Last Updated on Sep 11, 2026 @ 21:53:07 PM.
After numerous years of waiting for a new Metro game to release after the first three finished off the games arc, players can now look forward to Metro 2039, the new game that seemingly follows a new character in the franchise as they fight a new threat to the Metro and the society that has been living there for years.
Although there isn’t a whole lot of information regarding the upcoming, I was granted the opportunity to try out an early section within the game as I explored a Metro station, saw some of the NPCs lurking within, explored the surface world and a few different buildings, and finally tried out the different guns and equipment that I had access to.
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During my time with the game, I only had roughly 25 minutes to explore all that I could, and I used that time as effectively as I could, as I mainly explored the surface world. The reason behind this is that during the early sections of the game, I was placed into a small open area where a few buildings and locations were open to me in order to explore them.
As I searched through these locations, there were a few enemies lurking within, with each being one we have encountered before, but there were some that were new, such as an infected bear that was hiding underground. In order to search these locations, it was pretty much business as usual with plenty of loot being hidden inside, but there were some new additions with locations being locked behind coded gates that you require a combination to unlock.
While these locked doors are normally pretty simple in a video game, with the combinations being located nearby, Metro 2039 takes it a step further and has these combinations hidden in completely separate buildings as well, causing the player to really pay attention to the notes left behind by the characters in the game and search around properly and not just look for bullets and rebreather tanks.
As always, Metro 2039 continues with what the previous games were building upon, as the weapons are intriguing, to say the least, as each weapon can be completely customized and upgraded in order to pack the biggest punch while also carrying 4 different weapons, one of which is the heavy weapon similar to Metro Exodus.
Just like the previous games, the overall world itself is incredibly detailed while still having a rather linear pathway for players to explore, but this was the opening section of the game, meaning that we may see more open areas like Metro Exodus later on within the game.
When it came to the overall gameplay mechanics, there was quite a lot to unpack. As a new item, the UV lamp was added into the game that can help uncover hiding enemies within the world, which I did find to be quite useful, but activating this item was quite irritating, as there wasn’t a quick activation button, and instead I had to open a radial wheel and then select it, which just became more of a chore in comparison to its benefits.
Other than this, the rather common items within a Metro game make their reappearance with the simple gas mask, night vision goggles, a map, and a lighter, but instead of being Artyoms’ familiar bullet-shaped lighter, it’s a rather simplistic design.
Speaking of Artyom, from what we can see, Metro has moved on to a new character known so far simply as Spartan. From what we have seen in our time with the game, even the subtitles hide their name for now, but with the past games setting Artyom very far away, it makes sense for us to be playing as someone entirely new.
In terms of story, there isn’t too much to talk about, as I didn’t get too much of a glance at this bar. A short video at the end of the demo showcased the two main threats players will be coming against, one being the return of the Dark Ones while the other being a German leader who seems to be sweeping through the Metro.
At the time of writing, Metro 2039 is currently set to release on the 4th of February, 2027, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
For your next read, why not check out our article that talks about the upcoming Into the Dead: Crimson Heights VR game and its unique world design, or check out our article that talks about Rock, Paper, Severed, a game that turns a mundane game into something horrifying.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
