Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gritty, mature sci-fi shooter with blood, not gore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Metro 2033
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the game is enjoyable but should be approached with caution due to its darker themes and mature content, such as violence and profanity. While it creates a chilling atmosphere that some find compelling, many also note that its gameplay mechanics can be frustrating and that it may not be suitable for younger or less mature players.
- dark themes
- enjoyable atmosphere
- mature content
- frustrating mechanics
- not for younger kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
The only thing worse than a nuclear war that decimates most of the Earth's human population is mutant creatures attacking whoever is left standing. This is the premise behind THQ's METRO 2033, an atmospheric first-person shooter with elements borrowed from the \"survival horror\" genre. Based on a novel by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, the story-heavy game is set in a post-apocalyptic Moscow, 20 years after a deadly world war in the year 2013. Much of the action takes place in dark subway tunnels, which have served as a home for thousands of survivors. As Artyom, who was raised underground, you'll also venture to the toxic surface by donning a gasmask and welding weapons to ward off mutant assaults. As we learn fairly early on in the game, the biggest threat to the Metro survivors are called \"Dark Ones,\" a new breed of mutants with psychic powers, capable of killing humans even from a distance.
Is It Any Good?
Yes. As with most first-person shooters, you'll cautiously move about 3D environments, shoot enemies who jump out at you (mutants and humans), pick up heath packs and ammunition, and talk with various characters who give you story elements or mission instructions. But Metro 2033 also delivers a dark and dangerous world, so don't play this game if you're not a fan of surprises lurking in the shadows.
The game isn't a flawless adventure, however. While the visuals look good for the most part, there are a number of odd graphical glitches, including "popping" textures on the wall that move when you walk past and some choppy character animation. Thankfully, these issues don't mar the experience much. Another problem is the difficulty of switching between weapons in the Xbox 360 version, as you must cycle through them in a linear fashion at the top of the screen. Shortcomings notwithstanding, Metro 2033 is a gritty shooter with a strong narrative and atmosphere. Fans of sci-fi fiction or first-person action might just consider this title the sleeper hit of the season.
Platform Note: The Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game are the same.
Online interaction: There is no online play but there is DLC (downloadable content) planned for this game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Metro 2033 fuses first-person action with "survival horror" elements and if the combination of game genres works. Is it good for game developers to experiment with these hybrids or will games be more enjoyable when you know what to expect from that type of game.
How faithful is the game to the best-selling book of the same name? Does it enhance the game when it's based on fiction from another medium?
Game Details
- Platforms : Windows , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : THQ
- Release date : March 13, 2010
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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