Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Reviews

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is ranked in the 100th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2015

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is a gameplay marvel, rewarding intelligence and creativity in a way few games do.

Read full review

Essential
Sep 1, 2015

Hideo Kojima's farewell to Metal Gear Solid is a dream: the best ever stealth game, and the high point of a remarkable series.

Read full review

Sep 7, 2015

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain successfully translates the iconic stealth action gameplay that has defined the series into a massive open world adventure.

Read full review

Sep 16, 2015

A new standard for open-world interaction, and an incredible sign-off to a spectacular, often infuriating, series. This is one of the most ingenious, lovingly crafted games of all time.

Read full review

9.3 / 10.0
Sep 1, 2015

Many missions feel like puzzles, forcing you to use your available resources to find one of many ways to complete your objective. Applying your rewards to building, expanding, and improving your base is an irresistible joy

Read full review

GameSpot
Top Critic
10 / 10
Aug 23, 2015

Kojima's open-world opus succeeds in delivering incredible gameplay and captivating storytelling.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Aug 27, 2015

The Phantom Pain is a bittersweet but impressive send-off for the series' creator

Read full review

Sep 12, 2015

Metal Gear Solid V practically redefines the notion of what open-world gameplay can be.

Read full review

Yes
Sep 4, 2015

Metal Gear Solid V is the best Metal Gear yet, and has immediately become one of my favorite video games of the last few years. It's an impeccable stealth-action game, clearly inspired in all the right ways by modern series like Far Cry, and it's got a level of moment-to-moment joyfulness that kept me satisfied even when I was slogging through harder versions of levels I'd already beaten just to see the "true" ending.

Read full review

VG247
Top Critic
Sep 2, 2015

The story loses a lot of momentum in the back half, and F.O.Bs aren't much more than a fun novelty, but otherwise it's a stunningly enjoyable game that almost perfectly integrates a sizable open world environment with solid stealth fundamentals and a huge arsenal. Even at its most frustrating, it's an incredibly absorbing play. We'll be talking about this one for a long time to come.

Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Sep 3, 2015

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the epitome of stealth action. It contains not only some of the best combat mechanics available, but everything you could have wanted from a Metal Gear Solid game. Plus Kiefer Sutherland.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 7, 2015

Such player-driven drama, comedy, and action eclipses anything in the disappointing scripted narrative. The Phantom Pain is one of the worst Metal Gear stories ever told. It functions neither as a standalone narrative nor as worthwhile insight into the series overall. And yet, The Phantom Pain is the best stealth-action game ever made, one where playing flawlessly is just as thrilling as outright failure. And boy – what a thrill.

Read full review

90 / 100
Sep 14, 2015

As a game, The Phantom Pain excels. The stealth and action work beautifully in the open-world setting, and maintaining your Mother Base gives you plenty of rewards. It’s long, fun, and gives players tons of variety.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2015

This isn't just the best Metal Gear game, nor is it just the best stealth game, it is one of the best games ever made.

Read full review

9 / 10
Aug 24, 2015

A fitting swansong.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2015

A round work that will go down in the annals of the sector for its structure and balance in all its aspects. A brilliant closure that results in the most complete Metal Gear ever, and one of the most profound and inspiring titles in recent times.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

97 / 100
Sep 7, 2015

The Phantom pain is the Divine Comedy of video games, the best infiltration adventure ever made and GOTY 2015. A true masterpiece and a perfect send-off to the man who sold the world: Hideo Kojima.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.7 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2015

An unforgettable gaming experience, a unique world and an unmistakable style. Hideo abandons Snake with an all-in that emphasizes his courage and ambition.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10
Sep 1, 2015

The best Metal Gear Solid game ever made, as it bravely reinvents both its gameplay and its storytelling to far greater effect than ever before.

Read full review

9 / 10
Sep 10, 2015

The Phantom Pain makes a major departure from the gameplay of the earlier home console games, but it’s brilliant for it. The story loses its momentum half-way through and the boss fights can fall flat, but those are minor points compared to the outstanding open world that has been created for you to play in and the freedom to do so.

Read full review