Out of all the games I’ve played, Metro: Last Light is the only one I ever fully completed and 100%’d back on the Xbox 360, and later again in the Redux version on PC. With Redux on Survival mode, Spartan, everything. And that alone says a lot, because I’m not even the type who usually enjoys story-driven FPS games. But this one? This game is something else. It became my favorite game of all time, especially the story.

What makes it special to me is the story and atmosphere. Lowering the brightness and cranking graphics to the max makes the Metro tunnels feel haunting, eerie, terrifying, but beautiful in a way. It isn’t marketed as a horror game, but the tension, the shadows, and the way the world constantly reminds you of how fragile life is… it feels like one. I grew up playing it, and it stuck with me through the years.

Of the trilogy, Metro 2033, Last Light, and Exodus (VR doesn’t count, who even has money for that?), Last Light stands out the most for me. The story, especially with the Dark Ones, is what really resonated. And Khan… that man is my hero. His philosophy, his presence throughout the story, it left a huge impression on me back then and still does today. And knowing Exodus hints that he might still be alive? That makes Last Light mean even more to me.

"The Metro is alive. It breathes, it listens, it waits. It is not just tunnels and darkness, but a living, breathing entity that holds the souls of those who walk it and reveals truths only to those who are willing to see."
-- Сердар Искандеров

Out of all scenes in Last Light, my favorite is the Red Line arc. You go through tough fights side by side with Pavel Morozov, helping each other against the Fourth Reich, and it really feels like you’ve made a friend in the Metro. Then you share a drink together, and just when Artyom starts to trust him, Pavel reveals he’s actually a Red Line soldier. Next thing you know, you’re dragged to Maxim Moskvin himself, who greets you with a punch and tries to force the location of D6 out of you. That whole setup was brilliant. A mix of trust, betrayal, and politics in the tunnels, all hidden under the surface of “a buddy you thought had your back.

Someday, I plan to 100% it again here on Steam, and when I do, I’ll update this review. But even if I never reach that point, it doesn’t matter. This game already gave me an experience I’ll never forget.

Simply put: Metro: Last Light is love!!!