Metro 2033andMetro: Last Lightwere 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 Exodustones 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 Exodusisn’t as blatantly a horror game asMetro 2033orLast 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 Exodusis 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 Exoduslets players explore large open areas, adding a degree of exploration not usually found in the genre.
As players explore the game’s open areas, they will discover thatMetro Exodusis 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 inMetro Exodusare violent and deadly, forcing players to either dispose of them quickly or run away.The Bear mutant inMetro Exodusis 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, withMetro Exodusreviews 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 2019nominatedMetro Exodusfor the Best Action Game category, whereas the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences nominatedMetro Exodusfor the Outstanding Technical Achievement award. At the Pegas Awards 2020,Metro Exoduswon the award for Best International Game.
Considering its critical and commercial success,Metro Exodusseems like a safe bet for any horror fans looking for aquality PS4 or Xbox One horror gameto play this Halloween. WithTHQ 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 Exodusis out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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