Metro Exodus open world levels

Lore & Background

The open world levels of Metro Exodus chart the Aurora's desperate eastward trek, each biome a self-contained hellscape with its own factions, mutant breeds, and survival logic. The Volga's flooded ruins harbor a fanatical cult that worships a colossal mutated fish, their hymns echoing across stagnant water. The Caspian Sea is a sun-scorched desert ruled by bandits and a bitter former sailor who hoards fuel and grudges. The Taiga's ancient forest demands silence and stealth, patrolled by a pioneer-like faction that hunts outsiders with crossbows and traps. These aren't true open worlds—they're dense, hub-like maps where every rusted shack and flooded basement hides resources, lore, or a new way to die. The series' signature dread and scarcity remain, but now you choose the direction of your terror.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the Volga's murky waters as Artyom stepped from the Aurora. The rusted church spire jutted from the fog, a beacon of false hope. He checked his gas mask filter—half full. A mutant lurched from the reeds, and he raised his revolver, but a distant horn echoed, the cult's boat patrol. He ducked into a ruined house, finding a few bullets and a worn note. The open world didn't offer safety, only choices: fight, sneak, or scavenge, each path a gamble with the wasteland.

Reader's Guide

Developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver, Metro Exodus launched in 2019 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with later enhancements for next-gen consoles. The shift to open world levels was a gamble that paid off: critics praised the immersive environments and non-linear freedom, though some lamented pacing hiccups compared to the series' tighter linear chapters. The game earned acclaim for its graphics, atmosphere, and the seamless integration of survival mechanics into sandbox exploration. 4A Games' proprietary 4A Engine rendered these vast, detail-crammed landscapes, pushing older hardware to its limits with impressive technical feats.

Did You Know?

• The Volga level was inspired by real Russian river landscapes and features a dynamic day-night cycle that affects mutant behavior.
• Players can fully customize weapons at workbenches found throughout the open world levels, a first for the series.
• The Caspian Sea level includes a large, drivable vehicle—the van—which is the first drivable vehicle in a Metro game.
• The Taiga level has a moral system where killing certain characters can lead to a different ending.