Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a faithful remake of Hideo Kojima’s 2004 stealth masterpiece. With its modern Unreal Engine 5 visuals, updated controls, and a few new extras, many players are asking the same questions: how many missions does it have, and how long will it take to beat?
This guide breaks it down so you know exactly what to expect before diving in.
Is Metal Gear Solid Delta Mission-Based?
Unlike some later Metal Gear Solid entries, Delta: Snake Eater isn’t divided into numbered missions. Instead, the game plays out as one continuous operation split into two parts:
- Virtuous Mission (Prologue) – a short opening act that sets the stage.
- Operation Snake Eater (Main Story) – the bulk of the campaign where Naked Snake is sent into the Soviet Union’s jungles.
While the game doesn’t provide traditional chapter markers, most players use boss encounters as progress milestones.
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All Boss Encounters in Metal Gear Solid Delta
If you want to track your progress, these nine boss fights act as checkpoints through the story:
- Ocelot
- The Pain
- The Fear
- The End
- The Fury
- The Sorrow
- Colonel Volgin
- Shagohod
- The Boss
Reaching The Pain usually means you’re about one-third through the campaign. The End marks the halfway point, and by the time you’ve defeated The Fury and The Sorrow, you’ll be entering the final act.
How Long Does Metal Gear Solid Delta Take to Beat?
The time it takes depends heavily on your playstyle:
- Average Playthrough: 10–15 hours if you watch cutscenes, sneak carefully, and take your time.
- Cutscene Watchers: Up to 18 hours, since Kojima’s story sequences and codec calls are lengthy.
- Speedruns/Veterans: 5–10 hours if you skip dialogue and know enemy placements. There’s even a reward title for finishing under 5 hours.
- Completionists: 20–30 hours or more if you aim for 100%—collecting Kerotan frogs, new GA-KO ducks, all camo, weapons, and special ranks.
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What Can Extend Your Playtime?
While the main campaign is faithful to the original, Delta introduces or restores content that can easily add hours:
- 64 returning Kerotan frogs to shoot across the jungle.
- 64 new GA-KO ducks, camouflaged and much harder to spot.
- The quirky Snake vs. Monkey minigame, a fun side mode from the PS2 release.
- Optional challenge ranks such as Foxhound for players who master the toughest difficulty.
- A multiplayer mode is also on the way post-launch.
Mechanics That Influence Playtime
Not every player progresses at the same pace, and several mechanics affect how long a run can take:
- Stealth and survival systems: You’ll swap camouflage to match terrain, hunt and eat food to maintain stamina, and treat injuries manually. Delta streamlines this with quick-access camo and cure menus.
- Updated controls: The game adds over-the-shoulder aiming and a crouch-walk, making stealth more fluid compared to the PS2 version.
- Quality-of-life improvements: Autosaves trigger when you enter a new area, reducing the grind for challenge runs like Foxhound.
- Legacy Mode: Players who want the original feel can switch back to fixed cameras, classic controls, and retro audio/visual presentation.
Accessibility Features
Delta also includes accessibility options that can subtly affect how comfortable or quick your playthrough is:
- Tap-to-toggle actions instead of holding buttons.
- Subtitle customization for size, backgrounds, and speaker labels.
- UI-focused colorblind filters for improved visibility.
Where to Play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater?
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater launches across August 28–29, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with regional rollout varying slightly.
