Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an open-world stealth-action game following Big Boss as he rebuilds his private army and pursues revenge across a war-torn Afghanistan and Africa. Its sandbox mission design gives players unprecedented freedom in tackling objectives.

Players plan infiltrations using stealth, gadgets, vehicles, and a customizable support team, adapting their approach to each mission's terrain and enemy patterns. Its open structure marked a significant evolution for the series' stealth gameplay.