6 Metal Gear Games That Were 10/10 Masterpieces

Published Aug 29, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work. Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Metal Gear (and subsequently Metal Gear Solid) is an incredible series of cinematic masterpieces that not only went on to define much of the action-stealth genre and cement cinematic narratives as a staple of video games, but also established Hideo Kojima as one of the finest auteurs in the world of gaming. There really is nothing quite like Metal Gear, and there likely never will be, as Kojima's singular vision is what led it to becoming a critically acclaimed, industry-changing success. However, as great as the series is, not every title within it remains a 10/10 masterpiece still worth playing. The vast majority of the many Metal Gear games are still great and hold up, but only a handful were ever, and can still be, considered masterpieces. So, as we all await the next Metal Gear game or project (whatever that may look like), it is worth reflecting on the games that made the series so remarkable. After all, there are, in no particular order, quite a few phenomenal MGS games worth returning to all these years later. If the word "Revengeance" alone doesn't convince you that Metal Gear Rising isn't one of the greatest and practically flawless masterpieces in the series' history, then I'm certain its suitably ridiculous gameplay will. This is the same game that has you fight a buff, corrupt U.S. Senator at the end in what can only be described as the most high-octane, politically motivated, cyborg battle in the history of mankind. Developed by Platinum Games, the same folks behind the similarly action-packed Bayonetta series, Revengeance is a more character-action-focused experience than the typical Metal Gear Solid game. While one would assume that it would inherently clash with the series' core fundamentals, it actually elevates them, with Metal Gear's penchant for the absurd dialed up to eleven in Raiden's solo outing. Revengeance is just as creative, just as cinematic, and just as experimental as Kojima's best, and absolutely deserves a spot at the top of the very best MGS games of all time. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the second culmination of everything the series had been building up to by this point, following on from what was meant to be the end in Metal Gear Solid 3. That's not to the game's detriment, however, as while Kojima could have left the series alone with the third entry, he found a meaningful way to continue its assorted characters' stories one last (or not quite one last) time. The series' greatest characters pop back in what is often considered one of the greatest Metal Gear Solid games, with Kojima's eye for direction and storytelling really being pushed to the limit. Starring the famous 90-minute-long cutscene, MGS4 gets Kojima's best ideas out onto the table, and it is glorious to witness. The only thing that had been holding it back was the fact that Metal Gear Solid 4 was unplayable for a while, but now that little wrinkle has been resolved, it remains a triumph in action, stealth, and narrative design and a must-play for even non-MGS fans. One would assume that the original Metal Gear Solid (which built upon the foundations of the original Metal Gear titles) would have aged somewhat poorly like its predecessors. After all, it was released all the way back in 1998 for the original PlayStation and didn't have the benefit of today's modern technology, photorealistic visuals, and gameplay improvements that all helped realize Kojima's cinematic vision in later entries. However, even when playing within the restrictions of the original PlayStation's sandbox, Kojima managed to deliver a game that looks stylistically and artistically impressive and told a profound and nuanced story in an era when those were largely absent from console-based video games. Its level design also feels closer in depth to the current crop of Metroidvanias than anything that had come before it, or really after it for quite some time. MGS remains a truly exceptional title, one that absolutely holds up today, and one that matches even the likes of Metal Gear Solid 5 in terms of quality. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater proved that Kojima wasn't out of ideas, that he still had a lot left to say about both the characters and world he had created, and new mechanics to infuse into MGS's stealth-action gameplay. The introduction of survival-esque mechanics, the emotional narrative woven throughout culminating in a tear-jerking conclusion, and the incredible setting all help make Metal Gear Solid 3 not just a phenomenal game to play today, but also one of the greatest Metal Gear games of all time. The remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, does a pretty good job of faithfully recreating the experience, albeit with gorgeous new visuals. It wasn't wholly necessary, largely because the original Snake Eater was near perfect in its own right, but nevertheless appreciated, especially in an era when there are no new Metal Gear games releasing. The differences between the MG3 remake and original also helped elevate the experience, which makes it equally a Metal Gear masterpiece and worth a mention. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty expanded upon the first game in every way that fans could have hoped for. It is a mechanically perfect evolution, a title that felt unprecedentedly modern at the time and still ahead of the curve today. However, as great as its gameplay is, and it truly is some of the best in the series, MG2 isn't a masterpiece because of it. Rather, it is its narrative that makes Sons of Liberty shine. The unexpected twist early on should indicate that Kojima wasn't content resting on his laurels. Much like the later entries in which Kojima tells an occasionally absurd narrative to address a social or political issue facing us (all of which are relevant today), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty felt prophetic for the time, and continues to be an impactful meta-narrative that is as shocking as it is compelling. MGS2's story isn't necessarily the best in the series, but it took a lot of risks in an era where sequels played it safe, and those risks undeniably paid off. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was the ultimate evolution of everything Metal Gear. Its open-world sandbox elevated the already incredible stealth-action gameplay by adding an almost unbridled and unprecedented level of freedom into the mix. Its narrative was as meta, absurd, brilliant, and cinematic as ever before, with its numerous twists and turns, iconic lines, and beautiful cutscenes forming a story that MGS fans are unlikely to ever forget. In many ways, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain feels like the ultimate send-off for the series, as if Kojima was throwing every idea, every mechanic, and every dollar he could get his hands on into a boiling pot of brilliance in a last-ditch effort before eventually being ejected from the series unceremoniously. Sure, it doesn't always work, but when it does, Metal Gear Solid 5 is the perfect reminder that we're all incredibly lucky to be playing in Hideo Kojima's world. Video Game(s) Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Metal Gear Survive, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Created by Hideo Kojima Cast David Hayter, Akio Otsuka, Quinton Flynn, Robin Atkin Downes, Christopher Randolph, Paul Eiding, Debi Mae West, Jennifer Hale Character(s) Solid Snake, Big Boss, Liquid Snake, Raiden, Revolver Ocelot, The Boss, Gray Fox, Otacon