Is Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain worth playing in 2025?

Released a decade ago, Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain is the ninth installment in the iconic Metal Gear series and the last entry directed by industry legend Hideo Kojima. While the game was considered ahead of its time upon release, a decade later, many may question whether it is still worth playing in 2025.

The short answer is yes, absolutely. Although there are some aspects that may feel a little outdated to the modern generation of gamers, the upsides and the signature MGS charm with Kojima’s wacky genius make this game an enjoyable ride for almost all demographics of gamers.

In this article, we have talked about the strengths and weaknesses as well as some other details that can help you decide if you should give Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain a try in 2025.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's personal opinions and biases.

---

Why you should play Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain in 2025

The game still hold its ground (Image via KONAMI)

The main reason you should give Metal Gear Solid V a shot, even a decade later, is the amount of freedom it gives you. This game is widely regarded as a benchmark in stealth mechanics and open-world design, as it allows players to choose their playstyle. There is no right approach to each level, and you can complete your objective using any method.

The Fox Engine, developed specifically for MGSV, was ahead of its time in 2015 and still delivers a visually stunning experience in 2025. The game's realistic environments and character animations still look amazing despite their age. The cherry on top is the fantastic optimization job that the devs did, which makes it runnable even on older devices.

Despite its age, MGSV is still visually stunning (Image via KONAMI)

Metal Gear Solid V is set in two richly detailed regions — Soviet-occupied Afghanistan and the Angola–Zaire border. The game features an expansive open world filled with opportunities for exploration and side quests. You even have the ability to recruit enemy soldiers and collect resources to expand Snake’s base, which somewhat feels like the base mechanic from Fallout 4.

However, not everything is bright and sunny about the game. The first thing that may set you back is the Quiet’s design and lack of depth. Other than that, some of Hideo’s ‘jokes and gags’ can be cringy for the new generation of players. But if you can look past these issues and the fact that it is a decade-old game, Metal Gear Solid V is absolutely worth playing in 2025.

For newcomers to the Metal Gear series, we recommend The Master Collection Vol. 1, as it gives you the opportunity to play the MGS franchise in chronological order, which can help you understand the convoluted lore of the series.