Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light were firmly rooted in the horror genre, having players explore the dark, claustrophobic tunnels of the abandoned Russian subway system and throwing jump scares, monsters, and more at them the entire time. Metro Exodus tones down the horror somewhat, but even though the game doesn't embrace horror quite as much as the previous games in the series, it still has plenty of content that will appeal to fans of the genre.

Thematically, Metro Exodus isn't as blatantly a horror game as Metro 2033 or Last Light, but gameplay-wise, it still plays very much like a classic survival-horror game. This means that players can expect themselves to go up against dangerous creatures, all the while having to deal with limited ammo and resource management in general.

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Metro Exodus is also one of the few games that blends survival-horror gameplay mechanics with a somewhat-open world setting, and does so successfully. Whereas most survival-horror games tend to stick to linear level structure, Metro Exodus lets players explore large open areas, adding a degree of exploration not usually found in the genre.

metro exodus mutants

As players explore the game's open areas, they will discover that Metro Exodus is full of disturbing imagery one would expect from a horror game, like the vicious mutants players have to contend with in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. The mutants in Metro Exodus are violent and deadly, forcing players to either dispose of them quickly or run away. The Bear mutant in Metro Exodus is especially terrifying, and encounters with it serve up some of the game's scariest and most memorable moments.

Moments like these add up to a quality gaming experience, with Metro Exodus reviews all mostly positive at the time of the game's release and it being nominated for a variety of year-end wards. For example, The Game Awards 2019 nominated Metro Exodus for the Best Action Game category, whereas the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences nominated Metro Exodus for the Outstanding Technical Achievement award. At the Pegas Awards 2020, Metro Exodus won the award for Best International Game.

Considering its critical and commercial success, Metro Exodus seems like a safe bet for any horror fans looking for a quality PS4 or Xbox One horror game to play this Halloween. With THQ Nordic acquiring 4A Games, it will be interesting to see if the studio's next game is more explicitly a horror experience, or if it decides to make something completely different.

Metro Exodus is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.

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