Steam is offering players a limited-time opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Version for free. This trial, available from July 24 to July 27, coincides with a discount event for the first three Metal Gear Solid titles included in Master Collection Volume 1.
The Master Collection version of Metal Gear Solid includes the original Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and the first 3D installment, Metal Gear Solid. Additionally, the collection features screenplay books and master books for all included titles. These digital archives offer detailed breakdowns of game events, commentary, character biographies, and map layouts with Easter eggs. Polygon previously described the wider collection and its supplementary digital materials as being worthy of a museum, and this collection represents the primary method for playing these titles on modern hardware.
Beating the main story of Metal Gear Solid typically takes around 11 hours, making it achievable within the weekend trial period. This free trial comes in anticipation of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2, which is set to release on August 27 and will include Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel.
Alongside the Metal Gear Solid trial, Steam is also featuring free game trials for Icarus, Killing Floor 3, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, and Unrailed 2: Back on Track for the same weekend. Furthermore, Yet Another Zombie Defense HD and The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu — Lost Explorers' Swords Pack, a DLC for Ace Team's four-player co-op title, are available to keep permanently for free.