Metal Gear Solid
Officially Metal Gear Solid (franchise)
SEMINAL TACTICAL-ESPIONAGE-ACTION FRANCHISE created by HIDEO KOJIMA (Kojima Productions / Konami) — original 'Metal Gear' 1987 MSX2 pioneered STEALTH GAMEPLAY (avoid enemies rather than fight); METAL GEAR SOLID (PS1, 1998) revolutionized cinematic storytelling in games. Player controls SNAKE (Solid Snake, Big Boss, Naked Snake, Venom Snake — different characters/timelines) infiltrating military bases to stop nuclear-armed bipedal mechs called METAL GEAR. 60+ MILLION UNITS SOLD franchise-wide. Iconic for CODEC RADIO conversations, 4TH-WALL-BREAKING boss fights (Psycho Mantis, The End sniper duel), COMPLEX GEOPOLITICAL/PHILOSOPHICAL themes (nuclear proliferation, PMCs, memes/genes, information war).
What is Metal Gear Solid?
METAL GEAR SOLID is a SEMINAL TACTICAL-ESPIONAGE-ACTION VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE created by HIDEO KOJIMA and developed by KONAMI (and KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS after 2005). ORIGINAL METAL GEAR released JULY 1987 on MSX2 in Japan — one of the FIRST STEALTH GAMES (encouraged players to avoid enemies rather than fight, revolutionary at the time). METAL GEAR SOLID (PlayStation, September 1998) redefined the franchise with 3D graphics + cinematic storytelling + voice acting + revolutionary sound design; considered one of the GREATEST GAMES OF ALL TIME. Player controls various iterations of SNAKE across multiple timelines: SOLID SNAKE (MGS 1/2/4 protagonist, clone of Big Boss), NAKED SNAKE / BIG BOSS (MGS3/5 prequel), VENOM SNAKE / PUNISHED SNAKE (MGSV). Snake infiltrates military bases + hostile environments to stop deployment of METAL GEAR — nuclear-armed BIPEDAL WALKING TANKS capable of launching nukes from anywhere on Earth. 60+ MILLION UNITS SOLD franchise-wide. MAINLINE GAMES: Metal Gear (1987 MSX2); Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990 MSX2); METAL GEAR SOLID (1998 PS1, considered greatest); METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY (2001 PS2, Raiden protagonist controversy, meta-narrative about information); METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER (2004 PS2, prequel jungle setting, considered many fans' favorite); METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS (2008 PS3, aging Snake conclusion); METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER (2010 PSP, Big Boss); METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES (2014 prologue) + THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015, open-world Afghanistan/Africa, unfinished chapter 3 controversy). Also spin-offs: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013 Platinum Games hack-and-slash), Metal Gear Survive (2018 controversial zombie coop). ICONIC FEATURES: CODEC RADIO conversations (frequency 141.80 with Otacon, etc.); 4TH-WALL-BREAKING boss fights (Psycho Mantis reads your memory card + tells you to plug controller into Port 2; The End sniper duel that can last hours real-time or be skipped by advancing PS console clock; The Sorrow river of dead soldiers you killed); COMPLEX GEOPOLITICAL / PHILOSOPHICAL THEMES (nuclear proliferation, PMCs, private military companies, information war, memes vs genes, La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo/The Patriots secret society controlling world). KOJIMA left Konami acrimoniously in 2015; founded KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS + made Death Stranding (2019) + Death Stranding 2 (2025). METAL GEAR SOLID Δ (DELTA): SNAKE EATER — full remake of MGS3 releasing 2025 by Konami (without Kojima). Franchise widely considered ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL video game series ever + defined stealth genre + brought cinematic storytelling to games.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–6
Duration
~900 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Console + TV / PC
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
1987 Metal Gear MSX2 (original); Sept 1998 Metal Gear Solid PS1 (revolutionary); 2015 MGSV: The Phantom Pain (last Kojima MGS); 2025 MGS Delta remake
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Complete stealth infiltration missions; stop Metal Gear deployment; unravel geopolitical conspiracy across generations of Snake operatives.
Rules
Basic rules
STEALTH FIRST — avoid detection via cover, camo, box-hiding, distraction
Alerted state calls in enemy reinforcements. Iconic exclamation mark '!' + alert music.
CQC (close-quarters combat) introduced MGS3 for silent takedowns
Grab, throw, interrogate enemies.
USE TOOLS: cardboard box (iconic), thermal goggles, tranquilizer pistol, chaff grenades
Tool-based stealth gameplay.
COMPLETE BOSS FIGHTS — each boss is uniquely designed puzzle/duel
Iconic bosses: Psycho Mantis, The End, The Boss, Sniper Wolf, Vulcan Raven, Volgin, Fatman.
MGS V ONLY: build MOTHER BASE + recruit soldiers via Fulton balloon extraction
Base-building meta-mechanic.
Scoring
Story-driven; some entries score rank (No Kill, No Alert, Time completion) for replay bonuses. MGS V has S-rank mission grades.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Complete main story | Story progression + credits |
| No kill / no alert run | Special ranks + rewards (MGS1-3-4-5) |
| Foxhound / Big Boss rank (MGS series) | Highest rank; achieve stealth + speed + zero saves + zero kills |
| S-rank all missions MGS V | Completionist achievement |
| Recruit Mother Base soldiers MGSV | Build R&D + Combat teams; unlock new weapons/gear |
Win condition · Complete final boss + narrative resolution. True endings + rank rewards for skilled play.
Playing area
Called
Console + TV / PC
Dimensions
Any TV / monitor
Play on PlayStation (all generations), Xbox (MGSV, MGS Master Collection), Nintendo (rare), PC (Steam MGS Master Collection Vol. 1 2023).
Equipment
MGS Master Collection Vol. 1 ($60 USD, 2023)
MGS 1, 2, 3 + Metal Gear + Metal Gear 2 on PS5/PS4/Xbox/Switch/PC
MGS V: The Phantom Pain ($20-40)
Still available on Steam + all consoles
MGS V: Ground Zeroes ($10)
Prologue, tiny standalone
MGS 4 (PS3 only, backwards compat)
Only playable on PS3 or PS3 emulator RPCS3
MGS Δ (Delta): Snake Eater ($60, 2025)
Full remake of MGS3 for PS5/Xbox/PC
DualSense/DualShock/Xbox/Switch controller
Any modern controller
Strategies
Learn guard patrol patterns
Watch, plan, then move; don't rush.
Use tranquilizer pistol for non-lethal takedowns
MGS3+ allow no-kill playthroughs.
Box + camouflage in appropriate biome
MGS3 introduced camo index; higher = more invisible.
Codec + support characters give hints
Otacon, Colonel, Miller radio hints.
MGSV: recruit high-skill soldiers via Fulton
Better Mother Base staff = better R&D + missions.
Terminology
- Snake
- Franchise protagonist across generations (Solid, Naked/Big Boss, Venom).
- Metal Gear
- Bipedal walking tank capable of nuclear launch from anywhere.
- FOX / FOXHOUND
- Special forces units Snake belongs to across timelines.
- The Patriots / La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo
- Secret society controlling world in Solid Snake timeline.
- CQC
- Close-Quarters Combat; hand-to-hand martial art introduced MGS3.
- Codec
- Radio communication frequency-tuned system throughout franchise.
- Solid / Liquid / Solidus
- Three clones of Big Boss; MGS1-2 protagonist + antagonists.
- Big Boss / Naked Snake / Venom Snake
- Prequel timeline (MGS3, Peace Walker, MGSV) protagonists.
- !
- Iconic alert exclamation mark when spotted.
- Fulton extraction
- MGS V balloon-based unit recruitment mechanic.
Major competitions
Metal Gear speedrun scene (MGS1-2-3-4-5 categories)
ongoing · worldwide online · since 1998
AGDQ speedruns MGS regularly featured
biannual · USA + online · since 2010
Games Industry Hall of Fame: MGS1 (multiple)
ongoing · worldwide · since 1998
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Konami (publisher; all pre-2015 and Delta 2025)
Founded 1969 · Tokyo, Japan
Kojima Productions (Kojima's studio; independent after 2015)
Founded 2005 · Tokyo, Japan
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Hideo Kojima (JP) — Creator/director; also Death Stranding, Silent Hills (cancelled)
- David Hayter (Canada/US) — English voice of Solid Snake / Big Boss (MGS1-2-3-4, Peace Walker)
- Kiefer Sutherland (US) — English voice of Venom Snake in MGSV (controversial casting)
- Akio Otsuka (JP) — Japanese voice of Snake throughout franchise
- Yoji Shinkawa (JP) — Iconic character/mech designer for Metal Gear + Kojima Productions
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play MGS3: Snake Eater (Master Collection or MGS Delta 2025)
Best entry point — self-contained prequel with amazing story.
intermediate
- 1
Play MGS1 (Master Collection Vol. 1)
Original PS1 classic; short 10-15 hours.
advanced
- 1
Complete full timeline: 3 → Peace Walker → V → 1 → 2 → 4
Chronological playthrough of full narrative.
Frequently asked
What is Metal Gear Solid?+
SEMINAL TACTICAL-ESPIONAGE-ACTION FRANCHISE created by HIDEO KOJIMA (Konami / Kojima Productions) — original Metal Gear 1987 MSX2 pioneered stealth gameplay; MGS PS1 1998 revolutionized cinematic storytelling in video games. Player controls various iterations of Snake infiltrating military bases to stop nuclear-armed bipedal mechs called Metal Gear. 60+ MILLION UNITS SOLD franchise-wide. Iconic for CODEC radio, 4TH-WALL-BREAKING boss fights, and complex geopolitical/philosophical themes. Considered ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL video game series ever.
Where to start Metal Gear Solid in 2026?+
TWO RECOMMENDED ENTRY POINTS: (1) MGS3: SNAKE EATER via Master Collection Vol. 1 ($60, PS5/PS4/Xbox/Switch/PC) OR MGS DELTA: SNAKE EATER (2025 full remake) — self-contained prequel; amazing story; best gameplay of classic era. (2) MGSV: THE PHANTOM PAIN ($20-40, all platforms) — open-world, modern controls, hundreds of hours of content, still amazing 10 years later. Both are great starting points; MGS3 is more narrative-focused, MGSV more sandbox.
Sources & provenance
- Konami — Metal Gear— Konami
- Wikipedia — Metal Gear— Wikipedia