Metro Exodus Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

5. The Sandbox Areas Are A Joy To Explore

The smaller space of each self-contained mini-sandbox allows for a denser environment than a proper open world setting could produce, and there’s always a thrill when climbing to high ground, whipping out your binoculars and spotting your next destination to check out - all without the game prompting you to do any of it.

Similar to releases like Breath of the Wild, it’s more the journey to these locations that’s the draw, rather than the destination itself. The major structures and encampments are always visually inspired - and can contain some great loot - but it’s the subtle differences in how players survived long enough to get there that will define the Exodus experience.

This world really is unforgiving, and getting from A to B isn’t as simple as holding sprint and following a waypoint. The dynamic weather might throw a storm your way, you might stumble upon a monster den, or you might need to spend 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get from one side of a mutated-fish river to the next without being chomped to death.

It’s these little speed bumps that keep you playing, and they more than justify Exodus’ switch to wide-linear levels, because they make the previous titles tight focus on survival even more compelling.