Last August, Metro Exodus developer 4A Games was purchased by Embracer Group, the parent company of THQ Nordic, and it was announced that the studio would be overseeing a brand new IP, as well as working on a new multiplayer game. Previously, 4A Games has only developed one other game outside of the Metro series, a VR first-person shooter called ARKTIKA.1, so it's natural the team would be looking to try something new, particularly after trading dimly-lit corridors for an open-world in Metro Exodus.
In celebration of the series' 10-year anniversary, 4A Games confirmed it had already begun work on a brand new Metro game, and that the new multiplayer game was actually a "multiplayer experience in the Metro universe." While the trilogy of games is loosely based on the book series by Dmitry Glukhovsky, whatever comes next would be an original tale. For now, the next Metro game is likely years away, and 4A Games won't have much to say for a while, so rather than speculate on where the story is going, here's a complete breakdown of everything that's happened in the Metro franchise so far.
Metro 2033 Story Explained
Based on the Dmitry Glukhovsky novel of the same name, Metro 2033 is set in a post-apocalyptic near-distant future Moscow after a nuclear war killed billions of people, forcing survivors into the metro tunnels below ground to escape the radiation. Players take on the role of Artyom, a 24-year-old survivor that was born before the war but has grown up in the Metro tunnels. In 2033, the Exhibition (a converted former Metro station) is attacked by the Dark Ones, a group of mysterious creatures that live in the tunnels, forcing Artyom to leave his home base and travel to the Metro capitol Polis to seek help.
Fighting off mutants, mutated creatures, bandits, and the neo-Nazi Fourth Reich, Artyom travels from station to station until he reaches Polis. There, it's revealed that the Dark Ones have a nest in the botanical gardens and Colonel Miller has a plan to blow up the hive. Depending on choices made throughout the game, Metro 2033 has two possible endings. In the canonical ending, the Colonel and Artyom are successful in destroying the hive, only to learn that the Dark Ones attacked in self-defense and ultimately wanted peace. In the alternative ending, Artyom learns of the Dark One's true nature in time and prevents the attack on the hive.
Metro: Last Light Story Explained
In 2013, 4A Games released Metro: Last Light, a direct-sequel to Metro 2033 and the only game in the series not to be based on any of Dmitry Glukhovsky novels due to Metro 2034's tonal change from its predecessor. Set one year after the events of the first game, Last Light follows the canonical ending where the Dark One's hive was destroyed. Artyom has joined The Rangers, a group of peacekeepers that operates in the Metro tunnels, and now occupies the D6 military facility visited in the first game, something that opposing factions including the Soviet Red Line and Nazi Fourth Reich are desperate to take control of.
Early on, Artyom learns that a single Dark One survived the attack and is sent to kill it by Rangers leader Colonel Miller, alongside his daughter, Anna. On his quest, it's revealed that the Red Line has weaponized a strain of Ebola found in D6 and created a virus, one they're desperate to contain. Both Artyom and Anna are captured by the Red Line and put into quarantine; believing that she might die, Anna seduces Artyom while they await results. The pair test negative for the virus, locate the Dark One (a child) with the help of a wanderer named Khan, and head back to Polis to find a peace conference is taking place between all of the factions.
Sensing there's a group of hibernating Dark Ones within D6, the child uses telepathic abilities to trick Soviet Red Line Chairman Moskvin into admitting the conference is a diversion, and the Rangers head to D6 for a final confrontation. Like 2033, Last Light also has multiple endings the depends on choices made throughout the game. In the canonical ending, Red Line Soldiers capture Artyom and Miller but the pair escape and the now awakened Dark One help defeat Korbut's army. In the alternative ending, D6 is destroyed with Artyom sacrificing himself to stop Red Line. Regardless of the ending, the child leaves with the rest of the Dark Ones to find safety and promises to one day return and rebuild.
Metro Exodus Story Explained
Metro Exodus is the third game in the series, releasing back in 2019, and is loosely based on Dmitry Glukhovsky third novel, Metro 2035. Swapping out the dimly-lit corridors of the metro tunnels for the open-world wasteland, Metro Exodus is a departure from the previous two games in many ways, introducing sandbox environments, seasons, a dynamic weather system, and a day-night cycle. Set one year after the events of Metro: Last Light (and set over the course of an entire year), Metro Exodus sees Artyom on a quest to find more survivors outside of Moscow.
It's revealed that in an effort to save Moscow, the Russian government jammed radio communications, and there are survivors all across the globe. After locating a working train, Artyom, Anna, and the Spartan Order led by Colonel Miller flee Moscow with the belief that the Russian government has rebuilt itself at a location known as the "Ark." Upon reaching the "Ark," the group learn the government didn't survive the war and the base is overrun by cannibals that lure survivors in with false promises of safety. After fleeing the Ark and heading to the Caspian Sea, the Aurora is forced to detour to the Novosibirsk Metro in search of an antidote as Anna has fallen ill. In the Novosibirsk Metro, the pair come across a young boy named Kirill, with a map to a radiation-free zone.
The group returns to the Aurora with the map and antidote to save Anna; however, Miller dies of radiation poisoning after using a dose to save Artyom that was meant for himself. In the canonical 'good' ending, the Spartans reach the shores of Lake Baikal and settle with Artyom being chosen as the new leader of the Spartan Order. Artyom decides to head back to Moscow to find survivors and reveal the truth of the outside world. In the alternative ending, both Miller and Artyom die from radiation poisoning and are stuck in purgatory on the Aurora for the rest of eternity.
Metro Exodus is available now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, and Google Stadia.