If there’s one game that has had an undeniable impact on the stealth genre and beyond, it’s Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid. The game revolutionized how we think about stealth gameplay while showing how narrative and cinematic storytelling could be integrated into video games.
Kojima’s masterpiece set the gold standard, and since then, countless developers have tried to capture a piece of that magic in their games. Whether they succeeded or failed, the influence of MGS is clear in their DNA. With Black State making headlines for its obvious Kojima influence, let’s look back at five other games that owe a debt to the legendary series.
5) Left Alive
This is a game that, on paper, had all the makings of a spiritual successor to the first Metal Gear Solid. Released in 2019 by Square Enix, it had a lot going for it, including character designs by Yoji Shinkawa, the same artist behind Metal Gear‘s iconic look.
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The game was plagued by clunky controls, frustrating AI, and a storyline that failed to engage players the way Kojima’s epic tales did.
But even with its shortcomings, you can’t deny that it wore its Metal Gear influence on its sleeve. From the stealth mechanics to the heavy emphasis on narrative, it’s clear that the developers were trying to recapture some of that Kojima magic.
4) WinBack: Covert Operations
WinBack: Covert Operations (a.k.a Operation WinBack in some countries) is a game that’s often overlooked but still holds a place in the history of third-person shooters and stealth games.
Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999 and later ported to the PS2, WinBack was one of the first games to introduce a cover system—a mechanic that would later become a staple in games like Gears of War and Uncharted.
While it wasn’t as polished or narratively deep as Metal Gear, it certainly took inspiration from Kojima’s work. The game focused on a team of operatives trying to stop a terrorist group, complete with espionage, shootouts, and a ticking-clock scenario that kept the tension high.
3) Vampire Rain: Altered Species
Now, here’s a game that truly tried to mix things up, for better or worse. Released in 2008, attempted to combine the stealth elements of Metal Gear with a horror setting filled with vampires.
While the concept sounds good, the execution wasn’t. Critics and players criticized the game’s numerous flaws, from its unforgiving difficulty to its poor AI and lackluster graphics.
The game encouraged players to think strategically, use the environment to their advantage, and avoid confrontation whenever possible—core tenets of the Metal Gear series.
2) Undetected
This one’s a more recent entry on this list, and it has managed to capture the spirit of Metal Gear in a way that the other games on this list struggled to do.
Released in 2022, it’s a stealth-action game that draws inspiration from the earlier entries in the Metal Gear series. The game features top-down gameplay, stealth mechanics, and a storyline steeped in conspiracy and intrigue.
Throughout the game, it’s committed to the classic stealth gameplay that made Metal Gear so iconic. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel but instead focuses on delivering a solid, engaging experience that fans of the genre will appreciate.
It’s a respectable homage to Kojima’s work and a must-play for fans of the stealth genre.
1) Splinter Cell
If there’s one game series that can stand toe-to-toe with Metal Gear in terms of influence and impact on the stealth genre, it’s this one. Despite the franchise’s recent shortcomings, this game was originally Ubisoft’s stellar answer to Kojima’s masterpiece.
It took the stealth mechanics pioneered by Kojima’s team and refined them. The game’s protagonist, Sam Fisher, became an iconic character in his own right, and the series spawned multiple sequels, each pushing the boundaries of stealth gameplay.
While it stuck to the core principles of stealth, it also innovated with the light and sound meter, giving players a way to gauge their visibility and noise levels.
What do you think? Have you played any of these games? Let us know in the comments below!