28 Years Ago, This PlayStation Classic Crafted a New Genre and Changed Gaming Forever
The PlayStation changed gaming in the 1990s. Sony's high-tech console gave people an alternative to Nintendo and Sega at a time when the market desperately needed a third company to provide more competition, and the PS1 did much more than that.
The PlayStation couldn't have sold as many units as it did without unforgettable, genre-defining software. Metal Gear Solid came out 28 years ago today, and it still stands tall today as one of the games that helped the PS1 cement itself as the dominant console of the late 1990s.
Created by Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid essentially crafted the stealth genre. You control iconic spy Solid Snake as he maneuvers through traps, takes out enemies with various weapons, and slithers his way through peril. The game was unlike anything that had come out yet during the late 20th century. It gave fans a chance to experience a more in-depth game that almost felt cinematic.
The game got a 94/100 from the critics on Metacritic upon release, and the journalists lauded the game for all of its revolutionary qualities.
Gamestyle talked about the way the game becomes ingrained in your mind with iconic moments and unforgettable benchmarks in the genre.
"It is literally full of those 'classic' moments that are all too rare these days. Whether it's the first time your footprints are discovered, the first time you perform a stealth kill, finding out the identity of the 'Ninja', solving the method of defeating Psycho Mantis, obtaining the camera and seeking out your first 'ghost'… there are so many classic memories."
There are now over a dozen games in the series between its spinoffs and mainline entries across decades of releases. Hardly anything has come close to matching the effect that Metal Gear Solid had on the industry, though. This remains one of the crowning achievements of '90s gaming.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Sep 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
