Metal Gear Solid cover
FranchiseMetal Gear SolidMetal GearSeriesMetal Gear SolidMetal Gear

Metal Gear Solid

Critic score1 critic
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First release
Sep 03, 1998
Publisher
Konami
Genres
Adventure, Shooter, Tactical · Action, Science fiction, Survival, Stealth
Platforms
PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable

Metal Gear Solid is a stealth game created by Hideo Kojima which follows the MSX2 video games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Despite a transition to 3D, Metal Gear Solid's gameplay remains similar to his predecessors. The game utilizes a traditional top-down view and the player must navigate the protagonist Solid Snake through the game's areas without being detected. Detection will set off an alarm which draws armed enemies to his location. Conversations with Snake's allies and cutscenes are used extensively to advance the plot and gain more insight into it. Metal Gear Solid is regarded as one of the greatest and most important video games of all time, and helped popularize the stealth genre and in-engine cinematic cutscenes.

Also known as MGS, MGS1, 特攻神諜, Metal Gear 3

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Metal Gear Solid takes place in an alternate history in which the Cold War continued into the 1990s, ending at some point near the end of the 20th century. Coming out of retirement, special agent Solid Snake is called back into the line of duty to take on rogue members of Foxhound, a crack government anti-terrorist squad threatening to launch nuclear-weapons on the White House unless they receive their $1 billion ransom. With only 24 hours to sabotage Foxhound's threat, Snake must infiltrate enemy lines, rescue the two hostages and thwart the terrorists' plans. The demons of his past will challenge him and his will as a soldier shall be tested, as Snake fights to save the world from nuclear devastation.Read more

Metal Gear Solid takes place in an alternate history in which the Cold War continued into the 1990s, ending at some point near the end of the 20th century. Coming out of retirement, special agent Solid Snake is called back into the line of duty to take on rogue members of Foxhound, a crack government anti-terrorist squad threatening to launch nuclear-weapons on the White House unless they receive their $1 billion ransom. With only 24 hours to sabotage Foxhound's threat, Snake must infiltrate enemy lines, rescue the two hostages and thwart the terrorists' plans. The demons of his past will challenge him and his will as a soldier shall be tested, as Snake fights to save the world from nuclear devastation.

Release dates
PlayStation
Sep 03, 1998
PlayStation
Oct 20, 1998
PlayStation
Feb 1999
All 10 release dates
PlayStation
Feb 22, 1999
PlayStation 3
Mar 21, 2008
PlayStation Portable
Mar 21, 2008
PlayStation 3
Jun 18, 2009
PlayStation Portable
Jun 18, 2009
PlayStation 3
Nov 19, 2009
PlayStation Portable
Nov 19, 2009
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
22h
Main + Extras
12h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Third person
Where to buy
Keywords
modern warfare, helicopter, cyberpunk, mech, kojima
… All 101, murder, virus, dystopian, death, soldier, military, action-adventure, bromance, espionage, backtracking, multiple endings, traps, building, hiding, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, satire, conspiracy, torture, tank, camera, dog, otaku, hide and seek, playstation network, one-man army, boss fight, comic book, fixed camera, explosion, digital distribution, rivaling factions, modern military, mind control, psone classics, mission briefing, damsel in distress, breaking the fourth wall, original soundtrack release, unlockables, motion blur, non-player character, profanity, save point, real-time combat, infinite ammo, betrayal, political thriller, mercenary, playstation tv support, video game characters that play video games, cover system, terrorists, presidential candidate, nuclear bomb, villain, anti-hero, clone, surveillance camera, interquel, plot twist, stealth kill, not-so-bad guys, recurring character, weapon modification, camera shift, fan service, comic book cutscene, vent crawling, time trials, telekinesis, propaganda, on-site procurement, anarchism, anti-villain, close quarters combat, elevator ambush, bad parents, second person perspective, secret history, sequel by a different developer, tragic hero, heroic sacrifice, false death, nuclear war, war veterans, gameplay twist, dark past, secret past, reluctant hero, stealth camouflage, tragic villain, backwards compatibility, lgbtq+, male protagonist, political

At a Glance

Critic Score
80
Main Story (IGDB)
22h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
12h
How it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

How it plays

Languages

  • Englishinterface, audio, subtitles
  • Deutschinterface, subtitles
IGDB · recorded 1 Nov 2026
Also in 4 other languages

Language data: IGDB · recorded 1 Nov 2026