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

by Isabella Mar 22,2025

From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses's rainy cliffs to the heartbreaking showdown between student and mentor in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear saga delivers some of gaming's most iconic moments. Spanning console generations and pushing the boundaries of storytelling in video games, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, often cited as some of the medium's most significant contributions.

Following Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 and the apparent conclusion of the franchise with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Konami has revived the series through re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and charismatic, gruff characters, we've compiled a chronological guide to the Metal Gear Solid series for both newcomers and seasoned veterans.

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How to Play in Chronological Order How to Play by Release Order

How Many Metal Gear Solid Games Are There?

Every IGN Metal Gear Review

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

Metal Gear Survive (2018), set in a zombie-infested apocalypse, falls outside the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 offer alternate timelines and unique narratives. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (Game Boy Color) presents an alternate universe, disregarding the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Finally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge are officially deemed non-canon.

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

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

We suggest two starting points. For the complete saga, begin with 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, start with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

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Metal Gear Games in Chronological Order

The following descriptions contain minor spoilers regarding characters, settings, and plot points.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Chronologically first, and soon to receive a modern remake, *Snake Eater* follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, during the Cold War. His mission: locate and extract a Soviet scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. However, Snake discovers his mentor, The Boss, has betrayed the US, aligning with the Soviets. After a devastating defeat, Snake is tasked with a difficult choice: eliminate his mentor and prevent nuclear war. This journey transforms Naked Snake into Big Boss, a legend born from betrayal and disillusionment.

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 his showdown with The Boss, Big Boss confronts his rogue former squad, FOX Unit. Betrayed and imprisoned, he escapes, only to be accused of treason. To clear his name, he hunts down his former comrades, uncovering a plot to create a mercenary army, Army's Heaven. This pursuit ultimately leads to the formation of FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years later, Big Boss, having left FOXHOUND and the Patriots, leads Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) alongside Kazuhira Miller. Their mission: protect vulnerable nations. This leads them into conflict with the Peace Sentinels, a militia wielding nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. Big Boss uncovers a connection to The Boss and confronts Paz, a Cipher agent, revealing deeper conspiracies.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Serving as a prologue to *The Phantom Pain*, Ground Zeroes sees Big Boss infiltrating Camp Omega to extract Paz, who survived the events of *Peace Walker*. This mission unveils the XOF, a Cipher cell led by Skull Face, and culminates in a devastating attack on Motherbase, leaving 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 severely injured Big Boss, now known as Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs against the rogue XOF, led by Skull Face, and his devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss laying the groundwork for Outer Heaven.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, Solid Snake, a FOXHOUND rookie under Big Boss, infiltrates Outer Heaven to destroy a nuclear-capable Metal Gear. His mission reveals Big Boss's role in the conflict.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

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

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after *Metal Gear 2*, Snake confronts the rogue FOXHOUND at Shadow Moses Island, battling iconic enemies like Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis.

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 a mission with Raiden at the Big Shell facility, controlled by the Sons of Liberty. The game reveals deeper conspiracies 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 after *Sons of Liberty*, an aging Solid Snake ("Old Snake") embarks on his final mission against Liquid Ocelot and the Patriots.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years after *Metal Gear Solid 4*, Raiden confronts Desperado Enforcement, uncovering dark secrets.

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*, releasing August 28, 2025. The developers have also hinted at the possibility of remaking other titles 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