Metal Gear (Japanese: METAL GEAR, Hepburn: Metaru Gia) is a Japanese series of action-adventure stealth games created by Hideo Kojima. Konami developed and published the first game, Metal Gear, which was released in 1987 for MSX home computers. In the game, players often control a special forces soldier named Solid Snake, who is usually tasked with finding a powerful weapon called "Metal Gear," a robot that walks like a person and can launch nuclear weapons.
Many follow-up games were released for different consoles, expanding the story and introducing new characters who support or oppose Snake. Some earlier games explored the origins of Metal Gear and recurring characters. The third game in the series, Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation, introduced 3D graphics and helped the series gain worldwide recognition.
The series is known for helping start and popularize stealth games and games with movie-like scenes. Notable features include dramatic cutscenes, complex stories, unusual humor, and themes related to cyberpunk, dystopian futures, politics, and philosophy. The series also includes references to Hollywood movies. Individual games in the series have received high praise and won awards. As of December 2025, the series has sold 65.5 million copies. The franchise has also been adapted into comics, novels, and drama CDs. Solid Snake has appeared in other games, such as Super Smash Bros., Ape Escape 3, LittleBigPlanet, and Fortnite.
Games
Hideo Kojima designed the original Metal Gear, which was first released in Japan and Europe in 1987 for the MSX2 computer platform. A different team made a significantly changed version of the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This version was released in Japan on December 22, 1987, in North America in June 1988, and in Europe and Australia sometime in 1989. Konami created an NES sequel called Snake's Revenge, which was released in North America and Europe in 1990. One of the designers of that game met Kojima and asked him to make a "real Metal Gear sequel." In response, Kojima began developing Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which was released in Japan in 1990 for the MSX2.
After completing Metal Gear 2, Kojima worked on other projects before creating his third Metal Gear game, Metal Gear Solid, for the PlayStation. Development began in 1994, and the game was shown at the 1996 Tokyo Game Show before being released in 1998. The success of Metal Gear Solid led to a series of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, ports, and remakes for platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A sequel to Metal Gear Solid, called Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was released in November 2001 for the PlayStation 2. A remake of the original Metal Gear Solid, titled Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, was released for the Nintendo GameCube in early 2004. Later that year, the third numbered entry, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, was released on the PlayStation 2. This game was the first prequel, set before all previously released Metal Gear games, and served as the origin of the franchise. It was followed by a sequel, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, released on the PlayStation Portable in 2006. The main storyline of the series ended with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, released for the PlayStation 3 in 2008. This game included a multiplayer spin-off called Metal Gear Online.
In April 2010, another sequel to Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, was released for the PlayStation Portable and was set shortly after the events of Portable Ops. A spin-off game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, was released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in January 2014 for Steam (PC). The game was set after Guns of the Patriots and featured Raiden, the protagonist from Sons of Liberty who became a cyborg ninja.
Expanded re-releases of games in the series were also produced, such as Integral (Metal Gear Solid), Substance (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty), and Subsistence (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater). Portable versions of the games are usually set outside the main storyline. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel was released for the Game Boy Color, and several games were released for Sony's PlayStation Portable. Metal Gear Acid and its sequel used turn-based strategy mechanics based on collectible cards, which was different from the rest of the series.
On May 18, 2009, a teaser site for the next Metal Gear game was uploaded by Kojima Production. The site had countdowns leading to flashing letters and images of two characters resembling a middle-aged Big Boss and a cyborg Raiden. An article in the July 2009 issue of Famitsu PSP + PS3 covered the site and included an interview with Hideo Kojima. The interview was heavily censored, as requested by Kojima, who was working on the new game. The article was to be published fully in a later issue. The new game was later revealed to be Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, announced on June 1, 2009, at E3 during the Microsoft Press Conference.
At E3 2010, a demo called "Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater – The Naked Sample" was shown on the Nintendo 3DS. The official E3 Kojima site later released screenshots and art for the demo. Kojima stated that this was not a preview of a full game but a sample of what could be done on the 3DS hardware. At Sony's PlayStation Meeting on January 27, 2011, Kojima demonstrated a possible portable version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation Vita.
On June 2, 2011, Konami announced the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, released in November 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The collection included remastered versions of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, rendered in 720p and running at 60fps, with Trophies/Achievements and remastered audio. On August 15, 2011, UK retailer Zavvi secured the exclusive right to sell the Metal Gear Solid: Ultimate HD Collection, available only for the PlayStation 3, which was released on November 25.
In November 2011, Kojima discussed the future of the series with PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), mentioning an upcoming Metal Gear Solid 5. He said, "I think we'll probably have to make it [a sequel to MGS4] at some point, but what that will be, we have no idea." He noted that Konami would have less influence on the game compared to previous projects. After mixed fan reactions to the spin-off Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Kojima assured fans that an "authentic stealth Metal Gear Solid" sequel would be made in the future.
During a discussion panel at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in March
Storyline
In the Metal Gear universe, history changed after World War 1. A fictional secret agreement was made between the United States, China, and the Soviet Union. This group, called the Philosophers, created a fictional military unit named Cobra, led by a character named The Boss. This unit helped defeat the Axis Powers during World War 2. Technology from the 1970s, such as cloning, artificial intelligence, and robotics, is more advanced in this universe. The 11 main Metal Gear games tell a story that covers more than 55 years, starting during the Cold War and continuing into the near future. Big Boss is the most important character in the series. Five of the 11 games are prequels that focus on his story, which happens many years before the original Metal Gear game. Solid Snake remains the main character of the series, and the prequels explain his background and how he is the opposite of his father.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the first game in the series. It introduces a character named Naked Snake, who works for a fictional CIA unit called FOX during the Cold War. The game shows Naked Snake’s journey from a trainee to a legendary soldier and the downfall of his mentor, The Boss. After The Boss joins the Soviet Union, Naked Snake is sent to Russia to kill her and stop a Soviet colonel named Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin. At the end of the game, Naked Snake earns the nickname "Big Boss." The game also explains the origins of an organization called The Patriots, created by a character named Zero.
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows Naked Snake after he leaves FOX. At this time, he has not yet accepted the nickname "Big Boss." The game shows the beginning of his mercenary unit and his efforts to escape the San Hieronymo Peninsula while fighting former members of his unit. Some parts of the game are considered official in the Metal Gear timeline, while others are not.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker takes place ten years after the events of Snake Eater. It follows Big Boss, now the leader of a mercenary group called Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF). Big Boss discovers that nuclear warheads are being moved to Latin America and decides to stop them. The game introduces new characters who help Big Boss. Some characters from later games, like a younger version of Kazuhira Miller, also appear.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a direct sequel to Peace Walker. It has two parts. The first, called Ground Zeroes, happens a few weeks after the events of Peace Walker. Big Boss is sent to rescue two important people from a secret U.S. military site in Cuba. During this mission, Big Boss’s helicopter is damaged by a bomb inside a character named Paz. The helicopter crashes, and Big Boss is injured and hospitalized for nine years. This leads to the main story of The Phantom Pain, where Big Boss starts a new military group called the Diamond Dogs to fight back after MSF is destroyed. However, the "Big Boss" in this story is actually a brainwashed survivor of the crash, while the real Big Boss goes into hiding to create a place called Outer Heaven, where soldiers can live without being controlled by any government.
The first Metal Gear game for the MSX computer follows Solid Snake, a new member of the FOXHOUND unit. He is sent by his superior, Big Boss, to a fortress in South Africa called Outer Heaven. His mission is to find a missing team member named Gray Fox and investigate a weapon called Metal Gear. After completing his mission, Solid Snake discovers that Big Boss is the leader of Outer Heaven, a place he created for soldiers to live free from government control. Big Boss fights Solid Snake and is killed. However, this was actually a body double from the game Metal Gear Solid V: The
Development
The first Metal Gear game was planned as an action game that showed modern military battles. However, the MSX2 computer's hardware limited how many bullets and enemies could appear on the screen, which Hideo Kojima believed made the combat less exciting. He was inspired by the movie The Great Escape and changed the gameplay to focus on a prisoner trying to escape. In articles for Official PlayStation 2 Magazine, Hideo Kojima said several Hollywood films influenced the story and gameplay of the Metal Gear series. He also mentioned that the James Bond movies had the greatest influence on creating Metal Gear Solid. The original game's story included fears about nuclear war during the 1980s caused by the Cold War. Later games included ideas about inspecting nuclear weapons in Iraq and Iran, but this was removed because of growing concerns about politics in the Middle East. Other changes happened in Metal Gear Solid 2 due to the September 11 attacks.
After Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Kojima planned to release the third game for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994. The game was later moved to the PlayStation, renamed, and its sequels added the word "Solid" because the series began using 3D computer graphics. From then on, the games were designed to look more realistic to improve player enjoyment. Metal Gear Solid 3 was originally planned for the PlayStation 3, but because the console took too long to release, the game was made for the PlayStation 2 instead. Earlier games had indoor settings because of console limitations, but Kojima wanted to change this even though it was challenging. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty left some plot points unanswered, allowing players to discuss them and form their own ideas. This caused problems in the English versions of Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2, as they mentioned story details later explored in Metal Gear Solid 4.
Related media
A book version of the original Metal Gear was published in 1988 as part of Scholastic's Worlds of Power series, which included stories based on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games. The book was written by Alexander Frost. It does not follow the game's official story but instead uses the version of the plot created by Konami of America. The book changes the name of the character Solid Snake to Justin Halley and renames his unit from FOXHOUND to the "Snake Men." In Japan, a Metal Gear gamebook was released on March 31, 1988, shortly after the game came out on the Famicom. This gamebook takes place two years after the original Metal Gear and is part of the Konami Gamebook Series. A book version of Metal Gear Solid was published in 2008 by Raymond Benson, who also wrote nine James Bond novels. Benson also wrote a book version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which came out in 2009. Reviews of Benson's books were mostly positive, with one website saying he "does a fine job translating the game to the page" and another calling Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty "a great companion to the game." A Japanese-language book version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was published on June 12, 2008, by Project Itoh. It was translated into English by Viz Media and released on June 19, 2012.
A comic book version of the original Metal Gear Solid was published by IDW Publishing in 2004. It was written by Kris Oprisko and illustrated by Ashley Wood. A comic book version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was also published by IDW, written by Alex Garner and illustrated by Ashley Wood. The comic series had 24 issues and was collected in two trade paperbacks and one hardback edition, which is no longer available. A paperback version called Metal Gear Solid Omnibus was released in June 2010. A digital version of the first comic was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2006 as Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel. A second digital version, Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée, was released in Japan on DVD in 2008 and includes fully voiced versions of both comics. Most Japanese voice actors from the games returned for these versions, except those who had passed away.
A radio drama based on the original Metal Gear Solid aired in Japan from 1998 to 1999 as part of Konami's CLUB db program. Directed by Shuyo Murata and written by Motosada Mori, the drama had 12 weekly episodes divided into three story arcs. It was later collected into two volumes. The stories follow Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Mei Ling, and Roy Campbell on new missions as FOXHOUND operatives. However, these stories are not considered official parts of the Metal Gear series. The Japanese voice actors from the game returned for the radio drama, and new characters were also introduced.
Several DVDs have been released to promote the Metal Gear series. Metal Gear Saga vol. 1 was released in 2006 as a pre-order disc for MGS3: Subsistence. It includes five chapters, each focusing on one game in the series in order (starting with MGS3), with discussions by Hideo Kojima. Metal Gear Saga vol. 2 was first shown at the 20th Metal Gear Anniversary Party and later released as a pre-order disc for MGS4. This DVD is a pseudo-documentary about Solid Snake and includes a prologue and four chapters covering different characters and events in the series.
In 1999, McFarlane Toys, with Konami's help, created action figures of key characters from Metal Gear Solid. In 2001, after the success of the first series and the release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, McFarlane and Konami made new action figures for the game. Each figure includes a piece of the Metal Gear RAY robot, so collecting all the figures is needed to build the robot. Konami also released 4-inch blind-box figures of characters from MGS2 in Japan in 2002, followed by a Substance series in 2003. The Substance figures were later sold in card packages in the United States and United Kingdom. During the release of MGS3, Medicom made 12-inch action figures of Snake as part of their Real Action Heroes line. Medicom later released figures of characters from Snake Eater and Guns of the Patriots.
In 2009, toy company ThreeA partnered with Hideo Kojima to create related products. In late 2012, ThreeA released a 1/48-scale model of Metal Gear REX with working LED lights. The model can be dressed to show REX's damaged state from Guns of the Patriots. ThreeA is also working with artist Ashley Wood to make a similarly scaled model of Metal Gear RAY. A prototype was shown at the ReVenture hobby show in Hong Kong in 2012. Square Enix also made toys based on the series, starting with characters and vehicles from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. These toys, part of Square's Play Arts Kai line, were released in 2010 and later expanded to include characters from other games. In 2012, Hot Toys released a 1/6th-scale action figure of Naked Snake in his sneaking suit from MGS3 and the Boss.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Metal Gear series, Kotobukiya released a 1/100-scale model of Metal Gear REX with small figures of Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Gray Fox in different poses. Kotobukiya later made a model of RAY. Kaiyodo's Revoltech line includes figures of Big Boss from Peace Walker and Raiden from Rising: Revengeance, as well as Venom Snake and a Soviet soldier from The Phantom Pain.
The soundtracks for the first two Metal Gear games were created by Iku Mizutani, Shigehiro Takenouchi, and Motoaki Furukawa. For Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima wanted "a full orchestra next to the player," with music that changed in tempo and texture instead of switching to new tracks. These features were later used in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Kojima's choice of Harry Gregson-Williams, a Hollywood composer from Hans Zimmer's studio, to create the music for Metal Gear Solid 2 was widely publicized. Gregson-Williams also worked on the soundtracks for Metal Gear Solid 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4. Theme songs for the games have been provided by popular artists like Rika Muranaka. Several soundtracks based on the games have also been published.
In May 2006, Hideo Kojima announced that an English-language movie adaptation of Metal Gear Solid was in early development. Kojima also announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo that month that he had signed a contract with a company.
Reception and legacy
The Metal Gear franchise has sold over 65.5 million copies as of December 2025. By February 2007, the series had earned more than $1 billion (equivalent to between $1.6–2.8 billion when adjusted for inflation) from 20 million copies sold. Additional items, such as 3 million strategy guides, 1.5 million action figures, and 200,000 comic books, were also sold. As of 2019, the franchise had earned about $2.5 billion worldwide.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty sold 7.03 million copies worldwide. It is followed by Metal Gear Solid, which sold over 7 million copies, and then Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, each selling over 6 million copies. According to Chart-Track, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was the second fastest-selling PlayStation 3 game in the United Kingdom after Grand Theft Auto IV. The Phantom Pain earned $179 million on its release day, more than the combined opening day box office of the films Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World. The PlayStation Portable games had lower sales, but this was likely due to low sales of the console at the time. Metal Gear Survive, the first Metal Gear game developed after series creator Hideo Kojima left Konami, sold only a small fraction of the copies sold by Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
The series, especially the games directed by Hideo Kojima, is widely considered one of the most influential in video game history and has received strong praise from critics and players. Most numbered games are regarded as some of the greatest video games of all time. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has a score of 95.09% on GameRankings and 96/100 on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated game in the series. In 2002, Metal Gear Solid was named the best PlayStation game ever by IGN. Metal Gear Solid 2 ranked No. 50 on Game Informer Magazine’s list of the top 200 games of all time. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was voted the fifth greatest PlayStation game in a poll by PlayStation Official Magazine (UK). Both Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2 were displayed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “The Art of Video Games” exhibition from March 16 to September 30, 2012. The series has won many awards, including the “Excellence Award for Interactive Art” by the Japan Media Arts Festival for Metal Gear Solid and the Game of the Year award by Game Informer for Metal Gear Solid 2.
Metal Gear was the first mainstream stealth game, starting with the player unarmed. It sold over a million copies in the United States. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake improved stealth gameplay and is considered one of the best 8-bit games ever made. Both Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 helped create stealth mechanics in games. Metal Gear Solid, which debuted at the 1996 Tokyo Game Show, was the first 3D stealth game and is credited with popularizing the stealth genre and the hiding-behind-cover mechanic. The series introduced cinematic techniques into video games, with Metal Gear Solid often called the “first modern video game” by Eurogamer.
Boss fights in the series are praised for their variety and the strategy needed to beat them. The series is known for scenes where characters address the audience directly. The storyline is noted for its detailed characters and exploration of complex themes. Hideo Kojima’s script for Metal Gear Solid 2 has been praised, with some calling it the first example of a postmodern video game and others noting its connection to ideas like post-truth politics and fake news. The series’ storytelling has been praised as some of the most compelling science fiction stories in any medium. Cutscenes are often praised for their graphics and performances, though some critics have noted that scenes can be too long or parts of the storyline may be confusing. The introduction of Raiden as the main character in Metal Gear Solid 2, after he was not shown in earlier trailers and replaced Solid Snake, is considered one of the most controversial moments in the series. The series’ audio, including sound and music, has been highly praised and has earned awards.
The Metal Gear series influenced many video game developers. Clint Hocking, the designer of Splinter Cell and Far Cry 2, said that all stealth-action games owe their existence to Metal Gear’s success. Mathieu Ferland, a Splinter Cell producer, stated that Metal Gear Solid inspired the game and was a pioneer for the genre and quality of direction. Denis Dyack, founder of Silicon Knights, called Metal Gear Solid’s storytelling, characters, and cinematography a landmark for the future of video games. Cliff Bleszinski, creator of Unreal and Gears of War, cited Metal Gear’s military themes and gameplay as a major influence, naming Gears of War in honor of Metal Gear. Takuma Endo, creator of Tenchu, said the early 2D Metal Gear games influenced his work. Tom Leonard, creator of Thief, said Metal Gear Solid’s success showed that experimental stealth gameplay could be successful. Emily Knox, a designer at Sumo Digital, cited Metal Gear Solid as an early influence on her work. Luke Kelly, an animator for Crysis 2, said the game’s animations were inspired by Metal Gear Solid 4. Neil Druckmann, a game designer, said the introduction of Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 2 influenced The Last of Us Part II (2020).
Beyond video games, filmmaker Jordan Peele cited the series as an inspiration, particularly Metal Gear Solid 2. Some critics have compared Metal Gear Solid 2 to the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).