MGS Games: Chronological Play Order Revealed

From the iconic elevator ride to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses to the intense mentor-student showdown in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear series has delivered some of the most memorable moments in gaming history. Spanning multiple console generations, the saga of Solid Snake and Big Boss has pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling, cementing its place as one of the most influential franchises in the medium.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to mark the end of the series, with Kojima parting ways with Konami to start his own studio. However, Konami has since revived the franchise with re-releases and remakes, including the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater set to launch later this year. As new players dive into this world of espionage, conspiracy, and iconic characters, we've outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help both newcomers and returning fans get up to speed.

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• How to play in chronological order
• How to play by release order

How Many Metal Gear Solid Games Are There?

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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline and exploring alternate takes on the universe.

Metal Gear Survive (2018) is set in an apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus, placing it outside the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 also deviate from the timeline, offering alternate stories. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel on the Game Boy Color presents an alternate-universe sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thus not fitting into the main timeline. Lastly, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been deemed non-canon by both the community and Kojima himself.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, which form the core Metal Gear Saga, covering a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore these games in chronological order.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

For those eager to experience the entire saga, we recommend starting with the 2023 release, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For those who prefer a more modern entry point or have less tolerance for older games, we suggest beginning with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the most recent mainline game.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The saga begins with Snake Eater, set during the Cold War. Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, is tasked with extracting a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. He's shocked to find his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a brutal defeat and near-death experience, Snake is ordered to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and stop the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake becomes Big Boss, but his disillusionment with his government and duty sets the stage for future conflicts.

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

Set six years after Snake Eater, Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he confronts his former FOX Unit, now rogue and staging a revolt. Captured and accused of treason, Big Boss escapes and seeks to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene. He uncovers Gene's plan to create a mercenary nation called Army's Heaven and acquires the resources to later form FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and the Patriots to form Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They protect countries unable to defend themselves, leading them to battle the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Big Boss discovers the involvement of his former mentor, The Boss, and the Peace Sentinels' access to nuclear weapons via the Peace Walker mech. The game concludes with Big Boss confronting Paz, a secret agent of Cipher.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Months after Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue to The Phantom Pain. Big Boss learns Paz survived their previous encounter and is being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. He infiltrates the base, encounters the XOF led by Skull Face, and extracts Paz, only to find Motherbase under attack, leaving him 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 awakens in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. Rescued by Revolver Ocelot, he leads the Diamond Dogs as Venom Snake, seeking revenge against the XOF. He learns of Skull Face's plan to unleash a parasitic weapon and sets the stage for creating Outer Heaven, a haven for soldiers free from government manipulation.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, the first game in the series follows rookie FOXHOUND member Solid Snake, mentored by Big Boss. Sent to Outer Heaven to stop the construction of a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear, Snake uncovers Big Boss's betrayal and the true nature of Outer Heaven.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years after the first game, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who survived and is now building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Snake infiltrates the nation, destroys the weapon, and confronts Big Boss once more.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years later, Solid Snake battles his former FOXHOUND unit, now rogue and threatening nuclear war from Shadow Moses Island. He faces off against Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and a cyborg Grey Fox, ultimately confronting the eccentric Liquid Snake. The game ends with Snake presumed dead but escaping alive.

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, a rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, only to see it stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Two years after that, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. He uncovers secrets and meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they confront Ocelot, possessed by Liquid Snake, 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, now called Old Snake, embarks on his final mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new Outer Heaven. Battling his deteriorating health due to the FOXDIE virus, Snake aims to stop Ocelot's plan involving Big Boss's corpse.

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, now a cyborg, works for Maverick Security Consulting. Attacked by Desperado Enforcement in Africa, he uncovers sinister secrets and vows to bring them down, delivering justice through violent means.

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?

Although it seemed the series had concluded, Konami has confirmed a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set for release on August 28, 2025. This modern reimagining promises to bring Naked Snake's legendary battle with The Boss to new audiences. While no new original games have been announced, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind the remake, has hinted at the possibility of remaking other Metal Gear 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.

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For more lists like these, also see Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of Far Cry Games in order.