Metro 2039

It looks like it’s going to be a cold winter. Deep Silver and 4A Games have announced Metro 2039, the fourth mainline game in the post-apocalyptic Metro series, with a gorgeously animated but tragically horrifying cinematic trailer. And while much of its nightmarish imagery may seem a little abstract, there’s actually plenty we can learn from its many images of neo-Nazi soldiers, chanting children, and fiery mushroom clouds. Expect horror in numerous forms, as well as the odd spoiler for the previous games, as we explore every frame of Metro 2039’s first teaser.

Let’s start with the protagonist of the trailer, who we can only call "The Stranger", as their identity has yet to be revealed. With grey hair and what appears to be aged skin around his eyes, it seems like we won’t be playing as Metro’s long-term protagonist Artyom this time around – not only is Artyom more youthful than this guy, but he’s likely out of action for this story based on the two ways Metro Exodus could have ended.

While we may be in the shoes of a new protagonist, much of the equipment is recognisable. He wears a helmet featuring the ‘M’ logo of the Spartans, the rangers that hail from the Moscow metro. That helmet is fitted with the gas mask that’s mandatory for exploring the irradiated surface world.