Metal Gear Solid is a stealth action-adventure game directed by Hideo Kojima, released in 1998. A landmark in cinematic game design, it follows special operative Solid Snake infiltrating a nuclear weapons facility — blending tactical stealth, an operatic Cold War narrative, and fourth-wall-breaking moments that redefined what games could be.
Metal Gear Solid is a stealth action-adventure game developed and published by Konami, directed by Hideo Kojima, and released in September 1998. It is the third entry in the Metal Gear series and the first to use 3D graphics. Players control Solid Snake, a retired special forces operative sent to Shadow Moses Island in Alaska to neutralize a rogue unit called FOXHOUND that has taken control of a nuclear weapons facility.
The game centers on stealth — players must avoid enemy detection using cover, crouch-walking, distractions, and careful observation of guard patrol patterns. Combat is available but discouraged; Snake's success depends on wit rather than firepower. Codec radio conversations with support characters provide story context, character development, and occasional gameplay tips, blurring the line between cutscene and interaction.
Metal Gear Solid pioneered the cinematic game — its lengthy cutscenes, voice acting, and orchestrated score gave it a filmic weight that few games had achieved before. Its villain roster (Psycho Mantis, Sniper Wolf, Revolver Ocelot) became iconic, and moments like Psycho Mantis reading the player's memory card entered gaming legend. Kojima's authorial voice was established here, influencing countless action games to follow.
Metal Gear Solid is ranked #7 on Rolling Stone's 2025 list of the 50 Greatest Video Games of All Time. It is widely credited with proving that video games could deliver emotionally complex, morally ambiguous narratives — making it one of the most influential games ever made.