Hideo Kojima, one of the most influential figures in the video game industry, has given us some of our favourite games within a career span of 40 years. The Millennials, Generation Z, and Gen Alpha, all these age groups had the privilege to play games made by Kojima.
As Kojima continues to make interesting games, we have ranked the works he has made so far. Just like your expectation, the vintage Metal Gear games top the list. Without further delay, let’s get into the whole rankings.
About Hideo Kojima
Born on August 24, 1963, in Tokyo, Hideo Kojima started his career by joining Konami’s MSX home computer division in 1986. Initially, he was disappointed by the job because his true intention was to get into cinema, and he considered the work a temporary aid to survive. However, he worked passionately on his initial projects, including the racing game Penguin Adventure as an assistant director.
Kojima got his first directorial chance with Metal Gear due to his passion and hard work for the company. He worked for Konami till 2015 and started his own independent production company. Now, under Kojima Productions Ltd., he and his team release various games, and an announcement about a new game is expected soon.
All 15 Games of Hideo Kojima Ranked
After examining the games developed by Hideo Kojima between 1987 and 2025, we have tried to rank them using various criteria, and the resulting list is given below.
15. Metal Gear
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
The action-adventure stealth game Metal Gear introduces the player to Solid Snake, a special forces agent tasked with eliminating Metal Gear, an enormous walking tank. Because it prioritised prevention over conflict, the game helped to establish the stealth genre. The initial release for the MSX2 was on July 13, 1987.
14. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
As a continuation of the first Metal Gear, players take on the role of the renowned commando in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, breaking into enemy territory to stop a global disaster. The game laid the groundwork for contemporary stealth games by introducing radar elements and improving the rival AI. It came out on July 20, 1990, on the MSX2.
13. Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
Boktai is Hideo Kojima’s innovative action RPG that uses real-world sunlight with the help of a built-in solar sensor. Players act as Django, a vampire hunter who must charge his in-game weapon, the “Gun Del Sol,” with sunlight to fight the vampires. The game was released for the Game Boy Advance on July 17, 2003, resulting in high praise from critics for its novel treatment.
12. Snatcher
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Genre | Graphic adventure, visual novel |
| Mode | Single-player |
In the cyberpunk adventure game Snatcher, players take on the role of Gillian Seed, a member of a unique task force that hunts bio-androids known as “Snatchers.” It combines detective gameplay with a noir storyline, drawing inspiration from the literary work Blade Runner. On November 26, 1988, the game was first made available on the PC-8801.
11. SD Snatcher
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Genre | Graphic adventure, visual novel |
| Mode | Single-player |
As a remake of the highly successful Snatcher, the SD Snatcher reshapes itself as the chibi-style reimagining of Snatcher, featuring a turn-based RPG combat system while retaining the sci-fi detective narrative. It offers a unique mix of adventure and role-playing mechanics. It was released for MSX2 in 1990 to mixed reviews.
10. Policenauts
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Genre | Adventure, visual novel, interactive movie |
| Mode | Single-player |
Policenauts is a distinct interactive game by Hideo Kojima. Jonathan Ingram, a former space cop looking into a conspiracy in a space colony, is the main protagonist of the game. It blends dramatic narration, hand-drawn anime graphics, and a movie-like gameplay with a theatrical presentation. The game was made available for the NEC PC-9821 on July 29, 1994.
9. P.T.
| Developer | Kojima Productions |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Engine | Fox Engine |
| Genre | Psychological horror |
| Mode | Single-player |
P.T. (Playable Teaser) is a first-person psychological horror game that immerses players in a terrifying haunted corridor. With subtle clues and escalating dread, it loops the players into a new experience, setting new standards in horror game design. It was first released on PlayStation 4 as a free demo on August 12, 2014.
8. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
| Developer | Kojima Productions |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Engine | Decima |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
Guns of the Patriots is the sixth game of the Metal Gear series in which the player acts as Solid Snake, who goes on a final mission to assassinate Liquid Snake, his nemesis. Beyond the narrative, the gameplay mechanics, graphics, character depth, and emotional weight were praised by the gamers. It was first released on June 12, 2008, for PlayStation 3.
7. Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes
| Developer | Konami Digital Entertainment Co. |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
Ground Zeroes, the eighth game of the Metal Gear series, can be considered a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It follows Snake, who reaches Cuba to rescue a Cipher agent by infiltrating an American black site. First released on March 18, 2014, the game is available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.
6. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
| Developer | Konami Digital Entertainment Co. |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Stealth |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
Written, directed, produced, and designed by Hideo Kojima, the game is set in 1974, Costa Rica, where the protagonist Snake runs a mercenary unit of soldiers. Despite receiving universal critical acclaim, the game failed to succeed commercially. However, the HD Edition, which was later released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, was profitable. The game’s first release was on PlayStation Portable on April 29, 2010.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
The Phantom Pain was Hideo Kojima’s final commitment to Konami. As the ninth Metal Gear game, it follows Snake as he travels into Afghanistan and the Angola-Zaire border to take revenge on those who killed his forces. It was released on September 1, 2015, to PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
4. Death Stranding
| Developer | Kojima Productions |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Engine | Decima |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Mode | Single-player |
Following the split from Konami, Hideo Kojima returned to the limelight again with Death Stranding, an action-adventure game published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is set in a post-apocalyptic United States where the protagonists must save humanity from destructive creatures. Released just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the game coincidentally resembles the pandemic, and sold an incredible 5 million copies by July 2021.
First released on November 8, 2019, the game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Luna, and Xbox Series X/S.
3. Metal Gear Solid
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
Metal Gear Solid, the 1998 action-adventure stealth game, achieves 3rd position primarily because of its popularity among gamers. Following the release, it was highly praised by the critics and sold more than seven million copies globally. Players act as Solid Snake, who accesses a nuclear weapons facility to stop the terrorists from launching a nuclear strike.
The game was first released on September 3, 1998, for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Upon request from the fans, it was re-released in 2008, 2009, and 2013.
2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
The fifth Metal Gear game, Snake Eater, achieves second position because of the evident hard work by Hideo Kojima in making the game. Immediately after the release, it became one of the favourite games of the Metal Gear fans, topping the sales and receiving praise from the critics.
Set in 1964, the game follows Naked Snake, who attempts to save Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov, a Rocket scientist who was trapped by enemies to create an experimental superweapon. The first release of the game was on November 17, 2004, and it witnessed various remakes, including a 3D version, in the later years. The game supports PlayStation and Nintendo 3DS.
1. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
| Developer | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode | Single-player |
It tops the list because of the fame, attention to detail, enhanced gameplay experience, and the discussions it evoked due to the philosophical nature of the narrative. The story takes place in an offshore clean-up facility seized by terrorists who threaten to destroy it and kill the President if their demands are not met.
The game was released on November 13, 2001, resulting in rave reviews from game critics and early players. They praised its nuanced gameplay, enhanced graphics, and insightful storyline. It is available on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows.
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Complete List of Games by Hideo Kojima
Here is the complete list of Hideo Kojima games sorted by release year.
- 1987 – Metal Gear
- 1988 – Snatcher
- 1990 – Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
- 1994 – Policenauts
- 1998 – Metal Gear Solid
- 2001 – Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- 2003 – Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
- 2004 – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- 2008 – Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- 2010 – Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
- 2014 – Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
- 2014 – P.T.
- 2015 – Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
- 2019 – Death Stranding
- 2025 – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Conclusion
As an influential auteur of video games who has given us distinct, multiple enjoyable and insightful experiences, it is very hard to rank the games of Hideo Kojima. However, we have created the above list based on the reviews from critics, the popularity among fans, and the online opinions from gaming communities. If you are not satisfied with the rankings, feel free to express your opinion in the comments.
