The Best Metal Gear Games, Ranked by Their Metacritic Scores

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – Metacritic Score: 75 Ranked

Ground Zeroes was, in essence, a playable teaser and demo for the Phantom Pain that was actually priced and sold to consumers. While the game itself was fun, many critics noted the extremely short length and high price of $39.99 upon release that didn’t reflect the amount of content offered.

Metal Gear Acid – Metacritic Score: 75 Ranked

This strategy game was released back in 2005 on the PSP and was received with mixed reviews from critics with many noting the solid graphics, art direction, and voice acting. However, some saw the story to be nonsensical and the card battling system to not be as deep or rich as one would want.

Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel – Metacritic Score: 78 Ranked

A curious title, this “game” was effectively an interactive movie that was well-received thanks to the art direction and actual story. Yet, a few critics disliked this title mainly due to it not really being a game at its fundamental core and just a way to expand the lore of the series.

Metal Gear Acid 2 – Metacritic Score: 80 Ranked

This card battling game was better received than the original thanks its improved visuals, fleshed out gameplay, and level of challenge. Yet, a few critics noted that those who didn’t care for the first won’t find themselves drawn to Metal Gear Acid either.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – Metacritic Score: 80 Ranked

Revengeance was a spin off title that surprised both fans and critics alike, as this high-octane action game deliver a fun, wacky story, intense combat, and some really impressive visuals for the time. While many enjoyed it a few critics noted that Revengeance had some odd controls and a rather lame main villain.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance – Metacritic Score: 87 Ranked

Released in 2003, this expanded version of Metal Gear Solid 2 gave players the ability to play as Solid Snake once more in a series of smaller missions. Since you could play through almost all of Metal Gear Solid 2 now as Snake, fans and critics adored it with the only notable blemish being the lack of cutscenes.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops – Metacritic Score: 87 Ranked

Another Metal Gear PSP title, Portable Ops was highly received by both fans and publications thanks to the great sound design, visuals, stealth focused action, and deep soldier recruiting system that helped expand the title’s longevity.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker – Metacritic Score: 89 Ranked

Peace Walker is one of the most widely praised PSP games to release under the Metal Gear name as it delivered fantastic combat, a great story, and some seriously impressive visuals. Its only blemish, however, was it had several rather noticeable difficulty spikes that felt unfair to the player.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection – Metacritic Score: 90 Ranked

It’s no surprise that this collection received tons of love by fans and critics as it packaged together three of the greatest stealth/action games to ever be produced. While the lack of updated visuals was a bit of surprise, the wealth of superb content was too good to ignore.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – Metacritic Score: 91 Ranked

One of the most beloved titles in this esteemed series, Snake Eater delivered solid gameplay, graphics, and storytelling. However, where it outshined many of the other games was in its inventive and fantastic boss fights that helped set a new standard for bosses across the action genre.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Metacritic Score: 93 Ranked

The latest and quite possibly final core Metal Gear Solid game was loved due to its shift to an open world and better focus on freedom in how users would approach each engagement. Tack on the entertaining story, great voice acting, and stunning visuals to get one of the best games of 2015.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence – Metacritic Score: 94 Ranked

Much like Metal Gear Solid 3: Substance this game was packaged across three discs and offered not only a fun online experience, but a wealth of additional content that serves as the definitive version of Snake Eater.

Metal Gear Solid – Metacritic Score: 94

The original Metal Gear Solid title revolutionized the stealth genre and helped lay the foundation for modern video games. Featuring fluid gameplay, an intriguing story, boss fights, and graphics, Metal Gear Solid is considered by many to be one of the most important titles ever produced.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – Metacritic Score: 94

The fourth entry felt like a hybrid between film and gaming, as the story itself was told through incredibly long cutscenes full of elaborate fights, humor, and the wacky narrative this series was known for. Along with this was the great mix of action and stealth gameplay, which helped cement Guns of the Patriots as one of the best PS3 games ever released.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty – Metacritic Score: 96

Surprised? The second installment in the MGS franchise is also the highest rated among critics due to it refining everything from the gameplay to the story and the characters. Interestingly enough, this is not the highest rated Metal Gear Solid title among fans as it actually sits at an 8.7 among the playerbase.