Metro 2033: Guide to the Cursed Station

Despite its initial release over a decade ago, *Metro 2033* remains a beloved title in the series, gaining a fresh wave of interest with the launch of the VR-exclusive *Metro Awakening*. This game sets the stage for Artyom's gripping journey, unfolding primarily in the underground tunnels of Moscow. A key location in the narrative is the Cursed Station, known as Turgenevskaya in both the books and real life, where players first encounter anomalies. This leads into a challenging mission where Artyom, alongside Khan, must assist a group of survivors in repelling relentless nosalis attacks.

This mission often proves tricky for players due to unclear instructions and the confusing layout of the station. After observing an anomaly obliterate a nosalis horde in the previous mission, Khan moves on to the next station using a railcar, marking the start of "Cursed." Once you exit the railcar, follow Khan through the tunnel and around the corner to where the defenders are stationed by the barricaded escalators.

Where To Find The Bomb

Upon conversing with the defenders, you'll learn that an explosives team ventured down the tunnel to set off a bomb and collapse it, hoping to halt the nosalis onslaught. Unfortunately, the team vanished and no explosion occurred, so it's up to Artyom to locate the bomb and detonate it. Throughout the mission, you'll face continuous nosalis attacks. As Khan advises, it's wise to retreat to the defenders for support if overwhelmed. You'll likely need to head back to the defenders at least once while searching for the bomb.

The bomb is located at the far end of the right-hand tunnel. Avoid proceeding straight past the ghostly shadows, as this will harm you. Once you've retrieved the bomb, you can either proceed directly into the adjacent tunnel or fall back to the defenders if the enemies become too much.

How To Destroy The Tunnel

With the bomb in hand, destroying the tunnel is straightforward. Navigate deep into the left-hand tunnel (from the defenders' perspective) and wait for the cutscene to trigger. Artyom will automatically position the bomb and ignite the fuse, but you must ensure a swift escape. Run as far from the blast zone as possible to avoid being killed by the explosion.

A comprehensive video guide of the mission is available below:

Alternatively, you can toss a grenade or pipe bomb into the same area of the tunnel to achieve the collapse. Be aware that even after destroying the main tunnel, nosalises will continue to infiltrate via alternative routes, so remain vigilant and keep your weapon ready.

How To Destroy The Airlock

After demolishing the left-hand tunnel, securing the station requires one more task: collapsing the airlock to prevent further mutant incursions. During the initial dialogue with the defenders, Khan mentions this airlock. To reach it, ascend the stairs on the right-hand side of the main platform to an area lit by glowing torchlight. You may encounter several nosalises here, but they can be ignored for now.

To destroy the airlock, approach the support columns and interact with them. Artyom will attach a pipe bomb to the columns and light the fuse. Similar to the tunnel below, you must quickly evacuate the area to avoid the ensuing large explosion. With both entrances now destroyed and collapsed, follow Khan to the next phase of the mission, set in a small shrine room. Following a brief conversation with Khan, Artyom will descend through a floor panel, initiating the next mission in the game's storyline: "Armory."