Choose METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
Choose METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN if you want the Multi-player and Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. 41,413 Steam reviews back the pick.
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN vs Laws of Machine
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN and Laws of Machine both land in Action, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Adventure on Steam. METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015) is 3 years older than Laws of Machine (2018). Laws of Machine is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Laws of Machine
Choose Laws of Machine if it's currently about 85% cheaper on the Steam Store. Laws of Machine launched in 2018.
Both METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN and Laws of Machine sit in Action and Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN |  Laws of Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92% positive (41,413 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | KONAMI | Badri Bebua |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015) is 3 years older than Laws of Machine (2018).
- Laws of Machine is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Laws of Machine has no Deck rating yet.
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN vs Laws of Machine — FAQ
- Should I play METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN or Laws of Machine first?
- If you want chronology, METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015) came out before Laws of Machine (2018). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN and Laws of Machine similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Laws of Machine have multiplayer like METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN?
- No. METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Laws of Machine is listed as single-player only.
- Does METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Laws of Machine doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.