Metro games in order
The story order for the main Metro shooters is Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, Metro Exodus, then Metro 2039. Metro Redux is a remaster of the first two, not a separate plot. Metro Awakening is a VR story set beside the series, not between Exodus and 2039 as a required chapter. 4A has not said you must finish the old games before 2039.
I get asked this because the protagonist changed. My own pass through the official synopsis shows 2039 explaining its premise — Novoreich, the Stranger, a return to the tunnels — without a “requires Exodus save” line. You will miss who Artyom was, and why Hunter’s name matters, if you skip ahead. That is context, not a lock.
A practical order
If you want the remastered versions, play Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux, then Exodus. The original 2010 and 2013 releases tell the same plots. Exodus has a later Enhanced Edition on PC with ray tracing; it is still Exodus.
| Step | Play | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2033 or 2033 Redux | Artyom enters the Metro. Hunter disappears |
| 2 | Last Light or Last Light Redux | The direct sequel |
| 3 | Exodus | Leaves the city. Still Artyom |
| 4 | Awakening, optional | VR side story |
| 5 | 2039, when it ships | New protagonist |
Questions
Do I have to play the old Metro games first?
Not according to any 2039 system requirement or store flag. The story is easier to follow if you have.
Should I play Redux or the originals?
Redux is the current way to buy the first two stories on modern stores, including a Switch release of that remaster.
Where do the books fit?
Read 2033, 2034, and 2035 if you want Glukhovsky’s novels. They are not a one-to-one match for the games, and there is no Metro 2039 novel.
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-16.
Related
- The Stranger — Who you play in the new game.
- The books — Which novels exist.
- Versus Exodus — What actually changed.