Kojima recalls why almost no one understood a game about avoiding combat

When Hideo Kojima proposed Metal Gear as a game about avoiding combat, almost no one understood the idea. He recalled that reaction in a December 30, 2022 post, drawing a comparison with Snatcher, Boktai and Death Stranding.

Getting past the enemy

The original Metal Gear arrived in July 1987. As Konami’s introduction to the game recalls, it asked players to infiltrate without being discovered at a time when action games usually revolved around defeating enemies.

Watching patrols, finding a route and slipping past a guard became the challenge. Fighting remained an option, but getting through unnoticed was the aim.

Ideas that took time to catch on

Kojima saw a similar response to the action sequences in Snatcher, the sunlight sensor in Boktai and the delivery gameplay of Death Stranding. In his follow-up, he said it took three to five years for those games to gain wider recognition and be reassessed.

Death Stranding put helping other players at the heart of its Social Strand System. Bridges, ladders and equipment left behind could make another player’s journey easier. Kojima Productions describes the system as a way for players to connect through their contributions to the world.

Our response at the time

We replied to Kojima’s original thread in December 2022 with our own experience of playing Metal Gear Solid V:

That's why I enjoyed MGSV so much in terms of gameplay. Using your environment, point of entry and positions to play stealthily. Though I play most games in the series non-lethal, I think it's great you have also designed the games to be played either way. Rare in games today.

Kojima’s original thread

Sources

Hideo Kojima’s original English post, December 30, 2022
Kojima’s follow-up about recognition and reassessment
Konami’s original Metal Gear introduction
Kojima Productions: Social Strand System explanation
Our November 8, 2026 post
Our original December 2022 reply