MGS Timeline: How to Play Metal Gear Solid Games in Order

Whether it's Snake's iconic elevator ascent to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses or the climactic battle between student and mentor in the final moments of Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's epic spy thriller franchise, Metal Gear, is home to some of gaming's most memorable moments. Spanning multiple console generations, the series has pushed the creative boundaries of video games, making the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss legendary and widely regarded as some of the most important releases in the medium.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain seemed to conclude the franchise, with Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami to form his own studio. However, Konami has since revitalized the series with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set to launch later this year. As new players dive into this world of undercover espionage, shadowy government conspiracies, and gruff-voiced heroes with cool eyepatches, it's crucial to understand the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to fully appreciate its intricate narrative.

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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 series comprises 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five for handheld devices, and one for mobile. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, as their narratives diverge from the main storyline and offer 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 deviate from the established timeline, creating alternate-universe spin-offs. The Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel offers an alternate-universe sequel that negates the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, removing it from the canonical timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been officially deemed non-canon by the community and Hideo Kojima himself.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, each contributing to the true Metal Gear Saga, which spans from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore these games in chronological order.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

For those seeking the complete saga, we recommend starting with 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the best available versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For those who prefer a more modern entry point or have a lower tolerance for older games, we suggest beginning with the most recent major installment, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries contain mild spoilers, including characters, settings, and key story elements.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The saga begins with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, set during the Cold War, where a US Special Forces operative codenamed Naked Snake is tasked with rescuing a Russian scientist from Soviet control to prevent the development of a devastating weapon called the Shagohod. However, Snake discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviet side. After a fierce confrontation, Snake survives an ambush and is ordered to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and destroy the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the story's end, Naked Snake adopts the moniker Big Boss, becoming a legend within the US Special Forces, though his experiences leave him disillusioned with his mission and the government he serves.

Read our Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review or learn more about the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Six years later, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops continues Big Boss's journey as he confronts his former unit, FOX, which has gone rogue and staged a revolt. Captured and tortured in Colombia, Big Boss escapes and seeks to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene. Gene aims to establish a nation of mercenary soldiers called Army's Heaven. After defeating Gene, Big Boss secures the funds and equipment intended for this project and later forms the elite unit FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss, having left FOXHOUND and the Patriots, forms a new mercenary group, Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF), with Kazuhira Miller. They aim to protect nations unable to defend themselves, leading them into conflict with the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Discovering The Boss's involvement and the threat of a nuclear-armed mech called the Peace Walker, Big Boss and MSF rally from their offshore base, Motherbase, to uncover the Sentinels' true intentions. The game concludes with Big Boss facing Paz, a Cipher agent, highlighting the ongoing battle against shadowy organizations.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Months after Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue to The Phantom Pain. Big Boss learns that Paz, believed dead, is alive and being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. Attempting to extract her, he encounters XOF, a Cipher splinter group led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends in disaster as XOF attacks 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, in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Big Boss awakens in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. Rescued by Revolver Ocelot, he forms the Diamond Dogs and adopts the codename Venom Snake, pursuing XOF and its leader, Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon to devastate the West. The game concludes with Big Boss setting the stage for Outer Heaven, a military nation where soldiers can live free from government manipulation.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, the original Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member under Big Boss's mentorship. Sent to Outer Heaven to locate a weapon of mass destruction, Snake discovers Metal Gear, a nuclear-capable mech. The mission ends with a confrontation between Snake and Big Boss, revealing the latter's involvement in Outer Heaven's creation.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years after the first game, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake sees Snake return to stop Big Boss, who survived their previous encounter and is now building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. With the help of allies, Snake infiltrates the nation, destroys the weapon, and faces Big Boss once more.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid follows Solid Snake as he battles his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has seized control of Shadow Moses Island and threatens nuclear attack. Snake confronts various members of FOXHOUND, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and ultimately faces Liquid Snake. The game ends with Snake faking his death and escaping.

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, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty opens with a now-rogue Solid Snake infiltrating an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, Ray. After Ocelot steals Ray and sinks the tanker, Snake is framed for the disaster. Two years on, new protagonist Raiden is sent to Big Shell, a decontamination facility hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. As Raiden investigates, he meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Snake. Together, they uncover Big Shell's secrets and confront Ocelot, now possessed by Liquid Snake's will.

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

Marking the end of the main storyline, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots follows an aging Solid Snake, now called Old Snake, on his final mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new version of Outer Heaven. Equipped with nanomachines to combat his accelerated aging and the lingering FOXDIE virus, Snake confronts Ocelot's plan to locate Big Boss's body and execute a mysterious scheme. The game culminates in a final showdown with his nemesis.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The saga's final chapter, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, focuses on Raiden, now a cyborg, four years after Guns of the Patriots. Working for Maverick Security Consulting, Raiden is attacked by Desperado Enforcement and uncovers sinister secrets about the rival group. Determined to bring them to justice, Raiden embarks on a mission of violent retribution.

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 it appeared that Metal Gear had concluded, Konami announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Unveiled during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase, this modern reimagining is set to release on August 28, 2025, as announced in Sony's February 2025 State of Play.

As for new entries, Konami has not confirmed plans for original Metal Gear games without Hideo Kojima. However, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, suggested that remakes of other Metal Gear games could be considered, stating, "Regarding remakes of previous games in the series other than Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, we will listen to player demand and consider accordingly."

Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist

Here is a complete list of standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, ordered by release date. 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.