Hideo Kojima has had one of the biggest impacts on video games and how we play today. His games have consistently raised the bar to the point where people play Kojima games because of the man himself. So, let’s take a look at every Hideo Kojima game since the very first.
I’m only counting games that Kojima was heavily involved in, so his early collaborations or ports made without him don’t make the cut. All of the games below are Kojima games in the same way that Tarantino movies are the ones directed by him.
Early Works
1987 –Metal Gear
Released on the little-known MSX2 console,Metal Gearis the first game that Hideo Kojima had complete control over, with him serving as director, lead designer, and writer.Metal Gearchanged the face of the stealth genre and put it on the path to where it is today. AlthoughMetal Gearwas later released for the Famicom (NES), that version contained extra levels and changes not overseen by Kojima.
Kicking off the iconicMetal Gearseries, this groundbreaking title introduced us to the legendary Solid Snake—an unforgettable hero who would go on to define the franchise. The story follows the classic tale as Snake embarks on a high-stakes solo mission to take down the infamous bipedal tank, Metal Gear.
1988 –Snatcher
Snatcheris Kojima’s take on the cyberpunk genre, drawing influence from genre-definers likeBlade RunnerandAkira. It’s a visual novel/graphic adventure game in a similar style to modern games likePhoenix Wright. The player-controlled character, Gillian Seed, hunts for human-looking robots called Snatchers that have taken the place of humans. I did say it’s similar toBlade Runner.
The game was originally a Japan exclusive on the PC-8801 and MSX2 in 1988 before coming to the PC-Engine in 1992, the US/Europe on the Sega CD in 1994, and the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in Japan in 1996. Despite its positive reception, it hasn’t received a modern re-release.
1990 –Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
The Kojima sequel toMetal Gearwasn’t the first sequel to the original game. Konami had tasked other developers with creating a sequel,Snake’s Revenge, for the US and Europe. Rumor has it that Kojima wasn’t aware a sequel was being made. After discovering the game was in development, he took over production of the sequel withMetal Gear 2: Solid Snake,which was initially only released in Japan. The two sequels were released within months of each other, albeit not in the same countries.
Solid Snake steps back into the spotlight in this sequel, but this time, the mission’s even more intense—he must take down the formidable Metal Gear D. The stakes are higher, and the game’s central base of operations, along with its memorable cast of characters, sets the stage for future entries in the franchise. Among them is the iconic Frank Jaeger, a key figure whose impact will resonate throughout the series.
1994 –Policenauts
Another graphic adventure game that Kojima first got the idea for while developingSnatcher,Policenautsis a grounded sci-fi police story set in the far-off years of 2013 and 2040 as humanity creates human colonies in space. The game was way ahead of its time in terms of storytelling in video games, which has always been one of Kojima’s top areas of innovation.
Franchise Highlights
1998 –Metal Gear Solid
There was an eight-year gap betweenMetal Gear 2: Solid Snakeand the release ofMetal Gear Solid, and Western audiences had to wait a mighty 11 years for anotherMetal Geargame from Kojima. But it was worth the wait.
The first 3D game in the series,Metal Gear Solid, set the standard for everyMGSgame that was released after it. PickMGSif you have to choose one game to show the jump in graphics from the SNES generation to the PlayStation.MGSis where the stealth gameplay formula and storytelling that the franchise is now known for started to take shape. While it still follows the age-old tradition of Solid Snake’s grand mission to take down yet another Metal Gear, it ramps everything up with heart-pounding boss fights, deep emotional character arcs, and plot twists that will leave you breathless.
2001 –Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
One of thehighest-rated PS2 exclusive games on Metacritic,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,was an all-around masterpiece of its time.Sons of Libertysuccessfully built on the groundwork ofMetal Gear Solidas a technical showcase.
However, the game is perhaps best remembered for its surprise protagonist switch that divided fans. Although the game starts with Solid Snake as the playable character during the prologue, it then switches to Raiden, in his debut, for the rest of the game. Kojima even went as far as havingSolid Snake appear in trailers and promotional materials pre-releaseto trick players and keep the playable character change a surprise. It isn’t easy to imagine a game on the scale ofMGS2getting away with that today.
2003 –Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
What do you make after creating one of the best games ever? A family-friendly Game Boy Advance title that requires players to use the sun to charge their virtual weapons. Classic Kojima.
While it has a simple-looking outer layer,Boktai: The Sun is in Your Handis unique even by today’s standards. The game asks players to set their time zone to accurately display, in-game, where the sun is in real time.The Sun is in Your Hand’scartridge offers a light sensor that reacts to the sun and charges your weapons. If you run out of charge and it’s night, you’ll have to avoid enemies and get to a Solar Station to charge them. That’s impressive for a Game Boy Advance game.
2004 –Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Chronologically, the earliest game in theMetal Gear Solidfranchise,Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater,had much to live up to followingSons of Liberty,and boy, did it.Snake Eaterwent back to the Cold War era of the 1960s to tell the story of Big Boss, aka Naked Snake (not Solid, this time). Although, likeSons of Libertyand Raiden, Kojima wascoy about this crucial factpre-release.
The jungle setting significantly changed from prior games and allowed players more freedom. The idea withSnake Eaterwas for players to work their way to the enemy base from a remote starting point. This was paired with a more intricate health system that demands players keep a close eye on Snake’s well-being—monitoring his health, energy, and even specific injuries like broken legs that directly impact gameplay. It was designed to immerse you fully in the battlefield, where every detail matters. The game doesn’t just make you feel like you’replayinga soldier; it makes youliveit.
One area ofSnake Eaterthat received criticism at the time was the camouflage system, which assigned a percentage number to the player’s visibility. 100% camouflage means you’re essentially invisible, and the number scales down to 0%, i.e., visible. Players have to match their camo pattern and other elements to the surroundings as they’re playing to manage stealth. It was an interesting idea but not wholly appreciated at the time.
The fan favorite is getting the remake treatment withMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, announced for current-gen consoles in May 2023. It’ll be interesting to see what, if anything, is done with the camo system in that game.
2008 –Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Originally, Kojima wanted to retire from directing theMetal Gear Solidseries afterSnake Eater,but just when he thought he was out, the fans pulled him back in. It was worth it, too.Metal Gear Solid 4was released two years into the PlayStation 3’s life cycle, and it immediately set a high watermark for other games to beat as, to this day, it is in thetop 15 highest-rated PS3 exclusives on Metacritic.
Guns of the Patriotsis a love letter to series fans, with cutscenes that serve as the conclusion to many of the series’ long-running plot threads. Heck, the epilogue clocks in at over an hour. Since the game is the conclusion to Solid Snake’s story, it’s not exactly surprising. Gameplay-wise,MGS4builds onSnake Eaterby introducing OctoCamo and the Psyche system. The OctoCamo, as the name suggests, changes dynamically to match the player’s surroundings, like an octopus.
Meanwhile, the Psyche meter brings a battlefield psychology aspect to the game. Like the various health aspects inSnake Eaterthat had to be managed, you’ll have to keep track of the Psyche meter by reducing Snake’s stressors. These could include being hunted and killing too many enemies. Using non-lethal methods on enemies reduces the meter, and if it gets too full, Snake can have trouble aiming or pass out.
In many ways,Metal Gear Solid 4was ahead of its time, but unfortunately, the only way to play the game is to jump back into the past and dust off a PS3. Hopefully, the followingMaster Collectionwill bring it back to make it easier to play.
2010 –Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walkerwasn’t the first portableMetal Geargame, but it was the first and only portableMetal Geargame to be classed as a Hideo Kojima game. The man directed, designed, co-wrote, and produced the game, putting it on the same level as the other numbered entries in the series.
Peace Walker is a realMetal Gear Solidgame in every sense, and it made the PSP shine. It’s a direct sequel toSnake Eaterand continues the Big Boss story, which makes it the mid-game within theSnake Eater,Peace Walker, andThe Phantom Painstoryline. Luckily, theMetal Gear SolidHD Collection for PS3 and Xbox 360 later included the game for home console fans.
2014 –Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Ground Zeroesis a prologue toMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, released the year after. Prologue is also the right word for it; completing the main story in just a couple of hours is possible. Despite its short length, the game showed off much of what would come inThe Phantom Pain. Today,Ground Zeroescan often be found bundled with the fifth entry to get the completeMetal Gear Solid Vexperience in one package.
2014 –P.T.
The one that never was,P.T.,was released as a teaser for an upcoming but later canceledSilent Hillgame from Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro. It makes the list becauseP.T.was a full, albeit short, at 1.5 hours, game. It’s widely regarded as one of the best horror games ever, but, unfortunately, it was removed from the PlayStation Store in 2015. Konami also made the infamous move to make it so that the game could never be re-downloaded. That means the only way to play the game is by buying a PS4 with it already installed.
2015 –Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
For those who enjoyedGround Zeroes,The Phantom Paincouldn’t come soon enough. The game introduced an open world to the series for the first time, and unlike other franchises that tend to slap an open world into a game,The Phantom Paindid it magnificently. It offered players countless ways to approach missions as Big Boss, truly enhancing the experience of playing as a stealth operative.
The rift between Konami and Kojima Productions left a notable scar onThe Phantom Pain, but it remains a fitting send-off to one of the greatest gaming franchises ever. The long-time partnership came to a bitter end after the release ofThe Phantom Pain,and it was so acrimonious thatKojima was barred from attending The Game Awards, whereMGS Vwon Best Action/Adventure game.
2019 –Death Stranding
Death Strandingis the first Hideo Kojima game to be made after he left Konami and the first game from the now-independent Kojima Productions. The game has a kind of love-it-or-hate-it flavor about it, but those who love itreallylove it.
One of the reasons it’s so divisive is its slower, more methodical pacing compared to other Kojima titles. You’ll often find yourself traversing long, treacherous paths as Sam Porter Bridges, delivering packages across a fractured world. At times, the journey feels almost serene as you lose yourself in the mesmerizing landscapes of your extended treks. But just as often, it transforms into a nightmare filled with suspense, tension, and lurking dangers.
It might not be for everyone, butDeath Stranding, as Kojima’s first post-Metal Gear Solidtitle, is a fresh experience and the fourth of his games to receive thecoveted 40/40 score from Famitsu. No wonder it’s being made into a film.
2025 –Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Death Stranding 2is the next highly anticipated game in Hideo Kojima’s lineup, set to release on July 25, 2025. Sam Porter Bridges returns for this sequel with a new mission to save humanity from the edge of extinction. As expected from Kojima,the trailershave been anything but ordinary, featuring everything from a talking puppet to an enemy wielding an electrifying guitar. Honestly, I’d be more shocked if the trailer wasn’t weird.
Like its predecessor,Death Stranding 2promises to unravel even more layers of the game’s deep lore. The Social Strand gameplay will also return, connecting players’ journeys in ways that affect the world around them.
