METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN similar games & best alternatives

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox 360 • 2015

Should you play it?

Ushering in a new era for the METAL GEAR franchise with cutting-edge technology powered by the Fox Engine, METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Phantom Pain, will provide players a first-rate gaming experience as they are offered tactical freedom to carry out open-world missions.

What works
  • Open world freedom
  • Deep and varied gameplay mechanics
  • Highly immersive and atmospheric
  • Excellent optimization and performance
  • Extensive customization and base building
Things to keep in mind
  • Story feels incomplete and fragmented
  • Some mission repetition and grind
  • Online mode has hackers and small community
  • Long wait times for base development
  • Lack of deep social interaction

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist

  • Far Cry® 4

  • STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy™

  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier™

  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Breakpoint

  • Watch_Dogs® 2

  • BioShock® 2

  • Saints Row IV: Re-Elected

  • Grand Theft Auto V Legacy

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Shatterline

  • CounterAttack: Uprising

  • Delta Force 2

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Domination, Competition.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    5

    "Players have full freedom to choose factions, classes, vehicles, weapons, and tactics in a large open world with no fixed routines."

    Capsule for PlanetSide 2 PlanetSide 2

    "Players have extensive freedom to choose approach, tactics, equipment, and mission order in an open world."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game demands skillful stealth, tactical planning, and precise combat; AI is challenging and punishing, rewarding mastery."

    Capsule for Intravenous Intravenous

    "Gameplay rewards skillful stealth, combat, and strategic planning with adaptive AI providing challenging encounters."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    1

    "Includes online multiplayer and PvP modes, but many players focus on single-player experience; competition is present but not dominant."

    Capsule for PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords

    "Some competitive elements exist in online FOB and multiplayer modes, but majority of experience is single-player and self-paced."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report hundreds to thousands of hours played, with ongoing engagement due to exploration, building, and modded content."

    Capsule for Empyrion - Galactic Survival Empyrion - Galactic Survival

    "Players report hundreds of hours of engagement with main and side missions, base building, and online modes."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Some cooperative elements like recruiting companions and faction interactions, but mostly solo play."

    Capsule for Devil Spire Falls Devil Spire Falls

    "Includes cooperative elements like companions and online base defense, but largely focused on individual play."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "High creativity in destruction methods, weapon use, and tactical approaches to missions."

    Capsule for Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered

    "High creativity in customizing weapons, base, and tactical approaches to missions."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -2

    "Interactions emphasize stealth, strategy, and hacking rather than exerting authority or trash talk; multiplayer is more about tactical invasions than domination."

    Capsule for Watch_Dogs™ Watch_Dogs™

    "While players can invade others' bases, interactions emphasize stealth and strategy over overt domination or trash talk."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "The immersive, beautiful world and challenging gameplay provide a strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Fly'N Fly'N

    "Highly immersive open world and gameplay provide strong escape from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -3

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration rather than obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Steep™ Steep™

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration rather than obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Encourages trying different approaches, weapons, and strategies to complete missions."

    Capsule for Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

    "Encourages trying different tactics, weapons, companions, and mission strategies."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Open world with multiple areas and hidden secrets encourages curiosity-driven discovery."

    Capsule for Taiji Taiji

    "Open world with multiple regions and secrets encourages discovery and curiosity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Customization of weapons and creation of custom levels allows for player expression."

    Capsule for Time Rifters Time Rifters

    "Customization of Mother Base, weapons, and companions allows player expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "The futuristic setting and sci-fi elements provide an imaginative fictional experience with some surreal characters."

    Capsule for 1bitHeart 1bitHeart

    "Features imaginative elements like advanced prosthetics, futuristic tech, and exaggerated characters."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some community interaction via multiplayer, but mostly a solo experience."

    Capsule for Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Yakuza 0 Director's Cut

    "Some community and multiplayer interaction, but mostly a solo experience."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills, level up, and improve equipment over time."

    Capsule for FATE: Undiscovered Realms FATE: Undiscovered Realms

    "Players develop skills, base, and equipment progressively over long playtime."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    Capsule for Baldur's Gate 3 Baldur's Gate 3

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during missions and base management."

    Capsule for XCOM: Enemy Unknown XCOM: Enemy Unknown

    "Requires sustained attention and focus during missions and base management."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Limited social interactions mainly through multiplayer; no deep emotional or close relationship building."

    Capsule for SENRAN KAGURA SHINOVI VERSUS SENRAN KAGURA SHINOVI VERSUS

    "Limited social interaction mostly through companions and online modes, not deep relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players manage and direct party members and mercenaries, making leadership a gameplay element."

    Capsule for Age of Reforging: The Freelands Age of Reforging: The Freelands

    "Players manage and lead their Mother Base and mercenary forces."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on leveling characters, collecting and upgrading weapons, and expanding bases."

    Capsule for DYNASTY WARRIORS 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition DYNASTY WARRIORS 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition

    "Strong emphasis on collecting resources, upgrading weapons, and expanding base."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Stealth gameplay balances tension and flow, providing moments of relaxation and suspense."

    Capsule for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory®

    "Gameplay balances tension and flow, with moments of calm exploration and stealth."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visuals, sound design, and music contribute to sensory engagement."

    Capsule for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition

    "Enjoyable visuals, sound design, and music contribute to sensory engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some recognition through online leaderboards and achievements, but mostly individual focus."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE

    "Some recognition through online leaderboards and base invasions, but mostly personal achievement."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Story is present but minimal and sometimes repetitive; narrative is secondary to gameplay."

    Capsule for Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

    "Narrative is present but considered incomplete and fragmented; story is secondary to gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "High strategic depth in city planning, resource management, defense, and mission objectives."

    Capsule for Pharaoh + Cleopatra Pharaoh + Cleopatra

    "High strategic depth in planning missions, managing resources, and adapting tactics."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Stealth and combat encounters provide suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition

    "Stealth and combat encounters provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report high replay value and content amount justifying price."

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    "Players report high replay value and content amount for the price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

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    "Combat and defeating enemies are core gameplay elements."

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009)

    "Combat and elimination of enemies is a core gameplay element."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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    "Players must avoid detection, manage resources, and survive enemy encounters."

    Capsule for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist

    "Players must avoid detection, manage resources, and survive enemy threats."

Last update: 01/06/2026