Parents' Guide to

Metal Gear Survive

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Survival simulation in alien dimension has intense violence.

Metal Gear Survive Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 14+
Yeah it's pretty good but nowhere as good as MGSV, though some parts are pretty fun
age 14+

GG!

The Metal Gear Solid series is often misunderstood by over concerned parents who don't want their kids to know that the world exists outside of the house. The language is only bad if you are oversensitive, the use of violence nobody cares about, and Survive has been a fairly easy game so far. In game purchases were INTENDED people. Why do you think they made the PS store? The app store? Xbox is bent on that, so don't worry about your kids spending all of your money on something that is just $20 that they can pay for themselves. No need to worry or be one of THOSE parents.

This title has:

Easy to play/use

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (5 ):

While neither as character-driven nor as philosophical as a traditional game in this series, this survival sim gives players a chance to revisit some mechanics from the series' older games. Metal Gear Survive's greatest strengths are its combat and survival systems. Learning how to manage scarce resources, use your time in the field efficiently, and effectively combat enemy hordes takes time and is challenging, but never unfair. Plus, the tactics involved in protecting targets by strategically deploying barricades, traps, and other gadgets are compelling. Map exploration is perhaps a little more frustrating than it needs to be -- especially in areas obscured by a toxic dust cloud that makes it very easy to get lost -- but there's a definite sense of satisfaction that comes with discovering and revealing new locations and earning a hard-won wormhole transportation device (essentially a fast-travel location).

Long-time series fans are bound to be a little disappointed by Metal Gear Survive's refusal to move Metal Gear's intricate narrative forward in any serious way, but there are still some brief moments of reflection on the consequences and follies of military conflict -- aspects for which the franchise is well-known. A bigger issue is that the survival shtick eventually becomes a bit formulaic and repetitive. Hunting for food and purifying water grows wearisome after a while, and many mission objectives fall into just a handful of categories. Thanks to the large and diverse array of gradually earned weapons, gear, and gadgets, the combat remains fun and satisfying throughout, but the goals we're provided could vary a little more. Though fun in places, Metal Gear Survive is undeniably a minor entry in Konami's storied series.

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate