For a first playthrough, treat Hideo Kojima’s games as two separate paths: play the main Metal Gear games in release order, then play Death Stranding before Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. You do not need to finish Metal Gear before starting Death Stranding; the available official sources do not establish a shared story continuity.
Which games should you play first?
| Choose this path | Best for | Suggested order |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear | Players who want the long-running stealth-action story | Main entries in release order |
| Death Stranding | Players who want to start a separate series | Death Stranding, then Death Stranding 2: On the Beach |
This is a practical beginner’s route, not an exhaustive list of every game Kojima worked on. His contributions across the wider game catalog can vary, and the sources cited here do not establish a complete credit list.
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Why play Metal Gear in release order?
Release order preserves the sequence in which the main games introduced their mechanics and story revelations. It is an editorial recommendation for newcomers, not an order published by Kojima Productions or Konami. A chronological, in-universe order is a different approach; do not confuse it with the order the games originally appeared.
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How to play Death Stranding in order
- Play Death Stranding first.
- Continue with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Kojima Productions identifies Death Stranding as the studio’s first developed title. Its official history records the original’s PS4 release in November 2019, followed by a PC release in July 2020, a PS5 Director’s Cut launch in September 2021, and a PC Director’s Cut launch in March 2022. The studio records the sequel’s PS5 launch in June 2025 and PC launch in March 2026. Kojima Productions’ company history provides those milestones.
Do you need to play Metal Gear before Death Stranding?
No. For play-order purposes, treat them as separate series: you can start Death Stranding without finishing Metal Gear. Kojima Productions’ history describes Death Stranding as its first developed title after the studio’s establishment as an independent company in December 2015. The official sources referenced here do not establish that the two series share a story continuity.
Rank #2
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What should you check before buying?
Konami’s U.S. catalog currently lists METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 for PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. That listing confirms platforms, but it is not a verified title-by-title contents guide. Check the collection’s included games, your region, and your platform’s compatibility before purchasing. Konami also lists METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER, which is a separate current product and should not be mistaken for the Master Collection. See Konami’s U.S. games catalog for current product information.
For either Death Stranding game, verify the edition and platform you intend to play: the original is available in multiple versions, and platform availability can differ by edition. Kojima Productions’ release history documents the releases noted above.
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- Two Epic Games in One - Featuring hours of endless fun, play through two of the treasured classics in the Metal Gear Solid universe with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
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What falls outside this starter order?
This route focuses on the main Metal Gear story and the two released Death Stranding games. It does not try to rank Zone of the Enders, Snatcher, Policenauts, Metal Gear spin-offs, remakes, or games with partial or less clearly established Kojima contributions. Those require a broader, verified gameography and a decision about whether to order titles by release date, story chronology, or the nature of Kojima’s involvement.
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- 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.
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- Over 60 hours of epic gameplay
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