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 showdown between student and mentor in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear saga boasts some of gaming's most iconic moments. Spanning console generations and pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, frequently cited among the medium's most influential works.

Following Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 and the seemingly conclusive Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Konami has revived the series with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new generation of players discovering this world of clandestine operations, government conspiracies, and gravelly-voiced heroes, we've compiled a chronological guide to the Metal Gear Solid series, perfect for both newcomers and seasoned veterans.

Jump to:

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 franchise comprises 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. While 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. Similarly, the PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 offer unique, alternate-timeline narratives. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (Game Boy Color) also exists in 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 within the main storyline, spanning a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore this core narrative.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

We suggest two potential 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 introduction, begin with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Prime Day Deal### Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 (PS5)

5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

Note: 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. Tasked with retrieving a Soviet scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction, Snake discovers his mentor, The Boss, has defected.

After a brutal defeat, Snake is tasked with returning to Russia, finding, and eliminating The Boss while simultaneously preventing nuclear war. Emerging victorious, Naked Snake becomes Big Boss, a legend in the Special Forces. However, this experience leaves him disillusioned with his duty and the government.

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 confrontation with The Boss, Big Boss faces betrayal from his FOX Unit squad. Captured and tortured, he escapes, only to be accused of treason. To clear his name, he hunts down his former comrades and their leader, Gene. The game concludes with Big Boss acquiring the resources to establish Army's Heaven, a mercenary army, and later forms 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) with Kazuhira Miller. They confront the Peace Sentinels, a militia invading Costa Rica, and uncover a connection to The Boss and their possession of nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. The game ends with Big Boss battling 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*, Ground Zeroes sees Big Boss extract Paz from Camp Omega, a Cipher base. He encounters XOF, led by Skull Face, and suffers a devastating attack on Motherbase.

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 XOF and Skull Face, who are developing a devastating parasitic weapon. The game culminates with Big Boss establishing Outer Heaven.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, Solid Snake, under Big Boss's command, infiltrates Outer Heaven to destroy a Metal Gear. He encounters Grey Fox and confronts Big Boss, revealing his involvement in Outer Heaven's plans.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, 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 later, Snake infiltrates Shadow Moses to stop FOXHOUND's threat, facing 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 Metal Gear Ray's theft, and then the game shifts to Raiden's mission at Big Shell, revealing a deeper 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 new Outer Heaven.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years later, 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?

Despite years of uncertainty, Konami has confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, releasing August 28, 2025. While future original entries remain unconfirmed, Virtuous Studios has indicated that remakes of other *Metal Gear* games are a possibility, depending 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

Konami2Konami3Konami4Konami5Konami6Konami7Konami OSA (KCEO)8Konami9KCEJ10KonamiFor more lists like these, also see Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of Far Cry Games in order.