Metal Gear Solid is a stealth-focused action-adventure game released in 1998 for the PlayStation, developed and published by Konami. The game was directed, written, and produced by Hideo Kojima, and serves as a continuation of the MSX2 titles Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, both of which Kojima also created. It was first revealed at the 1996 Tokyo Game Show, with further showings at industry events like the 1997 E3 Expo. Although initially scheduled for a late 1997 launch in Japan, it was ultimately delayed until 1998.

Players step into the role of Solid Snake, a skilled operative tasked with infiltrating a heavily fortified nuclear weapons facility. His mission: to eliminate a rogue special forces group known as FOXHOUND, rescue hostages, and prevent a potential nuclear catastrophe. The game makes heavy use of cinematic storytelling, with cutscenes crafted using the in-game graphics engine and fully voiced dialogue throughout.

Upon release, Metal Gear Solid was met with widespread acclaim, both critically and commercially. It sold over seven million copies worldwide, with an additional 12 million demo units shipped. The game earned an impressive Metacritic score of 94/100 and is often cited as one of the most iconic and influential video games ever made. It played a major role in popularizing both the stealth genre and the use of in-engine cinematics in gaming.

Following its success, the game received an enhanced edition titled Metal Gear Solid: Integral in 1999, released for both PlayStation and Windows. A full remake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, came to the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. The original game was later reissued on the PlayStation Network as a PSone Classic—launching in Japan in 2008, North America in 2009, and Europe later that same year. It was also bundled in the Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection for PS3 in 2013.

In 2023, a newly updated version of the game, ported by M2, was included in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, made available for platforms like the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game spawned numerous sequels, beginning with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in 2001, and inspired various media spin-offs including radio dramas, comic books, and novels.