Metro Awakening

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,062 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Metro Awakening Game Cover
Metro Awakening is the full Metro experience tailor-made for VR and is a must-play for fans of the series and VR enthusiasts alike
Starting at €31.99Buy now
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In Metro Awakening Digital Deluxe Edition, players explore the ruins of Moscow's metro system as Serdar, a doctor searching for his wife and life-saving medication in a post-apocalyptic, spirit-haunted world. The VR game features atmospheric exploration, stealth, and combat, with additional content including concept art, a patch, and charm. The story promises to test players' courage and sanity as they navigate the challenges of the Metro.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,062 reviews
story207 positive mentions
optimization41 negative mentions
  • The game captures the Metro atmosphere perfectly, providing an immersive experience for fans of the series.
  • Gunplay and weapon mechanics are satisfying, with a good variety of interactions such as reloading and using the gas mask.
  • The story is engaging and emotional, with well-written dialogue and voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, with stuttering and low-resolution textures that detract from the visual experience.
  • There is a lack of interactivity with the environment, as many objects are static and cannot be interacted with, limiting exploration.
  • The stealth mechanics can be frustrating, with inconsistent AI behavior and the inability to effectively use light to your advantage.
  • story622 mentions

    The story of "Metro Awakening" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive narrative and character development, particularly focusing on Khan's backstory. While some players found the storytelling engaging and atmospheric, others criticized it for being slow-paced, repetitive, or lacking depth compared to previous titles in the franchise. Overall, it is seen as a solid addition to the Metro universe, appealing especially to fans of the series, despite some technical limitations and pacing issues.

    • “The story was captivating to me as a fan of the Metro franchise.”
    • “A compelling story that combines exploration and survival, with narrative elements that keep players engaged from start to finish.”
    • “The story is amazing and compelling, the gameplay feels very immersive and fleshed out, and the guns are one of the best I've felt thus far.”
    • “But the story just...didn't click for me and parts also felt forced to me.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent so far.”
    • “The story without going into spoilers is very good for me so far, it's cool seeing the great worm cult from the books brought to life on screen and exploring the more interesting eldritch/radiation-magic?”
  • graphics323 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated and reminiscent of earlier titles, despite being built on Unreal Engine 5. While some appreciate the atmospheric lighting and overall aesthetic, others criticize the low texture quality and performance issues, particularly on PCVR setups. Overall, the visuals are considered serviceable but fall short of the high standards set by other VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx.

    • “The graphics are impressive for what a meta quest 3 can natively render.”
    • “The game does a great job of bringing the iconic metro atmosphere into virtual reality, capturing the gritty, post-apocalyptic world with its haunting visuals and atmospheric sound design.”
    • “This game has amazing graphics down to the small details that keep you immersed in the headset.”
    • “The graphics are not amazing, but completely serviceable; the level of detail in the world is 'fine'.”
    • “The negative up front: no, the graphics, particularly the textures on PC VR, are not really current state of the art anymore, though the animations are great, and the lighting is very serviceable and moody.”
    • “The graphics are built for Quest 3; the level design is horrible, there is hardly any interaction with objects, and I just wasn't fun to play.”
  • gameplay292 mentions

    The gameplay of this VR title has received mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive mechanics and atmospheric elements that align well with the Metro franchise. While the gunplay and inventory management are generally well-received, some players find the stealth mechanics lacking and the overall gameplay repetitive and linear. Additionally, issues with environmental interactivity and control responsiveness have been noted, leading to a consensus that while the game is enjoyable, it falls short of the high expectations set by other VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx.

    • “In terms of gameplay, this game is perfect; it's absolutely terrifying, extremely immersive, and very fun to play.”
    • “The gameplay is very fun; there's a bit of a slog for the first 30-40 minutes, character building and world setting.”
    • “The gameplay is a satisfying mix of survival and exploration, rewarding careful planning and resource management.”
    • “The core aspects of the gameplay loop of this franchise are not present here!”
    • “The gameplay feels extremely linear with a lot of handholding guiding you to where to go next.”
    • “Some mechanics in the game feel a little janky at times, and the inconsistent interactivity is immersion-breaking when you are constantly searching the environment for supplies.”
  • atmosphere189 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively capturing the dark, post-apocalyptic essence of the Metro series. Players highlight the exceptional sound design, moody lighting, and intense tension that enhance the overall experience, making it feel both claustrophobic and thrilling. Many reviews note that the game excels in creating a haunting environment that keeps players on edge, with a strong emphasis on atmospheric storytelling and psychological horror elements.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is amazing; some of the sections had me on edge, and creeping around in the metro in VR is truly something different.”
    • “The game’s atmosphere is unparalleled, drawing you deeper into the dark, foreboding tunnels where every step feels like a gamble.”
    • “Metro Awakening is an incredible experience that combines intense atmosphere with a gripping storyline.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and oppressive, exactly what you’d expect from a Metro game.”
    • “To see anything in shadow on my Quest 2, I had to bump brightness almost to max, which resulted in a horrible white glow, reducing immersion by another third and wrecking the atmosphere to the ground.”
    • “Even the atmosphere is like non-existent, which is surprising and super lame.”
  • optimization158 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and graphical glitches, particularly when multiple characters are on screen. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others have found the game poorly optimized, especially in comparison to other VR titles. Overall, many recommend waiting for patches to address these performance shortcomings before purchasing.

    • “I haven't encountered any bugs or performance issues, to be honest, so props to Vertigo Games for that.”
    • “Can't say much to the performance; it runs perfectly fine for me at max settings, but obviously not everyone has a beefy VR rig.”
    • “So far a very quality feeling VR experience; voice acting is great, performance is great around 85% of the time, although scenes with dynamic shadows tank performance heavily (hoping this will get fixed in patches).”
    • “Overall, I would not recommend this game until it gets serious performance improvements and patches.”
    • “This game has awful optimization and terrible graphics which were ported from the Quest, and the story and gameplay are some of the most boring things I have ever had to sit through.”
    • “The performance is the absolute worst I've ever seen in a VR title.”
  • stability60 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, freezes, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted improvements after patches and found the game to run smoothly at times, others experienced persistent issues that led to frustration and even refunds. Overall, the game appears to be in a somewhat unfinished state, requiring further optimization and bug fixes to enhance stability.

    • “In my opinion, if we're talking video games it's a 10/10. You don't really find much like this, a compelling (but not flawless) story that's complemented by great music, a tough atmosphere, horror elements that aren't just up in your face jumpscares, even though those are present in this game. Combat and stealth are so wonderfully made that I reset certain sections just to try both out (the guns are fantastically good) and the game is mostly bug-free: no noticeable pop-ins and the enemy AI is solid.”
    • “It looks and runs great.”
    • “It runs great and feels great so far.”
    • “The game just doesn't work well; it is so buggy and bad to play.”
    • “It freezes whenever I try to play it, primarily when my controllers get close to my headset.”
    • “Very underdeveloped and buggy, glitchy and overall a sack of shit. If more time and effort was put into this, I think it would have been amazing, but I just can't get myself to play much of this because of its current state.”
  • music49 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its emotional depth and immersive quality that complements the gameplay. While the soundtrack is described as glorious and fitting within the Metro universe, some players experienced issues with abrupt transitions that disrupted immersion. Overall, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's tense and eerie ambiance, making it a standout feature despite minor audio mixing concerns.

    • “On top of this, the audio and music make it feel complete and tie it all together beautifully.”
    • “The music in the game is lovely, and I have not heard a single song yet that does not fit the Metro universe.”
    • “The soundtrack to the game is glorious, bringing back classic themes and adding beautiful new twists.”
    • “The soundscape is alright too, but there are some instances where the soundtrack just cuts off for no reason only to start another soundtrack, that kinda took the immersion out.”
    • “Worst yet the horror music is random so you get building tension music that cuts off, for nothing to happen.”
    • “The audio is so poorly mixed that even on the Valve Index's loud speakers, I had to tinker with effects, music, and voices to get it just right, and even then the voices sounded too quiet.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging and powerful storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, evoking a range of feelings from anger to empathy. Many reviewers praise the writing and character development, noting that the narrative is both touching and immersive, enhanced by a fitting musical score that elevates the emotional experience. However, some players also mention moments of frustration within the gameplay that detract from the overall emotional impact.

    • “✅ engaging, emotional story”
    • “The story is powerful and emotionally gripping, drawing you deep into a struggle for survival that feels authentic and personal.”
    • “The story is touching and has you really feeling for every character in the game.”
    • “It's just uneventful and the most boring story in the series.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentional yet effective, with players finding amusement in quirky bugs and goofy story elements. Many reviewers highlight moments that genuinely made them laugh, such as absurd character interactions and exaggerated accents, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience despite some technical flaws.

    • “This game is amazing! Funny story: I actually pre-ordered it, read some reviews, refunded it, saw some more positive reviews, repurchased it, and played it. I loved it!”
    • “The story is (unintentionally) goofy and genuinely made me laugh at times.”
    • “But the fact that I just squeezed a man's ass cheek and then slapped him to go unconscious is amazingly funny.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its linear story structure, with most players indicating that there is little incentive to replay it beyond achieving missed accomplishments. While some express that additional modes, like a rogue-like option, could enhance replay value, many feel that the current experience lacks sufficient variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “So far been playing for quite a few hours and not even close to halfway, it seems so plenty of playtime and replayability.”
    • “A rogue-like mode could add exciting replay value.”
    • “The only 'downsides' I can think of are relatively minor: 1) since it's a linear story, the replay value isn't sky-high, and 2) there are some sections of backtracking...but they're for story-based reasons & so don't seem offensive.”
    • “No replay value apart from achievements you might have missed.”
    • “Since it's a linear story, the replay value isn't sky-high.”
    • “I don't see any replay value in it.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by repetitive and tedious encounters, particularly against mindless enemies and in monotonous environments. Players often find themselves enduring long stretches of gameplay filled with bland corridors and wave-based combat, which detracts from the overall enjoyment despite some engaging moments.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The placement of items that you need on a regular basis is so tedious to reach for; I loathe those parts where I have to do so.”
    • “Like other reviews say, the mechanics do get repetitive and tedious after a while.”
    • “There are multiple tedious encounters where you simply have to endure waves of enemies.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its depth, particularly highlighting the growth of the character Khan, which evokes a strong connection to the narrative style reminiscent of Metro 2033.

    • “This is absolutely a Metro game, and it feels a lot like Metro 2033, which is an achievement. The character development for Khan is great.”
    • “The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
    • “I was genuinely invested in the characters' journeys, and their growth throughout the game was both believable and engaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

Buy Metro Awakening

Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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