Players must wait eight long months before they can try out the highly anticipated Metro Exodus. Thankfully, Deep Silver and 4A Games provided us with a visceral 18-minute gameplay trailer to tide us over. E3 is the gift that keeps on giving.

The third title in the Metro series, Exodus takes players deeper than ever into post-apocalyptic Russia based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels. As series protagonist Artyom, you lead the remaining survivors from the underground tunnels of Moscow to seek better lives in the East. To discover new life, you board a hijacked train named the Aurora and take off through the Russian wilderness.

The trailer shows a more intricate system of gameplay than ever before, balanced and tight. No longer are players confined to linear levels, but instead will have the opportunity to explore a more open world. Dangers remain, however, as you’ll have to scavenge for chemicals and parts while keeping an eye on your oxygen and radiation levels. Different areas present different sorts of enemies, including the new Humanimals, a relentlessly vicious breed of mutant. Atmosphere remains the biggest selling point of the Metro series.

Just as in the previous two titles, choice plays an integral role in Metro Exodus. Action and horror survival blend seamlessly as your make your way through the Russian wasteland.  Players can take on enemies guns blazing or attempt to sneak past to avoid detection. Weapons can be modified in the field to suit whatever situations you encounter. At work stations, players can craft basically any sort of weapon they desire. Some of these end up looking like a child’s drawing of a super gun, which they may just end up being. Whether you go for a silenced handgun or an extremely powerful rifle may determine which survivors make it through a mission at your side.

Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light both received critical acclaim, with the sequel gaining higher grades than its predecessor. One of the lingering concerns in the sequel was the less-than-ideal AI. In the trailer, we see enemies communicating to take you down and surrendering when they realize you are a grave threat. The white flag option deserves to be in many games with OP protagonists, and its inclusion may inspire other developers to do the same. Based on what we’ve seen so far, it looks like 4A Games have built an even stronger third game.

Metro Exodus releases on PC, PS4, and Xbox One February 22, 2019. Players who waited through the game’s delay can take faith that their patience will soon be rewarded.

Are you excited to dive back into the Russian wasteland of the Exodus series? Let us know your favorite parts of the trailer in the comments below. If you want more Metro Exodus news, be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter and on Facebook!