Metro 2039: Who is the 'Traveler/Stranger'? Analyzing the theory of Artyom's return

First, these are just my thoughts, and they aren't presented as definitive truth.

Following the April presentation of Metro 2039, the fan community split into two camps over the identity of the "new" protagonist. Developers introduced us to "The Wanderer" (The Stranger – "The Unknown" might be more accurate, but we'll go with it) — seemingly a voiced protagonist tormented by nightmares. Officially, they're not telling us who this is, but if we engage some critical thinking and connect the dots, an interesting picture emerges.

Recall the ending of Metro Exodus, where Artyom clearly stated a new goal: «We must help everyone». This wasn't just a dramatic line for the credits; it was a powerful hook for a sequel. Abandoning people to rot in radiation after finding paradise on Baikal? That's not like Artyom. Dystopian narratives rarely let their heroes retire; the genre demands a character either dies or transforms into "something else." His return to Moscow four years later (in 2039) seems like a logical conclusion to his redemption arc.

In the trailer, we see the protagonist with gray hair and clear signs of PTSD. Gray hair: Some might say age. I say, Novosibirsk. The radiation dose Artyom received in the "Dead City" doesn't just disappear. That gray hair and ruined health are direct consequences of his desperate run for Anna's medicine.

Hallucinations: For a newcomer, these "trips" would seem strange. But for Artyom, who's been in contact with the Dark Ones since childhood and survived the psychedelic hell of Novosibirsk, this is practically normal life. His brain has long been operating on different "frequencies."

A photo of a woman with children flashes in the frames. The theory that Anna stayed behind on Baikal with their family while Artyom went off to "save the world" is the most plausible. This explains his outcast status and "The Wanderer's" reluctance to return to the Metro. He's not going for glory, but because ghosts of the past (or very real threats) left him no other choice.

So, why not Hunter? It's quite simple: Many on Reddit are rooting for Hunter's return, especially given his mention as a "fanatical leader" in the new Metro iteration. But let's be honest: making Hunter the protagonist is a weak plot device. Hunter is a symbol, a function, the living embodiment of the motto «If the enemy doesn't surrender, destroy them.» His role is to be an antagonist or an ambiguous mentor, but never the "face" of a game where reflection and moral choices are key.