2033 Redux, then Metro: Last Light Redux, and finally Metro Exodus for the third and final installment.
