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 games. The first game, Metal Gear, was released in 1987 for MSX home computers. Players often control a special forces soldier named Solid Snake, who is usually tasked with finding a superweapon called "Metal Gear," a robot that walks like a person and can launch nuclear weapons.
Many follow-up games were released for various consoles, expanding the story and introducing new characters who support or oppose Snake. Earlier games in the series explored the origins of Metal Gear and its characters. The third game, Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation, introduced 3D graphics and helped the series gain worldwide popularity.
The series is known for helping to create and popularize stealth games and games with movie-like scenes. Features include dramatic cutscenes, complex stories, unusual humor, and themes related to cyberpunk, dystopian futures, politics, and philosophy. The games also include references to Hollywood movies. Each game has received praise and awards. As of December 2025, the series has sold 65.5 million copies. The franchise has also been adapted into comics, novels, and audio dramas. Solid Snake has appeared in other games, such as Super Smash Bros., Ape Escape 3, LittleBigPlanet, Fortnite, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Games
Hideo Kojima designed the original Metal Gear, which first appeared in Japan and Europe in 1987 for the MSX2 computer. A different team made a significantly changed version for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which was released in Japan on December 22, 1987, North America in June 1988, and Europe and Australia in 1989. Konami created an NES sequel called Snake's Revenge without Kojima. It was released in North America and Europe in 1990. One of the designers of that game met Kojima and asked him to create 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 directing his third Metal Gear game, Metal Gear Solid, for the PlayStation. Development started 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 many 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 called Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was released for the PlayStation 2 in November 2001. 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 for the PlayStation 2. This game was the first prequel, set before all previously released Metal Gear games, and it introduced the origin of the franchise. A sequel to Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, was released for 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 called Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in January 2014 for PC. The game takes place after Guns of the Patriots and features Raiden, the protagonist of Sons of Liberty who became a cyborg ninja.
Expanded re-releases of games in the series were also made, 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 made for the PlayStation Portable. A game called Metal Gear Acid and its sequel used turn-based strategy mechanics based on collectible cards, which was different from the series' usual style.
On May 18, 2009, a teaser site for the next Metal Gear game was uploaded by Kojima Production. The site included countdowns 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 at Kojima's request, and the full version was promised in a later issue. The new game was eventually 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. Official screenshots and art for the demo were later released. 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
Storyline
In the Metal Gear universe, history changed after World War I with the creation of the Philosophers, a fictional secret agreement between the United States, China, and the Soviet Union. They formed the fictional Cobra Unit, led by The Boss, who helped defeat the Axis Powers. Technology from the 1970s, such as cloning, artificial intelligence, and robotics, is more advanced in this world. The 11 main Metal Gear games tell a story that spans over 55 years, starting during the Cold War and ending in 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 first Metal Gear game. Solid Snake remains the main character of the series, as the prequels explain his purpose and how he is the opposite of his father.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the first game in the series. It introduces Naked Snake, a CIA operative working for the fictional FOX unit during the Cold War. The game shows how Naked Snake grows from an apprentice into a legendary soldier and how his mentor, The Boss, falls from power. After The Boss joins the Soviet Union, Naked Snake is sent to Russia to kill her and stop Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin, a Soviet colonel planning to overthrow the government. His bravery earns him the nickname "Big Boss." The origins of The Patriots, an organization created by Zero, are also explored in the game.
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows Naked Snake after he leaves the FOX unit. At this point, he has not yet accepted the nickname "Big Boss." The game shows how he starts his own mercenary group and faces challenges from his old unit. Some people question whether all parts of the game are part of the official Metal Gear timeline, as the creator, Kojima, said the main story is part of the series, but some details are not.
The next game, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, takes place 10 years after Snake Eater and follows the young Big Boss. Now the leader of the mercenary group Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF), Big Boss learns that nuclear warheads are being sent to Latin America and decides to stop them. New characters help him, and some from later games, like a younger version of Kazuhira Miller, appear.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the direct sequel to Peace Walker and has two chapters. The first chapter, Ground Zeroes, happens weeks after the events of Peace Walker. Big Boss is sent to rescue two VIPs in Cuba but is attacked by the XOF organization. During the chaos, his helicopter is damaged, and he is hospitalized for nine years. The main story, The Phantom Pain, follows Big Boss forming a new 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 hides to create Outer Heaven, a place for soldiers to live without being controlled by any ideology.
The first Metal Gear game for the MSX computer follows Solid Snake, a new member of the FOXHOUND unit. He is sent by his leader, Big Boss, to South Africa to find a missing teammate, Gray Fox, and investigate a weapon called Metal Gear. After completing his mission, Big Boss is revealed to be the leader of Outer Heaven, a place he created for soldiers to be free from government control. He fights Snake and is killed, but it is later shown that this was a body double from The Phantom Pain. In Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, the real Big Boss has created a new nation called Zanzibar Land and fights Snake again, who defeats him.
Metal Gear Solid explains that Solid Snake is a genetic clone of Big Boss, made as part of a secret government project. A new antagonist, Liquid Snake, is introduced as Solid Snake’s twin brother. After Snake retires, Liquid takes control of FOXHOUND and plans to use a weapon called REX to force the government to return Big Boss’s remains. Solid Snake destroys REX and defeats most of the renegade FOXHOUND members, except for Revolver Ocelot.
In Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a third brother, Solidus Snake, becomes the President of the United States. He learns about "The Patriots," a secret group that has been controlling history. After his presidency, Solidus takes over the Big Shell facility, which is developing Arsenal Gear, a mobile fortress that protects AIs designed to influence human development. The game takes place four years after Liquid’s death and follows Raiden, a soldier who fights Solidus. Raiden learns that he was once a child soldier under Solidus and teams up with Snake to stop Revolver Ocelot, who is working for The Patriots. At the end, Ocelot is taken over by Liquid Snake’s nanomachines.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots follows an aging Solid Snake, now called "Old Snake," who is on a mission to stop Revolver Ocelot, now known as Liquid Ocelot. Even though the Arsenal Gear was destroyed in Sons of Liberty, The Patriots continue to use AIs to control the world. Ocelot fights back by building armies and plans to take over
Development
The first Metal Gear game was planned to be an action game showing modern military battles. However, the MSX2 computer's technology limited how many bullets or enemies could appear on the screen at once. Hideo Kojima, the game's creator, thought this made the fighting parts less exciting. He was inspired by the movie The Great Escape and changed the game to focus on a prisoner trying to escape. In articles for Official PlayStation 2 Magazine, Hideo Kojima said Hollywood movies were major influences for the story and gameplay of the Metal Gear series. He also mentioned the James Bond movies had the biggest impact on creating Metal Gear Solid. The original story included ideas about fear of nuclear war during the 1980s, which came from the Cold War. Later games were planned to involve checking for nuclear weapons in Iraq and Iran, but this idea was removed because of worries about political issues in the Middle East. Other changes happened in Metal Gear Solid 2 because of the September 11 attacks in 2001.
After Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Kojima planned to release the third game for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994. However, the game was later moved to the PlayStation, renamed, and the word "Solid" was added to the series name as the games began using 3D computer graphics. From then on, the games were made to look more realistic. Metal Gear Solid 3 was first 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 despite the challenges. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty left some story details unanswered, allowing players to discuss them freely. This caused problems in the English versions of Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2, as they mentioned story points later explored in Metal Gear Solid 4.
Related media
A book version of the original Metal Gear game was published in 1988 as part of Scholastic's Worlds of Power series. This series included books based on third-party NES games. Alexander Frost wrote the book. The story in the book is not the same as the game's official story. Instead, it is based on Konami of America's version of the plot. The book also changes the name of the character Solid Snake to Justin Halley and renames Snake's unit from FOXHOUND to the "Snake Men." In Japan, a gamebook version of Metal Gear was published on March 31, 1988, shortly after the game was released on the Famicom. This gamebook is set two years after the original game and is part of the Konami Gamebook Series. A book version of Metal Gear Solid was published in 2008. Raymond Benson, who wrote nine James Bond novels, wrote this book. Benson also wrote a book version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which was published in 2009. Critics generally gave positive reviews of Benson's books. A Japanese-language book version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was written by Project Itoh and published on June 12, 2008. This book 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. Kris Oprisko wrote the comic, and Ashley Wood created the illustrations. A comic book version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was also published by IDW, written by Alex Garner with illustrations by Ashley Wood. The comic series had 24 issues and was collected in two trade paperbacks and a hardback edition. 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. A second digital version, Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée, was released in Japan on DVD in 2008. This version includes fully voiced versions of both comics, with Japanese voice actors from the games. However, actors who have passed away were not included.
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. The series was later collected into two volumes. The stories follow Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Mei Ling, and Roy Campbell on additional missions as FOXHOUND operatives. However, these stories are not considered official parts of the Metal Gear canon. Japanese voice actors from the game returned for the radio drama, and new characters were also introduced.
Several promotional DVDs have been released about 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 discussing one game from the original five-part series in order, starting with MGS3. Each chapter features comments 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 presented as a pseudo-documentary about Solid Snake and includes a prologue and four chapters. Each chapter covers different parts of the series, such as the origins of Naked Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake.
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 produced more figures of characters from Sons of Liberty. Each figure includes a piece of Metal Gear RAY, so collecting all figures is needed to build the robot.
Konami released 4-inch blind-box figures based on MGS2 in Japan in 2002, followed by the Substance series in 2003. These figures were later sold in card packages in the U.S. and U.K. During the release of MGS3, Medicom created 12-inch figures of Snake as part of their Real Action Heroes line. Medicom later released figures for Snake Eater and Guns of the Patriots, including 7-inch and 12-inch versions of characters.
In 2009, toy company ThreeA partnered with Hideo Kojima to create products related to the series. In 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 also worked with artist Ashley Wood to create a similarly scaled model of Metal Gear RAY. A prototype was shown at the ReVenture hobby show in Hong Kong in 2012.
Square Enix began making 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. The line later expanded to include characters from Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty, Ground Zeroes, and The Phantom Pain, with more detailed designs than earlier figures.
In 2012, Hot Toys released a 1/6th scale action figure of Naked Snake in his original sneaking suit from MGS3, as well as a figure of the Boss. To celebrate the series' 25th anniversary, Kotobukiya released a 1/100 scale model of Metal Gear REX. This model includes small figures of Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Gray Fox in both standing and near-death versions. Kotobukiya later released a similar model of RAY. Kaiyodo's Revoltech line includes figures of Big Boss from Peace Walker, Raiden from Rising: Revengeance, and characters from The Phantom Pain, including Venom Snake and a Soviet soldier.
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 right next to the player," with changes to music tempo and texture instead of switching tracks. These features were later added in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Harry Gregson-Williams
Reception and legacy
As of December 2025, the Metal Gear franchise has sold more than 65.5 million copies worldwide. By February 2007, the series had earned over $1 billion (equivalent to between $1.6 and $2.8 billion when adjusted for inflation) from 20 million copies sold. Additional sales included 3 million strategy guides, 1.5 million action figures, and 200,000 comic books. As of 2019, the franchise had earned about $2.5 billion globally.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty sold 7.03 million copies worldwide. It is followed in sales by Metal Gear Solid with over 7 million copies sold, then Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, each with over 6 million copies sold. 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. PlayStation Portable games had lower sales, but this was linked to the 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 far fewer copies than Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
The series, especially the games directed by Hideo Kojima, is often considered one of the most influential in video game history and has received strong praise from critics and players. Most numbered installments are regarded as some of the greatest video games ever made. 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. In Game Informer Magazine’s list of the top 200 games of all time, Metal Gear Solid 2 ranked No. 50. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was voted the fifth greatest PlayStation game in a poll by PlayStation Official Magazine (UK). 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 games have won awards, such as Metal Gear Solid, which received the "Excellence Award for Interactive Art" from the Japan Media Arts Festival, and Metal Gear Solid 2, which won Game of the Year from Game Informer.
Metal Gear was the first mainstream stealth game, starting with the player unarmed and selling over a million copies in the United States. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake improved on its predecessor’s stealth gameplay and is considered one of the best 8-bit games ever made. Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 are credited with creating stealth mechanics. Metal Gear Solid, which debuted at the 1996 Tokyo Game Show, was the first 3D stealth game and helped popularize the stealth genre and the hiding-behind-cover mechanic. The series introduced cinematic techniques into video games, with Metal Gear Solid being called the "first modern video game" by Eurogamer.
Several boss fights in the series are praised for their variety and the strategy needed to defeat them. The series is known for breaking the fourth wall in its scenes. The story is noted for its detailed characters and exploration of controversial themes. Hideo Kojima’s script in Metal Gear Solid 2 has been praised, with some calling it the first example of a postmodern video game and others saying it anticipated ideas like post-truth politics, fake news, echo chambers, and alternative facts. The series’ storytelling is often praised as some of the most interesting science fiction stories in any medium. The cutscenes are frequently praised for their graphics and the quality of the actors’ performances. However, some critics have noted that the scenes are too long and that parts of the story are confusing. The introduction of Raiden as the main character in Metal Gear Solid 2 was controversial because he was not shown in the game’s trailers and replaced the popular character Solid Snake. The series’ audio has been praised for its use of sound and music, earning awards for its quality.
The Metal Gear series influenced many video game developers. Clint Hocking, the designer of Splinter Cell and Far Cry 2, said that every stealth-action game owes its existence to the success of Metal Gear. Mathieu Ferland, a producer for Splinter Cell, stated that Metal Gear Solid was a major inspiration and a pioneer for the genre and directing quality. Denis Dyack, founder of Silicon Knights, said that Metal Gear Solid’s story, script, characters, voice acting, and cutscenes were a landmark for video games. Cliff Bleszinski, creator of Unreal and Gears of War, cited Metal Gear’s military themes and action 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, said Metal Gear Solid was 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, especially Metal Gear Solid 2. Some critics have compared Metal Gear Solid, particularly Metal Gear Solid 2, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).