If you want to follow Kojima’s best-known stealth saga as audiences first encountered it, start with Metal Gear Solid (1998), then play Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. If you would rather begin with a separate, more contemporary adventure, choose Death Stranding Director’s Cut. There is no mandatory first Kojima game: the right pick depends on whether you want a long-running series or a distinct starting point.
What Hideo Kojima game should you play first?
For a newcomer seeking the core Metal Gear Solid story, the clearest default is release order: Metal Gear Solid → Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty → Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. A guide to Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 recommends this sequence for a cohesive first run. That is an editorial recommendation, not an official Kojima Productions rule. Push Square’s order guide
Prefer a separate setting rather than a series with decades of history? Start with Death Stranding Director’s Cut. Kojima Productions describes the original game as a journey to reconnect a divided world, so it offers a different entry into Kojima’s work without requiring prior Metal Gear knowledge. Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding page
The ranking below is a newcomer’s shortlist, not an objective or exhaustive ranking of every game Kojima has worked on. It weighs how clearly a game can serve as an entry point, the value of playing in story-release order, and whether earlier series context matters.
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#1 Best Overall
Hideo Kojima games ranked for a newcomer
| Rank | Game | Best suited to | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Gear Solid (1998) | Players who want to follow the main Metal Gear Solid story | It is the recommended first stop in the release-order route, which lets later games build on the series as originally presented. |
| 2 | Death Stranding Director’s Cut | Players who want a distinct setting and connection-focused adventure | It is a strong alternative starting point outside the Metal Gear saga; it does not depend on knowledge of that series. |
| 3 | Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater or Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater | Players drawn to the saga’s earlier timeline, especially those who prefer newer presentation | Snake Eater is the chronological beginning. Delta remakes its story and has been described as a possible entry point, but starting there changes the order in which a newcomer encounters the series’ reveals. |
| 4 | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | Players who have completed the first Metal Gear Solid | It is the direct follow-up in the recommended release order. Its character shift is part of the experience, so it makes more sense after the first game. |
| 5 | Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | Players chiefly interested in open-ended, systems-driven stealth | It is a later option in this newcomer-focused list rather than the default narrative starting point. Its placement is an editorial judgment, not a definitive all-time ranking. |
| 6 | Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Players who have already played the first Death Stranding | It continues the original game’s world and characters, making it a sequel rather than the recommended first purchase. |
Should you start with Metal Gear Solid or Death Stranding?
Choose Metal Gear Solid for a connected saga
Begin with the 1998 Metal Gear Solid if you want to trace the central Metal Gear Solid story and see its developments in release order. The collection guide describes the version in Master Collection Vol. 1 as the original PlayStation game, retaining its original audio, visuals, and design rather than remastering it. That means this route also involves older presentation. The same guide treats the two original Metal Gear games as optional for newcomers prioritizing accessibility. Push Square’s collection and order guide
Choose Death Stranding for a separate starting point
Death Stranding Director’s Cut makes sense if you want Kojima’s work without first committing to the Metal Gear story. Kojima Productions announced on March 31, 2025 that the original Death Stranding had connected over 20 million porters across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox, iOS, and Amazon Luna. The studio’s wording is “connected” porters; it is not a reported unit-sales figure. The announcement listed the Director’s Cut as available on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Epic, iOS, and Amazon Luna at that time, but storefront availability can change. Kojima Productions’ March 31, 2025 announcement
Rank #2
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Do you need to play Metal Gear in chronological order?
No. The choice is between following the story’s release and reveal order or beginning at the earlier point in the characters’ timeline. For a first run through the initial Metal Gear Solid arc, release order—Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, then Metal Gear Solid 3—is the clearer default. A chronological start with Snake Eater is also viable, but it changes what you know and when you learn it.
If you prefer a newer presentation and want to begin at the saga’s chronological start, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remake of the MGS3 story. Tom’s Guide has called it an excellent entry point; treating its story as self-contained is an editorial assessment, not a guarantee that every series connection will have the same impact for a newcomer. Tom’s Guide on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Rank #3
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- An Inimitable Universe - Experience some of the greatest gaming design, storytelling and presentation of all-time with the heroic Metal Gear Solid universe
- Transferring - Continue your saved game no matter where you are by transferring your trophies and save-game data back and forth from your PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita
Can you play Death Stranding 2 first?
It is better to play the original Death Stranding first. Kojima Productions’ official product page presents Death Stranding 2: On the Beach as a new mission for Sam and his companions beyond the UCA, and the studio’s announcement frames it around returning cast members and asks, “should we have connected?” That makes it a continuation of the original’s world and characters, not the cleanest introduction. This order is a recommendation based on the sequel’s description, not a rule stated by the studio. The official product page lists PlayStation 5 and Windows PC; check it for current platform information. Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding 2: On the Beach page
Where to start based on what you want
- Want the main Metal Gear Solid story in its original reveal order? Start with Metal Gear Solid, then play Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3.
- Want a distinct world without a long-running series to catch up on? Start with Death Stranding Director’s Cut.
- Want the chronological beginning and newer presentation? Consider Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, knowing that it changes the original release-order reveal experience.
- Interested in the sequel to Death Stranding? Play the original before Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
For a physical or bundled route into the first three Metal Gear Solid games, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is the collection guide’s concrete option. Its contents, platform support, and availability may vary by edition and region, so verify the current listing for the platform you use. Push Square’s Master Collection Vol. 1 guide
Rank #4
- Over 60 hours of epic gameplay
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- 2 Exclusive Ashley Wood Bande Desinee Graphic Novels; Upscaled in HD and released for the first time in North America and Latin America
- 92+ Average Metacritic Rating for all games
- 100 PG Artbook - spanning the 25 year history of the acclaimed Metal Gear series
Kojima’s independent-studio starting point
In a June 13, 2016 Sony Interactive Entertainment press release announcing Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima—identified there as Game Designer at Kojima Productions—said: “Today I am very excited to be able to deliver this teaser trailer of DEATH STRANDING, which marks a fresh new start for Kojima Productions.” The quote describes the beginning of that studio period; it does not establish a broader claim about his later relationships or intentions. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s June 13, 2016 announcement
Players debating where to begin commonly frame the choice as Metal Gear Solid, the original Death Stranding, or chronological-start Snake Eater. That discussion reflects different priorities, not a proven majority preference. A reader discussion about where to start
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Best Value
- Metal Gear Solid Poster Collection: This collection contains 6 high-quality matte posters designed for the legendary 1998 game "Metal Gear Solid", released by Konami and by visionaries Yoji Shinkawa and Hideo Kojima.
- FULL OF PLAY CHARACTERS: Posters showcase iconic game characters like Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Meryl Silverburgh, bringing the atmospheric essence of the game to your living space.
- MATTE POSTER PAPER & PREMIUM INK: Each poster is made using premium matt poster paper and ink, ensuring a long lasting aesthetic and visual experience.
- State Of The Art Printing Technology: Posters are made using the latest printing technology to preserve details and colors to the highest standards.
- Special Design and Details: Yoji Shinkawa distinctive design and the visionary touch of Hideo Kojima is visible on every poster and provides game enthusiasts a unique visual experience.
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