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The Stranger is the protagonist of Metro 2039. He is a new character, introduced to the series for this game; he is not a continuation or reimagining of Artyom, the protagonist of earlier Metro entries. The Stranger is the first fully voiced protagonist in the Metro franchise, a deliberate design choice by 4A Games to bring greater narrative immediacy to the character.

Background

Very little has been confirmed about The Stranger's personal history. What the developers have described is that he is a recluse, a man who has deliberately cut himself off from the world of the Metro. He is tormented by violent nightmares, the nature of which has not been disclosed. At some point he came to regard the Metro as a place he could never return to, and he made a vow to that effect.

The Stranger is a member of the Spartan Rangers, the elite order that serves as a thread of continuity across the Metro series. His affiliation with the Rangers places him within the same military tradition as other iconic figures in the franchise, though his role within the order and the circumstances of his self-imposed exile have not been elaborated on in pre-release materials.

The Journey

The central premise of Metro 2039 is that The Stranger is forced, under circumstances not yet revealed, to make a harrowing journey back into the Moscow Metro. This return is against everything he has resolved to do, and it forms the emotional and narrative core of the game. The journey brings him into conflict with the Novoreich, the authoritarian regime that now controls the Metro, and with its leader, Hunter.

Gameplay Role

As the playable character, The Stranger is shown in reveal footage navigating confined Metro tunnels, engaging in tactical first-person combat, and employing stealth to slip past enemies. The reveal depicted him as a survivalist, making use of hand-crafted weapons and managing scarce resources. His fully voiced presence means he reacts to and comments on the world around him, a departure from the more silent protagonists of earlier games in the series.

The diegetic interface tradition of the Metro series carries over for The Stranger; in the reveal footage, he is shown checking a wristwatch rather than reading from an on-screen heads-up display.