METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN Thumbnail

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

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN

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

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Quick resume

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.

Global score

92/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Shooter, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Open world freedom
    • Deep and varied gameplay mechanics
    • Highly immersive and atmospheric
    • Excellent optimization and performance
    • Extensive customization and base building

    Cons

    • 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

    Analysis

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

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

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

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • 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.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      5

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

    • Competence
      4

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

    • Competition
      1

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

    • Continuation
      4

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

    • Cooperation
      2

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

    • Creativity
      4

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

    • Domination
      -2

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

    • Escapism
      4

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

    • Expectation
      -3

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

    • Experimenting
      5

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

    • Exploration
      4

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

    • Expression
      3

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

    • Fantasy
      3

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

    • Fellowship
      1

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

    • Growth
      4

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

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

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

    • Intimacy
      1

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

    • Leadership
      3

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

    • Progression
      5

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

    • Relaxation
      2

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

    • Sensation
      3

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

    • Status
      1

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

    • Story
      1

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

    • Strategy
      5

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

    • Thrill
      3

      "Stealth and combat encounters provide suspense and excitement."

    • Value
      4

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

    • Violence
      3

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

    • Survival
      3

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

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026