Metro 2039
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Metro 2039 launches on Feb 4, 2027Date announced, hour not: 4A Games and Deep Silver have given no launch hour as of Nov 3, 2026, so this counts to the start of the day in UTC. Some territories, including Asia, Australia and New Zealand, get it on Feb 5, 2027.

3Months0Days

Where to Start with Metro

You do not need to play any earlier Metro game before Metro 2039: Deep Silver calls it a good jumping-on point with a new hero and cast. For the background, start with Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux, then Metro Exodus; Exodus alone is the shortcut.

Start with Metro 2039 itself if you like: Deep Silver's FAQ answers "Do I need to have played previous METRO games?" by calling it "a good jumping on point for new fans", with a new protagonist and a new cast, and with ties to the existing universe for longtime players. If you want the background first, the usual path is Metro 2033 Redux, then Metro: Last Light Redux, then Metro Exodus, about 35 hours of main story by HowLongToBeat's figures; the shortcut is Exodus alone, the game whose opening Metro 2039 follows four years on. The clip is IGN's Aug 2026 first preview, from a pre-release build.

Quick facts

Need to play earlier games for Metro 2039? No (Deep Silver's FAQ)
Best first game for the whole story Metro 2033 Redux
Shortcut Metro Exodus
Redux or original? Redux, the version on current stores; the 2010 and 2013 originals are on GOG
Story so far in one page Deep Silver's "The Metro story so far"
Main stories, 2033 Redux + Last Light Redux + Exodus About 35 hours (HowLongToBeat, Nov 3, 2026)
Metro 2039 out Feb 4, 2027

Sources: Deep Silver: Metro 2039; Deep Silver: The Metro story so far; HowLongToBeat: Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux and Metro Exodus, Nov 3, 2026; 4A Games, May 14, 2026.

Do I need to play Metro before Metro 2039?

No. Metro 2039 tells an original story from 4A Games, not a direct sequel to one game, and its hero, The Stranger, is new. Artyom is not the protagonist, and GamesRadar+ reports that "Artyom and the band of Spartan Rangers he led beyond the outskirts of Moscow aren't coming back". What returning players will recognize is the villain: Hunter, the Spartan from Metro 2033, now rules the Metro as Fuhrer of The Novoreich, and the regime's creed is his old line "if it's hostile, you kill it". Metro 2033 is the game that explains why that matters. The clip is ACG's Aug 2026 hands-on preview of a pre-release build.

For a quick catch-up without playing, Deep Silver keeps The Metro story so far on Metro 2039's own site, and this viki's Metro Lore, Metro Characters and Metro Factions cover the world.

Path 1: everything, in order

Play Metro 2033 Redux, then Metro: Last Light Redux, then Metro Exodus and its two DLCs. This is release order and, apart from the Metro Awakening VR prequel, story order too (Metro Games in Order). HowLongToBeat players report main stories of 9 hours for 2033 Redux, 10 for Last Light Redux and 16 for Exodus, as of Nov 3, 2026, with 2 for The Two Colonels and 5.5 for Sam's Story (How Long to Beat Metro). It ends with Artyom's group leaving Moscow, the moment Metro 2039 is set four years after.

The Redux pair is the cheapest and easiest way in. 4A said many players first met the franchise through Redux, and both games got a free Next-Gen Update in Oct 2026, native on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (Metro 2033 Redux).

Path 2: Metro Exodus first

If you have time for one game, play Metro Exodus. It is the newest mainline game, the best seller of the series with over 10 million copies by Feb 2024, and the closest to Metro 2039 in its systems: backpack crafting, Workbenches and weapon customization all return in 2039, by the previews of a pre-release build. What Exodus will not teach you is the Metro of the tunnels and the bullet economy, which Metro 2039 goes back to (Military-Grade Ammo). On PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, play the free Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition. The clip is GameSpot's Aug 2026 preview of a pre-release build.

Path 3: the books or the VR prequel

Metro Awakening (2024) is a VR prequel set in 2028 about the origin of Khan, written by Glukhovsky; it needs a PS VR2, Meta Quest or PC VR headset and is optional for Metro 2039. The novels, Metro 2033 (Novel), Metro 2034 (Novel) and Metro 2035 (Novel), tell a related but different story from the games; Metro 2039's store copy calls it "inspired by" Glukhovsky's trilogy. Start there only if you would rather read than play. The clip is Push Square's review of Metro Awakening on PS VR2.

Metro Redux or the originals?

Play Redux unless you want the games exactly as they were. The originals of Metro 2033 (2010) and Metro: Last Light (2013) are no longer sold on Steam, and GOG brought them back on May 14, 2026 as preservation releases. Redux keeps each story and its levels, includes all of Last Light's DLC, and adds a choice of two play styles: Spartan, combat-focused, and Survival, a slower survival horror with scarcer resources. The modes are on Metro Difficulty Modes. The clip is Digital Foundry's 2014 comparison of the original Metro 2033 on Xbox 360 with Metro 2033 Redux on Xbox One.

Deep Silver's Huw Beynon gave one piece of advice in 2013 that still holds: "We do not recommend Ranger Mode for a first playthrough".

What is the best Metro game?

Critics and players disagree only a little. On Metacritic, as of Nov 3, 2026, the highest scores are Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition's 85 on PC, Metro Redux's 84 on PC and Xbox One, and Metro: Last Light's 82 on PC, with Metro Exodus at 82 and Metro 2033 at 81. GameSpot gave Last Light a 9, above the 8 it gave Metro 2033, Metro Redux and Metro Exodus. Steam players rate the original Metro 2033 highest, 91% positive, ahead of the Redux games at 88% and Exodus at 87%. Game Informer said Last Light "fixes most of its predecessor's flaws". Those are the published views; there is no single answer.

How to play Metro 2039 as a newcomer

The developers' own advice, given to IGN after the Gamescom 2026 demo of a pre-release build: "Do not be afraid to explore" (creative director Andriy Shevchenko), do not rush and sprint only when you must (Pavel Ulmer), and "Metro is a slow burn" (executive producer Jon Bloch). The systems are on Metro 2039 Gameplay.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to play the old Metro games before Metro 2039? No. Deep Silver's FAQ says Metro 2039 is a good jumping-on point for new players, with a new protagonist and cast, while returning fans get ties to the existing universe.

Which Metro game should I play first? Play Metro 2033 Redux first for the whole Metro story in order, or Metro Exodus alone if you only have time for one game before Metro 2039.

Should I play Metro Redux or the original games? Metro Redux is the better start for most players: it is the version on current stores, includes Metro: Last Light's DLC and adds the Spartan and Survival play styles; the originals are on GOG for preservation.

Is Metro 2039 a sequel to Metro Exodus? Metro 2039 is set four years after Artyom and the Spartans leave Moscow at the start of Metro Exodus, but Deep Silver calls it a brand-new original story with a new hero, the Stranger.

What is the best Metro game? By Metacritic as of Nov 3, 2026, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (85 on PC) and Metro Redux (84) score highest; Steam players rate the original Metro 2033 highest, at 91% positive.

Do I need to play Metro Awakening? No. Metro Awakening is an optional VR prequel about Khan, set in 2028; nothing announced for Metro 2039 depends on it.

Sources

Moments

Metro 2039: The First Preview

IGN

  1. Start with Metro 2039 itself if you like: Deep Silver's FAQ answers "Do I need to have played previous METRO games?"…

I Spent 20 Hours in Metro 2039 - Hands on Preview

ACG

  1. No. Metro 2039 tells an original story from 4A Games, not a direct sequel to one game, and its hero, The Stranger, is…

Metro 2039 Might Be Peak Metro | Hands-On Preview Impressions

GameSpot

  1. If you have time for one game, play Metro Exodus. It is the newest mainline game, the best seller of the series with…

Metro Awakening PSVR2 Review - Is It Any Good?

Push Square

  1. Metro Awakening (2024) is a VR prequel set in 2028 about the origin of Khan, written by Glukhovsky; it needs a PS VR2…

Metro 2033: Xbox One Redux vs Xbox 360 Original Comparison

Digital Foundry

  1. Play Redux unless you want the games exactly as they were. The originals of Metro 2033 (2010) and Metro: Last Light…

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See also

Last updated Nov 2, 2026 by the Vi.ki team. Page text CC BY-SA 4.0.

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