A Complete Ranking of Every Hideo Kojima Game: From Worst to Best

Introduction: Celebrating Four Decades of Innovation

With the recent launch of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima marks over 40 years of groundbreaking work in game development. Known for his visionary approach and cinematic storytelling, Kojima has spent most of his career shaping the legendary Metal Gear series. His latest project expands his universe, blending familiar themes with new concepts while revisiting some of his most iconic ideas.

Throughout his prolific career, Kojima has created a diverse array of titles across genres—each pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling and gameplay. Now, let’s revisit every game he directed or designed, ranked from least to most impressive, highlighting their unique contributions and legacy.

12. Policenauts

Before Kojima became synonymous with stealth action, he explored the graphic adventure genre with Policenauts. Released for the PC-9821, this point-and-click visual novel centers on Jonathan Ingram, an astronaut turned detective, investigating a mysterious disappearance in a future setting. While the gameplay is straightforward, the game reflects Kojima’s early fascination with cinematic influences—particularly buddy cop movies like Lethal Weapon—which would continue to shape his storytelling style.

11. Snatcher

Prior to Policenauts, Kojima delved into cyberpunk narratives with Snatcher. Inspired by classics like Blade Runner, this game takes place in a futuristic city plagued by robotic killers known as Snatchers. The game’s plot, combining elements of noir, violence, and humor, was considered ahead of its time. Kojima’s bold storytelling elevated typical cyberpunk tropes, creating a dark, operatic experience that set new standards for visual novels and interactive stories.

10. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Following the success of the original Metal Gear, Kojima was initially unaware that a sequel was in development without his involvement. Upon learning, he crafted Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which introduced more refined visuals and deeper storytelling. Although it still felt like an incremental step, this title laid important groundwork for Kojima’s future innovations and marked a significant evolution in the series’ narrative depth.

9. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Designed as the grand finale for the Metal Gear saga, Guns of the Patriots was released in 2008 exclusively on PlayStation 3. Its stunning graphics and cinematic presentation set a new standard for storytelling in games. The game features an aging Solid Snake navigating a complex web of conspiracies, with familiar characters returning for a final send-off. However, its excessive cutscenes and nostalgic focus sometimes detracted from the gameplay experience, making it a controversial yet visually spectacular conclusion to the series.

8. Metal Gear

The game that started it all, Metal Gear on the MSX2 introduced players to Solid Snake and revolutionary stealth mechanics. Set against Cold War paranoia, players infiltrate enemy bases while avoiding detection—an innovative concept at the time. Inspired by spy films and Mission: Impossible, it delivered a twisting, mature story that would grow into a sprawling saga. Despite its simple plot, its gameplay innovations made a lasting impact on the industry.

7. Death Stranding

Breaking away from traditional Kojima styles, Death Stranding was his first game developed outside of Konami. Starring Norman Reedus as Sam Porter Bridges, it shifts focus from stealth to a unique delivery simulation across a post-apocalyptic America. The game’s bizarre characters, product placements, and celebrity cameos overshadow its profound themes—namely, human connection and isolation. Interestingly, it was released before the COVID-19 pandemic, making its commentary on disconnection eerily prescient. Beneath its oddities lies a thought-provoking meditation on society’s fractured state.

6. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Announced as a full, canonical entry for the PSP, Peace Walker bridges the storylines of Metal Gear Solid 3 and Metal Gear Solid 5. It revolutionized handheld gaming with its deep mechanics—base building, weapon R&D, and recruiting enemies—making it one of the most ambitious portable titles in the series. Its plot and gameplay innovations proved crucial for future entries, cementing its importance within the Kojima canon.

Honorable Mentions: Zone of the Enders and Boktai

Although Kojima did not direct these titles, he is credited as their creator. Zone of the Enders, a mech action game, offers exhilarating combat with futuristic Orbital Frames amid intergalactic conflict. Its second installment remains highly recommended for its gameplay feel. Meanwhile, Boktai, a GBA action-RPG, featured a solar sensor that required players to expose the cartridge to sunlight—an innovative mechanic that brought real-world interaction into gaming and spawned sequels.

5. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain & Ground Zeroes

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain stands as Kojima’s final Metal Gear installment, offering the series’ most refined gameplay. Its open-world design transforms stealth into a tactical sandbox, rewarding intelligence and adaptability. Whether sneaking, fighting, or improvising, players have unmatched freedom. The story, set after Metal Gear Solid 3 and Peace Walker, explores the horrors of war—child soldiers, torture, chemical weapons—and reflects Kojima’s evolving commentary on humanity’s destructive tendencies. Despite some narrative twists, it remains a testament to Kojima’s mastery of game design.

4. P.T.

P.T. (Playable Teaser) was a short but intensely terrifying experience, developed as a collaborative effort between Kojima and Guillermo del Toro. Released temporarily on the PlayStation Store, it served as a haunting preview for the canceled Silent Hills. Set almost entirely within a looping hallway, it expertly used environmental changes and psychological horror to unsettle players. Its impact was profound—over a million downloads in a month, and it remains one of the scariest games ever made. Its cancellation was a major loss for horror fans, but P.T. endures as a masterpiece of atmospheric design.

3. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Kojima once admitted that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty nearly never saw the light of day. Released in 2001, its themes of government deception, military profiteering, and identity were groundbreaking. The game famously replaced Solid Snake with newcomer Raiden, challenging players’ expectations and emphasizing Kojima’s themes of duplicity and distrust. Visually and mechanically, it vastly improved upon its predecessor, offering a cinematic experience that redefined stealth gameplay and storytelling in games.

2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Widely regarded as one of the greatest games ever made, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater challenged Kojima’s creative limits. Moving from confined bases to lush jungles during the Cold War era, it combined stealth, survival mechanics, and a deep narrative. Kojima drew inspiration from James Bond, creating a story filled with memorable characters, betrayals, and emotional depth. Its innovative gameplay, stunning visuals, and compelling story make it a pinnacle of the series and an enduring masterpiece.

1. Metal Gear Solid

The game that launched Kojima’s legendary career, Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation redefined cinematic storytelling in gaming. Its advanced stealth mechanics, inventive boss battles, and moments like Psycho Mantis’s mind control demonstrated Kojima’s visionary approach. The game’s mature themes and complex plot set a new standard for storytelling, influencing countless titles to come. It remains a defining work—Kojima’s magnum opus—that established him as a master of the medium.

Share Your Favorite Kojima Game

This concludes our ranking of every Hideo Kojima game. Do you agree with our list? Which Kojima title is your personal favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor.