Few video game designers are as famous or as celebrated as Hideo Kojima. A true gaming auteur, all of his games have a distinctive style that nobody else can replicate. From fourth wall-breaks to complicated plots to innovative gameplay mechanics, these are specific elements almost all of his projects include.
He’s most known for the Metal Gear series, which revolutionized the stealth genre. Yet, the director has designed a selection of other games outside of Konami’s popular series. But which ones are the best? Metacritic has given a score to eleven of them — not including those he only produced — and this is how they stack up.
11 Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes - 76
Ground Zeroes is more of a glorified demo than an actual game. It functions as a prologue to the events of The Phantom Pain, as it sets everything in motion. Those in charge — Kojima or Konami — could’ve added it to the start of The Phantom Pain, ala MGS2’s Tanker section, or the Virtuous Mission from MGS3.
However, there are obviously some financial benefits to having it as a separate release. It is fun while it lasts, though, as the stealth and shooting feel really smooth. Plus, every scene involving Paz is compelling.
10 Metal Gear Online - 81
Kojima and his team have made multiple attempts over the years to implement a multiplayer mode into Metal Gear. This one attached to MGS4 even gets its own score on Metacritic. Even though it’s not one of the best multiplayer modes in recent history, it’s not bad.
It has some good ideas, but it’s hard to recreate the magic of Metal Gear in a multiplayer format. So, the mode often felt less like a Kojima game and more of a traditional third-person shooter.
9 Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand - 83
Kojima is a fan of originality, and few titles are more original than Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand on the Game Boy Advance. It’s about a vampire hunter who uses a solar weapon to kill their targets.
To charge the gun, you can use real-life sunlight as there are light sensors on the game’s cartridge. It’s supposed to encourage people to enjoy the adventure outside. The idea was a novel one, even though it didn’t become a long-lasting trend.
8 Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes - 85
There have been many re-releases in the Metal Gear franchise, but Twin Snakes is the only true remake so far. It changes a lot about the original Metal Gear Solid, from the visuals to the script to the gameplay.
Some of the alterations are welcome, as seeing Snake with an actual face instead of a pixelated block for a head is nice. However, the combat ‘improvements’ make some sections of the adventure way too easy. Additionally, the writing of the original title is arguably more consistent than in this one. Still, for the most part, Twin Snakes maintains the Kojima charm.
7 Death Stranding - 86
Outside of the Metal Gear franchise, Death Stranding is the most famous game Kojima has ever designed. It does the unthinkable as it makes MGS seem normal by comparison as the title is very strange.
It’s so weird, in fact, that’s it’s pretty much impossible to create a brief summary of the story. However, everything revolves around Norman Reedus’s character, Sam, making deliveries in a post-apocalyptic world. The delivery aspect of the game is questionable as while it can be fun at times, it’s understandably too tedious for some people. Yet, there can be no criticism of the voice acting or visuals.
6 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - 89
Peace Walker is quite different from a typical Metal Gear game. Missions are short, most cutscenes are in comic strip form, and it includes co-op play. The title also heavily revolves around base management as you organize the people you recruit to make your organization more effective. The Mother Base system was originally introduced in Portable Ops and later became a big part of The Phantom Pain.
Managing your base is a decent way to pass the time, but it’s not really the most exciting mechanic that’s ever been in a Kojima game. At least Peace Walker’s story is a good one, as it revolves around Big Boss as he gets over the events of Snake Eater.
5 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - 91
Hideo Kojima has long been known as an innovator of the stealth genre, and Metal Gear Solid 3 proves that by adding in survival elements. You have to use the correct camouflage to stay hidden, and you need to keep yourself healthy by eating good food and healing injuries.
While those gameplay mechanics are great, the best part of Snake Eater is its story. The whole narrative revolves around everyone’s attempts to find The Philosopher’s Legacy, which will lead the holder to a giant sum of money. It’s the individual relationships between all of the main characters that make the whole story incredibly compelling.
4 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - 94
Metal Gear Solid 4 serves as the conclusion to the story that Kojima built throughout the first three installments. Virtually every living character from the previous entries appears in this one. It makes for an incredibly well-executed story that does the overall narrative justice — even with the reliance on nanomachines. In the center of it all is Old (formerly Solid) Snake’s never-ending conflict with Liquid-Ocelot.
The only real issue with the story is that it took up most of the game’s playtime. Metal Gear is known for including many cutscenes, but Guns of the Patriots takes it to the extreme. When there is gameplay, though, it tends to be excellent as there’s so much you’re able to do.
3 Metal Gear Solid - 94
Arguably the first game to truly show the brilliance of Hideo Kojima was Metal Gear Solid. Yes, the original Metal Gear games were good, but not quite at the same level as this 1998 title.
The story is still one of the best in gaming history as Snake attempts to hamper the terrorist insurrection at Shadow Moses. Yet, the hero’s mission turns out to be a lot more complicated than it initially seems. Other aspects such as the stealth and boss fights hold up pretty well too. In fact, it’s one of a select few PS1 games to remain a solid title.
2 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain - 95
The last Metal Gear Solid game that Kojima will likely ever create is Phantom Pain. It has some problems storywise, from strange twists to a virtually mute protagonist. However, the title still boasts some excellent cutscenes and set pieces.
What’s more, the core gameplay is beyond anything the series has offered before. There’s a litany of interesting gadgets and weapons for you to use. Plus, maneuvering around the battlefield has never felt as good as it does in MGS5.
1 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty - 96
One of the most controversial decisions Kojima ever made was making Raiden the main protagonist of MGS2. The rookie just isn’t as compelling as Solid Snake at this point in the series. Although, the second game has plenty of upsides that make up for the ‘protagonist’ situation.
For one, the story is very intriguing as you’re never completely sure who’s on whose side. Solidus Snake also makes for a fascinating villain with understandable motives. Outside of the story, there’s the well-designed environment, fun stealth, and so many details that nobody finds everything on a first playthrough. The game is truly one of Kojima’s best creations.
NEXT: The 10 Best Konami Games, Ranked (According To Metacritic)
