Metal Gear Solid Games: Chronological Play Order

From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses's rainy cliffs to the emotionally charged 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 multiple generations of consoles 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 seemingly final chapter with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Konami has reignited the series through remakes and re-releases, including the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and charismatic, eyepatched heroes, we've compiled a chronological order to guide both newcomers and veterans.

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Every IGN Metal Gear Review

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

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 distinct narratives. Similarly, the Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel presents an alternate universe, disregarding events from 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 saga.

Where Should You Begin Your Metal Gear Journey?

We suggest two entry points. For the complete saga, we recommend 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, featuring the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more contemporary experience and a potentially gentler introduction, start with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

Note: The following descriptions contain minor spoilers.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

This Cold War-era prequel follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, tasked with retrieving a Soviet scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a devastating weapon. The mission takes a dramatic turn when Snake discovers his mentor, The Boss, has betrayed the US. This sets off a chain of events that lead to Snake becoming Big Boss, a legendary figure, but also one deeply disillusioned.

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, hunt down his former comrades, and ultimately, thwart their leader Gene's ambition to create Army's Heaven, a private army. This sets the stage for the 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), a private army dedicated to protecting vulnerable nations. They face off against the Peace Sentinels, a heavily armed militia wielding the powerful Peace Walker mech. The game unravels a deeper conspiracy involving The Boss and Cipher, Big Boss's former mentor and a shadowy organization.

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 rescue Paz, who survived the events of *Peace Walker*. This mission unveils the sinister XOF, led by Skull Face, and sets the stage for the devastating attack on Mother Base.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes*.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Nine years after *Ground Zeroes*, a severely injured Big Boss, now operating as Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs to confront XOF and Skull Face's devastating parasitic weapon. The game culminates with Big Boss laying the groundwork for Outer Heaven.

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

6. Metal Gear

Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND operative under Big Boss, infiltrates Outer Heaven to destroy a new Metal Gear. He encounters Grey Fox and ultimately confronts Big Boss, revealing the mastermind behind Outer Heaven.

Read our review of Metal Gear*.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Snake returns to confront Big Boss and a 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 infiltrates Shadow Moses Island to stop the rogue FOXHOUND unit from using a new Metal Gear. He faces off against iconic characters like Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and a cyborg Grey Fox.

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, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. The game reveals a complex plot 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 to stop 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 after *Metal Gear Solid 4*, Raiden, now a cyborg, confronts Desperado Enforcement, uncovering a dark conspiracy.

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 without Kojima's involvement, Konami has confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, launching 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