Metro Exodus Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

2. Monster Encounters Are Terrifying

It's fighting monsters where the combat shines the most, though. From humanoid mutants to terrifying winged creatures that swoop in from the sky, whether they come in packs or are on their own, there’s a dangerous sense of unpredictability that comes with tackling each and every one of them.

Being swamped by a horde of mutants as your gun’s jamming and you’re down to your last Molotov is always a rush, and gets the heart pumping in a way the regular firefights simply don’t.

That’s probably down to the tension that precedes these encounters as well, as seeing the shadow of a monster overhead or being surprised by a creature you thought was dead brings with it a palpable level of dread.

Likewise, while the monsters themselves are already terrifying, when they’re silhouetted against the title’s incredible lighting system, basked in shadows or blinded by your flashlight, the core mechanics are elevated by the sheer cinematic nature of the action.