✅ ❌ No, we couldn't find enough information regarding a specific article titled "ranking-every-mainline-metal-gear-solid-game-the-definitive-list-for-fans-and-newcomers-alike" on major authoritative news outlets. However, we did find several similar ranking articles on well-known gaming websites, which offer various rankings of mainline Metal Gear Solid games:

1. GameSpot provides a detailed ranking of Metal Gear games, highlighting *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater* as the best experience, appreciating its stealth and survival gameplay, while placing *Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain* also near the top for its expansive and ambitious design.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-best-metal-gear-games-ranked/1100-6507370/

(Trust Score: 8/10 - major gaming media outlet)

2. Game Rant ranks the mainline Metal Gear Solid games by Metacritic scores and names *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty* as the crowning achievement, reflecting its technical leaps and gameplay polish. They also praise *Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots* as a satisfying conclusion to the saga.

https://gamerant.com/metal-gear-solid-every-mainline-game-ranked-according-metacritic/

(Trust Score: 7/10 - popular gaming news site)

3. GameGrin offers a ranking emphasizing the narrative and gameplay qualities of the mainline series, putting *Metal Gear Solid 2* and *Metal Gear Solid 4* near the top, with critical remarks on game pacing but overall positive reception.

https://www.gamegrin.com/articles/ranking-the-metal-gear-solid-games/

(Trust Score: 6/10 - reputable but smaller gaming site)

These sources do not confirm the exact list or title you mentioned but reflect similar attempts to rank the Metal Gear Solid mainline games for fans and newcomers, showing some consensus on the top entries in the franchise and their qualities.