Common Sense Media Review
By David Wolinsky
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, mature, powerful game on grim realities of war.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Parents say that while this game has been enjoyed by some younger audiences, it contains significant levels of violence, blood, and intense themes related to war, making it unsuitable for children under a certain age. Many reviews highlight the philosophical undertones and exceptional gameplay, suggesting that it is more appropriate for a mature audience, ideally those over 15, to grasp the complex moral messages portrayed.
- violence concerns
- appropriate age
- mature themes
- gameplay quality
- moral lessons
- non-lethal options
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 49 kid reviews
Kids say that the game is a mix of engaging storytelling and graphic violence, with many reviews highlighting the intense opening scene and the presence of a character whose outfit is often criticized as overly sexualized. While some argue it’s suitable for teens around age 12 or 13 if they are mature enough, most agree that the extreme violence, gore, and strong language make it inappropriate for younger audiences.
- graphic violence
- mature themes
- suggestive content
- strong language
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
In METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN, supersoldier Big Boss awakes from a nine-year coma to find that his troops and base of operations have been completely wiped out. Nothing remains of his old regime aside from a few allies who, like him, have been badly hurt, injured, or emotionally scarred by the ravages and tragedies of war. So they seek revenge, little by little rebuilding their strength. Most of the game takes place in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan in the early 1980s, where players gather intel, perform operations, and manage their new base.
Is It Any Good?
This is an exceedingly massive and ambitious game that can seem daunting with its scope but ultimately provides more and more wrinkles on the same basic action. Unlike previous entries in the series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is truly an open world that you're free to explore and play in as you see fit. You're encouraged to play as stealthily as possible and avoid detection to successfully complete your missions; if you try to go rushing into bases and outposts with guns blazing, you'll frequently be gunned down. It behooves you to take your time, use your binoculars to study guard patterns, and notice all the possible ways infiltration could backfire. It might sound repetitive, but it's exciting and so challenging that it feels as if you're given more and more chances to prove your skill, not your patience.
Thanks to this being an open-world video game, you can evacuate wild animals, gather resources, and grab audio tapes (both for intel purposes on missions and also just to listen to music). There's also your burgeoning base to defend and explore. The more people you recruit out in the field (by "fultoning" them, or parachuting them into the sky for retrieval by plane), the more weaponry, gear, and items you can craft for yourself. This sparks a constant tension between these two open worlds. What do you want to do? How would you like to do it? These are the questions the game asks, and then it gets out of the way and lets you enjoy. It's a great title that asks a lot of thought-provoking questions, but it's definitely for mature audiences only.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in media such as Metal Gear Solid V. Is there a justification for content such as realistic warfare or torture? Does the inclusion of this content add weight to the philosophical arguments raised in the game, or is it solely for shock value?
Talk about revenge. Is there ever a justification to seek revenge? Why?
Have you ever realized you did something wrong that hurt others? What did you do to make amends?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Konami Digital Entertainment
- Release date : September 1, 2015
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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