News about How to Play the Metal Gear Solid Games in Chronological Order: The Full MGS Timeline

From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses's rainy cliffs to the heart-wrenching confrontation between student and mentor in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear saga boasts some of gaming's most iconic moments. Spanning multiple generations and pushing the boundaries of storytelling in video games, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, frequently cited among the medium's most significant contributions.

Following Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 and the seemingly conclusive Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Konami has reignited the franchise with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering this world of covert operations, shadowy government conspiracies, and charismatic, eyepatched heroes, we've compiled a chronological order to guide both newcomers and veterans alike.

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How to Play in Chronological OrderHow to Play by Release OrderHow Many Metal Gear Solid Games Are There?

Every IGN Metal Gear Review

19 ImagesExcluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear universe comprises 17 games: 11 mainline titles, five handheld entries, and one mobile game. While seemingly expansive, a significant portion are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline or presenting alternate interpretations of the established universe.

Metal Gear Survive (2018), set in a zombie-infested apocalypse, falls outside the main canon. Similarly, the PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 offer alternate timelines and distinct narratives. The Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel rewrites events from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, effectively removing it from the primary continuity. Finally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge are officially deemed non-canon.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, spanning a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore this core saga.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

We suggest two starting points. For the complete saga, we recommend 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, encompassing the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more contemporary entry point, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain offers a great introduction to the franchise's mechanics and tone.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

Note: The following blurbs contain minor spoilers.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Chronologically first, and soon to receive a modern remake, *Snake Eater* follows Naked Snake during the Cold War. Tasked with retrieving a Soviet scientist, Snake uncovers a betrayal by his mentor, The Boss. His subsequent survival, mission to eliminate The Boss, and the ensuing revelations profoundly shape his identity as Big Boss.

Read our Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review or see updates about the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Six years after *Snake Eater*, Big Boss confronts his rogue FOX Unit. Framed for treason, he must clear his name, ultimately uncovering Gene's ambition to create Army's Heaven, a mercenary nation. This sets the stage for Big Boss's formation of FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years later, Big Boss leads Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) against the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. This conflict reveals a connection to The Boss and the threat of nuclear weapons, culminating in a confrontation with Paz, a Cipher agent.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Serving as a prologue to *The Phantom Pain*, Big Boss infiltrates Camp Omega to extract Paz, only to discover the XOF and its leader, Skull Face. The attack on Motherbase leaves Big Boss near death.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Nine years later, a wounded Big Boss, now Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs against Skull Face and the XOF, uncovering a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss's plans to establish Outer Heaven.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years after *The Phantom Pain*, Solid Snake's first mission involves infiltrating Outer Heaven to destroy a Metal Gear. He encounters Grey Fox and ultimately confronts Big Boss.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Snake confronts Big Boss and a new Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years later, Snake infiltrates Shadow Moses to stop FOXHOUND's threat. He encounters Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, Grey Fox, and Liquid Snake.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid or see more of the best PS1 games.

9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Two years later, Snake investigates a new Metal Gear, leading to Raiden's mission at Big Shell, where he uncovers a conspiracy involving Ocelot and the Patriots.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty or check out more of the best PS2 games.

10. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Three years later, an aging Snake (Old Snake) confronts Liquid Ocelot and his Outer Heaven.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years after *Guns of the Patriots*, Raiden confronts Desperado Enforcement.

Read our review of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

How to Play the Metal Gear Games by Release Date

Metal Gear (1987)Snake’s Revenge (1990)Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)Metal Gear Solid (1998)Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel (2000)Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)Metal Gear Solid: Acid (2004)Metal Gear Solid: Acid 2 (2005) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) Metal Gear Solid: Mobile (2008) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013) Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) Metal Gear Survive (2018)Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (2025)What’s Next for Metal Gear?

While the future of original *Metal Gear* titles remains uncertain, Konami has confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, slated for release on August 28, 2025. The developers have also indicated openness to remaking other entries based on player demand.

Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist

Here are all the standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, in order of release. Log in to rank them, mark games owned, completed, or create a game plan for what to play next.See All1