Which 1987 game was the first in the Metal Gear series?

Metal Gear was the first game in Konami’s Metal Gear series.

Hideo Kojima directed the game, which Konami released for the MSX2 in Japan in 1987. It placed the player in the role of Solid Snake, an operative sent into the fictional state of Outer Heaven to investigate the armed fortress and the weapon known as Metal Gear.

The game emphasized avoiding detection rather than defeating every guard. This stealth-focused design was unusual for its era and established ideas that became central to later entries, including alert states, surveillance, infiltration, and hiding from enemies.

Metal Gear Solid, released for the PlayStation in 1998, was not the first series game; it was a major 3D revival and international breakthrough. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake followed the original in 1990 and expanded its stealth systems and narrative.