The Metro franchise is one that I have been interested in for quite some time. Something about the atmosphere and the tension of needing to explore a wasteland and an underground metro, both ravaged by war, always seemed fascinating. Sadly, though, I never had the right excuse to play the rest of the games. That is, until I found out about Metro 2039. Everything about it seemed to be building towards an incredible evolution from the franchise, not just from a gameplay and visual perspective, but also from a tonal perspective. I was able to play a little bit during Gamescom 2026, and ever since the demo ended, I have been desperate to play more.
Metro 2039 focuses on The Stranger, a former member of an elite group of soldiers, returning to the Metro for one reason: to kill Hunter, the leader of the fascist Novoreich. The narrative is said to be inspired by the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, which 4A Games has experienced the consequences of firsthand. The horror of this experience is reflected in the game the developers have created, as the tone is quite grim and rage-filled. Even with the little bit I was able to play, I am already interested in The Stranger’s journey for vengeance, especially considering he is a fully voiced protagonist, unlike the lead from prior entries.
Granted, I was only able to catch a small glimpse of what the narrative of Metro 2039 has to offer. What the demo primarily focused on instead was the gameplay. Even as someone relatively unfamiliar with the broader franchise, I found this new entry to be easy to pick up and hard to master. Surviving the Wasteland is a huge challenge, and I constantly had to take stock of my surroundings and my inventory. Exploring the world is a constant threat, as you can be quickly ambushed by monsters and soldiers alike. Yet, those dangers do not outweigh just how rich the world that 4A Games has created is.
There were plenty of opportunities for me to explore, even on the way to my next objective. For instance, while walking around, I found what appeared to be an abandoned lobby of a hotel. I tried to look around a bit, and soon discovered that there was a code hidden in ultraviolet ink, which I could expose thanks to a blacklight tool. Uncovering these clues led me to unlock a door that had several key items which would be instrumental in further progression. This small moment of discovery invigorated me and made me eager to put my new acquisitions to the test. I look forward to rediscovering that door in the full release.
Inevitably though, I ended up running into enemies at a bandit camp, which I had to quickly figure out how to counter. There were plenty of ways for me to tackle this particular problem, though. In this case, I found my way around the compound and snuck into a secret entrance, allowing me to get the drop on the bandits. Granted, I still ended up getting caught, but thankfully, the combat feels so good that this was not a huge loss. Each weapon has the right amount of weight and impact behind it, and the brutality that The Stranger employs when killing enemies perfectly coincides with the dark tone that 4A Games has created. Despite how I usually like to approach encounters with stealth, I have a feeling I will be trying several different approaches in the full game.
Overall, I am already hooked on Metro 2039, even if I was only able to play for 20 minutes. The tone and narrative hints that have been teased thus far are gripping, as are the exploration and combat mechanics. Regardless of whether you have been following the franchise since its beginning, or have very little familiarity with its history, Metro 2039 is shaping up to be the 4A Games’ crown jewel. I cannot wait to see what else the developers have in store when Metro 2039 releases on February 4, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
