Metro Awakening

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

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Metro Awakening is a story-driven first-person adventure built for VR that blends atmospheric exploration, stealth and combat in the most immersive Metro experience yet. Don your gas mask, brave the crippling radiation and venture into the depths of the Metro where threats haunt your every step.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 509 reviews

story79 positive mentions

optimization23 negative mentions

The game captures the Metro atmosphere well, providing an immersive experience with great sound design and voice acting.
Gameplay mechanics, such as reloading and using the gas mask, are engaging and add to the overall immersion.
The story is compelling and offers a fresh perspective on the Metro universe, particularly through the character of Khan.

Graphics are inconsistent, with low-resolution textures and some models appearing outdated, leading to a less polished visual experience.
The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, particularly on certain hardware setups.
Limited interactivity with the environment and a linear gameplay structure can make the experience feel restrictive and repetitive.

story
294 mentions
27 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and connection to the Metro series, while others criticize it for being less engaging than previous titles. Players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and character development, particularly the exploration of iconic characters like Khan, but some find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally confusing. Overall, it is seen as a solid addition to the Metro universe, offering a compelling narrative experience despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The story is powerful and emotionally gripping, drawing you deep into a struggle for survival that feels authentic and personal.”
- “If you’re looking for an immersive, story-rich VR journey that pays homage to the Metro universe, Metro Awakening delivers in spades.”
- “The story is touching and has you really feeling for every character in the game.”
- “The story is almost non-existent so far.”
- “I’ve finished the game --- and honestly, the story is weak... it's barely worth the time invested.”
- “The pacing is slower than a Boris Godunov opera, the story doesn't really pull you in, the controls for interaction and shooting aren't polished.”
graphics
186 mentions
26 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels like a port from the Quest 3 version, resulting in outdated models and textures reminiscent of older console games. While some appreciate the improved lighting and shadows, others criticize the overall graphical fidelity as subpar compared to titles like Half-Life: Alyx, leading to disappointment among those expecting higher quality visuals. Despite the criticisms, a few players find the graphics acceptable for VR standards, highlighting the immersive atmosphere and decent performance on higher-end systems.
- “The graphics are superb!!”
- “The graphics are impressive for what a meta quest 3 can natively render.”
- “Great atmosphere and visuals that capture the spirit of the metro series.”
- “The graphics are iffy and you can tell that this is more of a port from the Quest 3 version to PCVR. You have better shadows and the lighting is better, but the models and the graphical fidelity feel like they're coming straight from 2016, and some models feel like they're from the PS3 era, which made me pretty disappointed right from the get-go since they appear in the prologue.”
- “This game is not worth getting, with all the important settings missing as well as the performance and graphics both being poor. I would recommend not getting this game.”
- “The graphics are just too bad to be immersive, which is one of VR's greatest strengths.”
gameplay
144 mentions
27 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this VR title has received mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive mechanics, fluid gunplay, and atmospheric design reminiscent of the Metro series. However, several players noted issues such as limited interactivity, repetitive mechanics, and linear level design, which detracted from the overall experience. While some found the game engaging and fun, others felt it fell short compared to other VR titles, particularly in terms of depth and visual fidelity.
- “The game mechanics make sense and are fluid.”
- “The immersion, gun mechanics, game mechanics, physical interaction, even being able to wipe the condensation off your mask with your own hand is all great!”
- “Gameplay and environment are good, but because this is a Vertigo game, the VR aspect of the game is a bit lacking, from only letting one hand grab certain items to grab zones being too big.”
- “The gameplay for the first hour has been just walking and turning valves and a little bit of gunplay.”
- “Looks low quality even on max settings, almost no story and the gameplay is boring at best (turning valves for 30 minutes).”
- “The gameplay feels extremely linear with a lot of handholding guiding you to where to go next.”
optimization
93 mentions
17 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on high-end PCs. While some users managed to achieve smoother gameplay after adjusting settings or using specific configurations, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized at launch, leading to frustration and disappointment. Many recommend waiting for performance patches before purchasing.
- “Know ahead of time that you'll likely have to tweak your settings on PC to get solid performance, but it's well worth the effort.”
- “I had problems with performance at the beginning, but after changing the OpenXR runtime on Steam VR, the game started to run smoothly.”
- “So far, a very quality feeling VR experience; voice acting is great, and performance is great around 85% of the time, although scenes with dynamic shadows tank performance heavily (hoping this will get fixed in patches).”
- “This game is not worth getting, with all the important settings missing as well as the performance and graphics both being poor. I would recommend not getting this game.”
- “I wasted an hour just trying to get past the screen to accept the data collection, only to end up not even being able to play it because of the bad optimization.”
- “Game is unoptimized - 6800 XT OC & 5800X3D undervolted and struggling to run even when turning down graphics.”
atmosphere
70 mentions
50 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively capturing the gritty essence of the Metro series. Reviewers highlight the combination of sound design, lighting, and environmental details that create a haunting and claustrophobic experience, despite some criticisms regarding graphics and character models. Overall, the game is recommended for its ability to evoke fear and suspense, making it a standout title for fans of atmospheric VR horror.
- “The atmosphere hits just right and the game overall feels like an actual game for once, not a tech demo like a lot of other VR titles.”
- “This game engulfs you in an atmosphere that blends fear and suspense into one.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, the game is very tense.”
- “The atmosphere still carries the Quest 2 graphics/physics quite well, but the first hour I was getting pissed off by the lack of triple-A quality in regards to graphics, interactivity, LODs, and physics.”
- “Even the atmosphere is like non-existent, which is surprising and super lame.”
- “The only thing they did right is the creepy atmosphere, but that's it.”
stability
32 mentions
28 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
72 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report a mostly bug-free experience with solid performance, others encounter significant issues such as freezing, graphical glitches, and crashes, particularly in VR mode. Many users suggest that the game feels unfinished and could benefit from further optimization and bug fixes. Despite these problems, some players still find the gameplay enjoyable and the visuals appealing.
- “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-as-nails 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.”
- “There are some issues like hand angle and some visual bugs, but even on a mid-tier PC rig, the game runs great.”
- “Looks and runs great for me.”
- “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.”
- “VR performance isn't the greatest too; I'm getting freezes every 2-3 minutes.”
music
23 mentions
52 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with many reviewers noting its immersive quality and effective integration into gameplay. However, some players have criticized the audio mixing, particularly the balance between music and voice acting, which can lead to quieter dialogue. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's tension and mood.
- “Great atmosphere, nice voice acting, immersive music, and smooth gameplay.”
- “It seems this game not only has some of the original Metro music, but also some original and very beautiful and emotionally moving tracks that are wonderfully interwoven into the scenes at the right times.”
- “Absolutely loved this game, the main character is great, the story is great, the music is great, the environment is great.”
- “Wtf is with the random horror music? Metro is a spooky game, yeah, but it's not a horror game. First, it's a story shooter like Half-Life, not Outlast with guns.”
- “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.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its powerful storytelling and character development that evoke deep feelings and engagement. The combination of a gripping narrative, atmospheric music, and dramatic scenes creates a touching experience that resonates with players, making it a standout title in the VR genre. Overall, it is regarded as a top-tier game that successfully elicits strong emotional responses.
- “But there's a very good reason for that given the story and there's a great emotional core.”
- “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.”
grinding
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many noting that it often involves enduring long, monotonous encounters and navigating bland environments. While some moments are enjoyable and emotionally impactful, the overall experience can feel stretched thin due to the excessive grinding required.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Like other reviews say, the mechanics do get repetitive and tedious after a while.”
- “Chains of bland corridors are used to pad out the gameplay length and are quite tedious.”
- “There are multiple tedious encounters where you simply have to endure waves of enemies.”
replayability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its linear, story-driven nature and a lack of engaging content beyond the initial playthrough. Players express a desire for additional modes, such as a rogue-like option, to enhance replay value, but currently, many feel there is little incentive to revisit the game after completing it.
- “A rogue-like mode could add exciting replay value.”
- “But I just can't swallow this storyline, and I don't see any replay value in it.”
- “With this floating issue, I can't recommend a $50 game that is linear, story-driven, about 10 hours long, and thus has little replayability.”
- “Though replay value is uncertain.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of unintentional comedic moments, such as visual bugs and low-quality background models, alongside intentional humor like exaggerated accents and absurd interactions, such as slapping characters. Players find amusement in both the glitches and the over-the-top actions, contributing to a lighthearted experience.
- “I had visual bugs; some items have light reflections on one eye but not on the other, and some bodies were moving on their own too (it was funny though).”
- “Sure, some of the background models are low-poly (PS2-ish), which people are saying is a hindrance to immersion, but it's at best a little funny.”
- “But the fact that I just squeezed a man's ass cheek and then slapped him to go unconscious is amazingly funny.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized for being excessive, with users feeling that the $40 price tag does not reflect the quality of the experience, especially given the prevalence of advertising that overstates its value. Many players find the game janky and not worth the investment.
- “This game is decent, but considering all the advertising and how janky it feels, it is not worth $40. In my personal opinion, it doesn't feel great to play.”
- “It doesn't help that a lot of the advertising touted this game as one of the best VR games out there.”