With the discharge of Demise Stranding 2: On the Seaside, director Hideo Kojima enters his fourth decade in sport growth as a director. Whereas the celebrated “auteur” has spent the vast majority of his profession to date engaged on the Steel Gear sequence, Demise Stranding 2 sees him increasing upon his latest universe, the place he each introduces new ideas and revisits a few of his most enduring concepts.
With a really staggering listing of credit in his spectacular resume, there’s no higher time to revisit each genre-defying journey Kojima has taken us on. Right here is each Kojima sport that he directed or designed, ranked from worst to greatest.
Hideo Kojima Video games Tier Listing
Hideo Kojima Video games Tier Listing
12. Policenauts
Earlier than the Steel Gear Strong sequence took over his life, Kojima dabbled within the graphic journey style. One among his earliest video games, Policenauts is a point-and-click, visible novel sport for the PC-9821 billed as a tough science fiction detective story. Set within the not-too-distant future, gamers tackle the function of Jonathan Ingram, an astronaut turned hard-boiled L.A. detective investigating a person’s disappearance. As a visible novel, Policenauts doesn’t have the extent of gameplay improvements Kojima would finally be recognized for, however this early work highlights how films — on this case buddy cop movies like Deadly Weapon — would seep into his online game works for years to come back.
11. Snatcher
Earlier than there was Policenauts, Kojima had already dabbled with graphic journey video games. Clearly influenced by cyberpunk tales like Blade Runner, Snatcher is about in a futuristic metropolis the place human-like robots often known as Snatchers are murdering people, with particular members of the anti-Snatcher drive tasked to cease them. Whereas the plot might sound very by-product of Ridley Scott’s iconic film, critics praised Snatcher for the way Kojima took these concepts to much more excessive locations with violence, humor, and an operatic scope that was forward of most visible novels on the time.
10. Steel Gear 2: Strong Snake
Following the success of the very first Steel Gear, Konami pushed ahead with a sequel known as Snake’s Revenge that was being made solely with none involvement from Hideo Kojima. Unaware a sequel was even being made, a coworker lastly instructed Kojima in regards to the sequel and satisfied him to create a real follow-up to the 1987 authentic. Whereas Steel Gear 2’s visuals are extra subtle and its story introduces some essential characters to the Steel Gear canon, Steel Gear 2 largely seems like a half-step. Fortunately, Kojima would go on to utterly revolutionize the sequence with the 3D Steel Gear Strong video games, finally righting the wrongs of his iterative try at progress in Steel Gear 2: Strong Snake.
9. Steel Gear Strong 4: Weapons of the Patriots
Steel Gear Strong 4: Weapons of the Patriots was initially designed to be the finale of the sequence, capping off the Strong Snake storyline with a bang. This mega-budget, PS3 unique was launched in 2008 and set a technological benchmark due to its breathtaking graphics and cinematics. Snake is again, however this time he’s aged considerably. The acquainted faces of Otocon, Meryl, and Revolver Ocelot all return, in addition to different fan-service surprises. Collectively, these characters work by means of a narrative that lastly closes the e-book on a particularly complicated story that started with the very first Steel Gear sport.
Regardless of being the dramatic ultimate act in an iconic sport sequence, MGS 4 additionally represents Kojima indulging in a few of his worst inventive tendencies. Whereas the plot ties up a whole lot of unfastened storylines and offers Previous Snake a hero’s farewell, the vast majority of cutscenes border on self-parody (together with one character’s fixed must discover a bathroom) and Kojima, normally, appears too centered on his nostalgia for older video games within the sequence, which has an influence on the general execution of Strong Snake’s ultimate story. There are additionally a whole lot of huge gameplay concepts right here that aren’t totally fleshed out, maybe because of the technological limitations of the PS3 – a few of these mechanics, like energetic camo, would lastly be refined in Steel Gear Strong 5. With all this in consideration, Steel Gear Strong 4, regardless of being an unimaginable spectacle in its personal proper, is our least favourite sport from the Steel Gear Strong sequence.
8. Steel Gear
The unique Steel Gear on the MSX2 was the sport that began all of it, introducing the world to the long-lasting Strong Snake. Steel Gear combines compelling (and revolutionary for the time) stealth motion gameplay with a twisting story of Chilly Conflict period paranoia, nuclear proliferation, and espionage. You play as Strong Snake, a younger member of the particular forces group FOXHOUND despatched to cease the event of a brand new weapon often known as Steel Gear. Impressed by James Bond tales and the unique Mission: Unattainable TV sequence, Steel Gear stood out in 1987 due to a closely twisting plot that culminates in Snake dealing with off in opposition to Large Boss, Snake’s commanding officer-turned-villain. Steel Gear’s distinctive stealth gameplay made waves on the time and though its plot was comparatively easy, it might find yourself beginning one of many biggest decade-spanning tales in gaming historical past.
7. Demise Stranding
Demise Stranding was a whole departure for Kojima and his first sport developed outdoors of the partitions of Konami. Starring Norman Reedus because the post-apocalyptic mailman Sam Porter Bridges, the sport is much less about sneaking previous Soviet brokers and extra about sneaking previous goopy monsters from past the astral aircraft. Regardless of all of the sneaking motion, this time round stealth takes a backseat to plenty and plenty and LOTS of strolling. Whereas Demise Stranding indulges in heavy use of sponsored merchandise, weird character names like Die Laborious Man, and an aggressive variety of celeb cameos, beneath all that questionable content material is likely to be one in every of Kojima’s most prophetic tales but. Set in a world the place people are painfully disconnected from one another because of an apocalyptic occasion that forces everybody to seclude in bunkers, Demise Stranding was really launched earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic. The journey of Sam Porter Bridges as he goes on foot to re-connect the US with a mystical type of the web seems like one thing written in 2023 with all of the expertise of an isolating lockdown, as an alternative of a sport that started growth a number of years prior.
6. Steel Gear Strong: Peace Walker
When Kojima introduced the PSP-exclusive Steel Gear Strong: Peace Walker, he made clear that this was a full-fledged, canonical entry into the Steel Gear sequence with ramifications for the overarching storyline. And he wasn’t bluffing. The occasions of Peace Walker, which is about after Steel Gear Strong 3: Snake Eater, varieties a considerable chapter within the legend of Large Boss and Outer Heaven, and performs instantly into the occasions of Steel Gear Strong 5: The Phantom Ache.
Kojima discovered a option to minimize up his stealth-action gameplay into bite-sized chunks which are good for on-the-go enjoyable. Regardless of the restricted technical capabilities of the PSP, mechanically this is likely to be one of the enjoyable and inventive video games within the Steel Gear sequence. New programs like base constructing, weapons R&D, and recruiting enemy troopers by fulton-ing them up into house signifies that Peace Walker not solely delivers method past expectations for a handheld sport, but in addition stands out as a wonderful addition to the sequence in its personal proper. These mechanics and plot connections go on to reappear in Steel Gear Strong 5, proving how important Peace Walker is to your complete Steel Gear canon.
5. Steel Gear Strong 5: The Phantom Ache + Floor Zeroes
Steel Gear Strong 5: The Phantom Ache would find yourself being Kojima’s final Steel Gear sport, however in our opinion he left the franchise on a banger, with Steel Gear Strong 5 being the best-playing Steel Gear sport in your complete sequence. Combining many years of stealth motion expertise and each mechanic Kojima ever fiddled with, MGS 5’s stealth fight feels higher than ever. That’s largely due to the number of instruments and weapons that may be blended and matched, guaranteeing you possibly can infiltrate utilizing your precise most well-liked playstyle. Need to go in weapons blazing on an enemy camp? No downside. Want to be the sneaky stealth warrior using camouflage, distractions, and even the time of day to your benefit? You are able to do that, too.
Steel Gear Strong 5 and its prologue, Floor Zeroes, is about after the occasions of Steel Gear Strong 3 and Peace Walker, focussing as soon as extra on Large Boss’ quest to construct a non-public military in the course of the ocean. If we’re being uncharitable, Steel Gear Strong 5’s huge twist seems like Kojima put a whole lot of effort to clarify how Large Boss survived the primary Steel Gear sport. However Steel Gear Strong 5 feels extra like a tone piece the place Kojima will get to discover the various horrors of struggle. From youngster troopers, torture, and chemical weapons, to different nightmarish situations born of humanity’s unending thirst for battle. Sure, on the entire, the occasions of MGS 5 don’t have an effect on the general canon of Steel Gear an excessive amount of, however by the tip of the expertise you will start to really feel ashamed in your phrases and deeds.
4. P.T.
One among gaming’s most well-known almosts. P.T. (or Playable Teaser) was meant to be an interactive preview for Kojima’s Silent Hills, the doomed-to-be-cancelled subsequent installment in Konami’s legendary horror sequence starring Norman Reedus and developed in collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro. P.T was one thing of an indication of Kojima’s intent for that undertaking. At simply a few hours lengthy, P.T. is about virtually solely inside the confines of a single hallway in a non-descript, American home, and is genuinely one of the terrifying video games of all time.
Trapped in a loop, you’re pressured to endure terrifying occasions on each lap of the home, such because the radio recounting a grotesque homicide, unimaginable horrors discovered within the lavatory, and a blood-chilling ghost stalking your each transfer. This self-contained teaser is so stuffed with terrifying concepts that it’s actually a tragedy that Kojima by no means acquired an opportunity to finish Silent Hills. P.T., nonetheless, is so satisfying that despite the fact that it could possibly barely be thought of a full sport, it nonetheless seems like a whole expertise.
3. Steel Gear Strong 2: Sons of Liberty
Kojima famously stated that there was an opportunity that Steel Gear Strong 2: Sons of Liberty would by no means be launched. Scheduled to hit cabinets in 2001, a couple of months after the occasions of September 11, Kojima defined to Konami’s board of administrators the story of Steel Gear Strong 2 and, from his recollection, “all of them turned pale”.
Set in opposition to a backdrop of presidency conspiracies, United States struggle profiteering, and presidents-turned cyborg warriors, Steel Gear Strong 2 is proof that Kojima’s thematic obsessions with nuclear proliferation, memes, and the military-industrial-complex aren’t only for present. He even goes so far as to exchange everybody’s favourite Strong Snake with newcomer Raiden to hammer dwelling his factors about how the world operates underneath the shadow of duplicity, and you may by no means belief anybody to be who they are surely (and likewise as a result of Kojima actually did need to introduce a youthful playable character to the sequence).
Steel Gear Strong 2 is such an astronomical leap above the primary Steel Gear Strong by way of gameplay that it’s exhausting to imagine the 2 video games have been launched simply three years aside. It is Steel Gear Strong on steroids due to massively improved graphics that really seize Kojima’s cinematic intentions, and controls that lastly give Snake and Raiden the correct instruments to be the final word stealth warriors.
2. Steel Gear Strong 3: Snake Eater
Steel Gear Strong 3 is taken into account one of many biggest video games of all time, and rightly so. With the third entry in his ever-popular sequence, Kojima took on his largest problem but. Gone are the slender corridors, tankers and navy bases as Steel Gear Strong 3 welcomes the open jungles of the southern USSR. Bare Snake, the code identify for the character who’d finally go on to be known as Large Boss and our hero this time round, is pressured to courageous harsh environments crawling with Soviet troopers, carry out emergency on-the-field first help, and eat no matter creatures he may catch within the wild (therefore that subtitle). It was the final word marriage of stealth fight and survivalist wish-fulfilment that might go on to encourage video games like Escape From Tarkov.
With Steel Gear Strong 3, Kojima created one in every of historical past’s greatest tributes to James Bond. Snake’s mission brings him head to head with disfigured villains, sees him fall for a mysterious femme fatale, and is even prefaced by a giant, brassy theme music that’s a transparent homage to 007’s greatest intros. However whereas it incorporates a guidelines of Bond’s key tropes, there’s a deep and emotionally resonant story beneath all of them: Bare Snake is pressured to confront his former mentor, who defects to the Soviet Union to ally herself with the certifiably insane Colonel Volgin. A treatise on the worldwide divisions brought on by the Chilly Conflict and a continuation of his long-running anti-war themes, Steel Gear Strong 3 stands on the pinnacle of playability, storytelling, and technical achievement.
1. Steel Gear Strong
Steel Gear Strong is the sport that put Kojima on the map. Whereas the older Steel Gear video games have been lauded for his or her inventive gameplay, 1998’s Steel Gear Strong on PlayStation took that innovation and creativity to the subsequent degree. On the time, its cinematic storytelling methods have been thought of second to none (and even by at this time’s requirements, it stays particular), its interactive movie-like presentation demonstrating Kojima’s love and understanding of cinema. The plot of a particular ops soldier sneaking right into a distant navy base to take down a stolen nuclear weapon could also be easy in comparison with among the later video games’ deep lore wells, however it turned an on the spot and enduring traditional.
With Steel Gear Strong, Kojima’s extraordinary expertise as a sport developer are clear to see. Superior stealth mechanics that made in depth use of enemy imaginative and prescient cones, a wide range of distinctive and ingenious boss battles, and uncovering sensible surprises equivalent to having your sport controller “taken over” by Psycho Mantis are long-standing reminders that Kojima’s concepts about how gamers can work together with video video games (and the way video video games can work together with their gamers) have been forward of their time. In an period the place so many sport builders have been centered on pushing the boundaries of graphics and gameplay, Kojima managed to face head and shoulders above the remaining, pushing the medium ahead in methods few others may dream of. With MGS, Kojima advanced how video games look, play, inform tales, and finally, mature.
Steel Gear Strong is a real masterpiece. It’s the sport that created the blueprint for generations to come back, and actually is Hideo Kojima’s Magnum Opus.
And that’s each Hideo Kojima sport ranked. Disagree with our picks? Tell us which Kojima sport is your favourite within the feedback beneath.
Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Options Editor.
