A Tactical Espionage Adaptation

Bringing a legendary stealth-action video game to the tabletop is no easy feat, yet Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game makes a solid attempt. Designed by Emerson Matsuuchi and published by CMON, this cooperative experience closely follows the 1998 PlayStation classic. Players take on the roles of iconic characters like Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Otacon, and Gray Fox, each bringing their unique abilities to the mission. The game is structured as a campaign, progressing through well-known scenarios with a mix of tactical movement, stealth, and boss fights. But does it succeed in delivering the tension and creativity of the video game, or does it struggle under the weight of its ambitious design?

Faithful to the Source Material

One of the strongest aspects of the game is how well it captures the Metal Gear Solid feel. The stealth mechanics are integral, forcing players to carefully maneuver around guards, hide bodies, and use gadgets to avoid detection. The campaign structure closely mirrors the video game, unfolding as a series of missions that recreate classic moments like sneaking through vents, evading security cameras, and engaging in boss battles. The inclusion of Codec calls and enemy AI patterns makes the experience feel immersive and true to its source material.

Each character plays a bit differently, offering distinct strengths that allow for varied approaches to completing objectives. Snake, unsurprisingly, is the best at stealth, while Meryl and Gray Fox bring more aggressive tactics to the table. The scenarios often provide multiple solutions, encouraging creative problem-solving and rewarding careful planning.

Turn Order? Not Quite.

One of the game’s more unique design choices is the lack of a strict turn order. Players decide among themselves who will act next, allowing for flexible and dynamic decision-making. This system makes the game feel more fluid than traditional co-op titles, giving it a sense of real-time strategy. However, in larger player counts, this structure can lead to players taking turns in the same sequence repeatedly, making the cooperative elements feel a bit less engaging than expected.

While this flexibility is thematically appropriate for a stealth-based game, it can also slow down the pace, especially if players overanalyze every possible move. The experience shines best with one or two players, where coordination is smoother and the downtime is minimal.

AI That Keeps You Guessing

A strong point of the game is its AI-driven enemy movement system. Guards don’t simply follow predetermined routes; instead, their actions are controlled by a dynamic deck that dictates their patrols and reactions to player activity. This unpredictability forces players to stay alert and adapt to new situations, adding a level of tension that feels reminiscent of the original game.

However, while the AI system creates tension, it also introduces moments of frustration. Some movements feel more random than strategic, which can occasionally result in unfair situations. Still, for those who enjoy stealth gameplay, the challenge of outsmarting the AI can be quite rewarding.

Campaign Structure and Replayability

The campaign progresses in a linear fashion, unlocking new scenarios as you complete objectives. While this is faithful to the video game’s storytelling, it means the experience is somewhat rigid in structure. The missions are enjoyable on a first playthrough, but their scripted nature limits replayability compared to more open-ended co-op games.

To counteract this, the game includes VR missions, which allow players to engage in shorter, standalone challenges. Unfortunately, these need to be unlocked through the campaign, making them inaccessible for groups that just want to jump into a one-off session.

Not Quite a Fully Collaborative Co-op

While this is a cooperative game, players don’t interact as much as in other team-based strategy games. Each player controls their character and works toward the same goal, but there are few mechanics that encourage direct teamwork beyond planning moves together. Unlike games where players combine abilities for powerful effects, Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game feels more like individual stealth puzzles happening in the same space.

This is another reason why the game tends to work best at lower player counts. With one or two players, the experience feels tight and immersive, but with four, the limited collaboration mechanics can make turns feel disconnected.

Complexity and Rulebook Challenges

Despite its streamlined mechanics, the game has a number of small rules interactions that aren’t always intuitive. The included Codec book helps clarify some aspects, but players will likely need to check online FAQs for additional guidance. The learning curve isn’t steep, but it’s noticeable enough to make the first playthrough feel like a tutorial rather than a full-fledged game session.

Once the rules are internalized, gameplay becomes smoother, but it’s something to keep in mind for groups looking for a game that’s easy to pick up and play.

Verdict

Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game is an ambitious adaptation that successfully captures the essence of the video game’s stealth mechanics and iconic moments. Its AI-driven enemies and turn order flexibility offer a unique tactical experience, especially for fans of the franchise. However, the lack of strong cooperative mechanics, a somewhat rigid campaign structure, and occasional rule ambiguities hold it back from being a top-tier co-op game.

For solo players or pairs who love stealth gameplay, this is a well-designed experience that provides tense and rewarding missions. For larger groups looking for a deeply interactive co-op, there are better options. Ultimately, this is a game that thrives on nostalgia and tactical play—but only if you’re willing to embrace its quirks.

Would Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game make it into your collection, or are you sneaking past this one?

– David

Scratches: 8.0/10.0