19 Sandbox games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and stealth mechanics. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and progression.

What brings it close to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and a sandbox world, and the two track each other on combat, game mode and tone. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in genre and progression — its own ground is puzzle design.

What brings it close to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration, and the two track each other on game mode, tone and world. The common ground extends to melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is genre and progression: racing gameplay.

Its point of contact with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is adventure storytelling, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. Both also lean on stealth mechanics and a sci-fi setting. The distance is in setting and genre — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting.

Its point of contact with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. Both also lean on melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in genre and progression — its own ground is racing gameplay and a first-person view.

If Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain worked for you because of third-person shooting, strong narrative focus and open world exploration, the same is here. To that it adds stealth mechanics and fantasy world. They part company on genre and progression: this one brings racing gameplay.

Held in common with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on visuals and genre: this one brings roguelike runs and a first-person view.

It meets Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain on shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in visuals and genre — its own ground is survival mechanics and co-op play.

What carries over from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. The common ground extends to tactical combat and historical setting. Where the two diverge is tone and genre: deep simulation and horror setting.

It shares the essentials of what Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does: third-person shooting, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is combat and genre: racing gameplay and ranged combat.

Genre puts it alongside Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and so does a sandbox world, stealth mechanics and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and world — its own ground is ranged combat.

Shelved next to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain for good reason: a sandbox world, stealth mechanics and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is world and game mode: a first-person view.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain on genre, game mode and setting. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and historical setting.

It shares the essentials of what Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to historical setting and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with puzzle design and a medieval setting.

If Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. Both also lean on historical setting and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: precision platforming and ranged combat.