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STEALTHACTION

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

2001 · Konami Computer Entertainment Japan

A technically ambitious stealth action game remembered for its cinematic direction, systemic gameplay and unusually ambitious themes.

PLATFORMS

PS2XboxPC

GAMEBOX SCORE

96

Provisional GAMEBOX editorial ratings. These are not verified facts or aggregate review scores.

/ 100

Retro Score97
Hidden Gem82
Revival Potential90

GAME DNA

experience
Narrative-driven · Experimental · Player agency
genre
Stealth · Action
mood
Political · Paranoid · Cinematic
gameplay
Stealth · Combat · Exploration · Story
difficulty
Medium
era
2000s
pacing
Slow
perspective
Third-person · First-person
structure
Linear

DISCOVER BY GAME DNA

Game DNA is GAMEBOX editorial classification; era comes from the sourced release year. Ratings are separate editorial judgements.

PoliticalParanoidCinematicStealthCombatExplorationStory

ABOUT THE GAME

A technically ambitious stealth action game remembered for its cinematic direction, systemic gameplay and unusually ambitious themes.

Play it for its stealth mechanics, cinematic direction, memorable set pieces and surprisingly prescient themes.

WHERE CAN I PLAY IT?

Availability information will be added to the GAMEBOX database.

We only list legal and officially available platforms and services.

RETRO HISTORY

Metal Gear Solid 2 became one of the most discussed games of its generation and remains notable for its ambitious approach to technology, information and identity.

ORIGINAL RELEASE
2001
Developer
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
Publisher
Konami

DISCOVER MORE

SIMILAR GAMES

Explore what makes games feel like Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

GAMEBOX algorithmic assessments of editorial Game DNA. Confidence describes overlap strength, not a probability of enjoyment.

1998

Metal Gear Solid

45% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Player agency · Narrative-driven · Stealth · Action

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey); Stealth / Action genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Narrative-driven · Player agency57% distinctive overlap · 39.0 / 67.9 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 80.0 points
  • genre: Action · Stealth100% distinctive overlap · 28.3 / 28.3 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Stealth32% distinctive overlap · 9.8 / 31.1 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person · Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 7.3 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2015

Undertale

40% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Experimental · Player agency

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches).

A close match offering a different series or DNA profile.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental · Narrative-driven · Player agency100% distinctive overlap · 72.9 / 72.9 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 72.3 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.9 points
  • gameplay: Exploration8% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 26.2 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 10.7 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.2 points

2004

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

43% SIMILAR

PARTIAL MATCH

Player agency · Narrative-driven · Stealth · Action

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Player agency experiences (shaping outcomes through consequential choices or approaches) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey); Stealth / Action genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Narrative-driven · Player agency43% distinctive overlap · 30.1 / 69.2 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 80.0 points
  • genre: Action · Stealth100% distinctive overlap · 28.3 / 28.3 points
  • gameplay: Exploration · Stealth32% distinctive overlap · 9.8 / 31.1 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: First-person · Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 7.3 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

2005

Killer7

32% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Narrative-driven · Action

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey); Action genre.

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental · Narrative-driven67% distinctive overlap · 49.1 / 73.2 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 91.4 points
  • genre: Action27% distinctive overlap · 7.1 / 26.5 points
  • gameplay: Combat · Exploration · Story56% distinctive overlap · 16.4 / 29.1 points
  • structure: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 26.7 points
  • pacing: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 11.1 points
  • perspective: First-person · Third-person100% distinctive overlap · 7.3 / 7.3 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points

1998

Xenogears

32% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Narrative-driven

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental · Narrative-driven52% distinctive overlap · 37.3 / 71.4 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 72.3 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 23.9 points
  • gameplay: Exploration8% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 26.2 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person45% distinctive overlap · 3.1 / 6.9 points
  • difficulty: Medium100% distinctive overlap · 2.7 / 2.7 points
  • era: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 4.0 points

2002

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

30% SIMILAR

LIMITED MATCH

Experimental · Narrative-driven

WHY IT'S SIMILAR

Both games share Experimental experiences (engaging with unconventional forms of play or narrative presentation) and Narrative-driven experiences (following and interpreting a story-led journey).

Similarity breakdown
  • experience: Experimental · Narrative-driven51% distinctive overlap · 36.9 / 72.8 points
  • mood: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 78.3 points
  • genre: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 27.9 points
  • gameplay: Exploration7% distinctive overlap · 2.0 / 27.6 points
  • structure: Linear100% distinctive overlap · 20.3 / 20.3 points
  • pacing: Slow100% distinctive overlap · 10.1 / 10.1 points
  • perspective: Third-person45% distinctive overlap · 3.1 / 6.9 points
  • difficulty: No shared values0% distinctive overlap · 0.0 / 3.6 points
  • era: 2000s100% distinctive overlap · 3.6 / 3.6 points