MGS Timeline: How to Play Metal Gear Solid Games in Order News - Latest Updates and Information

From the tense elevator ride to the rain-soaked cliffs of Shadow Moses to the heart-wrenching showdown between student and mentor in Snake Eater, the Metal Gear series by Hideo Kojima and Konami is packed with some of the most memorable moments in gaming history. This epic spy thriller franchise, which spans multiple console generations, has pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling, making the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss legendary. Many consider these games to be among the most influential in the medium.

In 2015, it seemed the saga had come to an end with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Kojima's departure from Konami to form his own studio. However, Konami has since revived interest in the series with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater set to launch later this year. With a new wave of players diving into this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and iconic characters, it's the perfect time to explore the Metal Gear Solid series in chronological order. This guide is designed to help both newcomers and returning fans navigate the saga.

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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

19 ImagesExcluding remakes, ports, or remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, deviating from the core storyline and offering alternative takes on the universe.

Metal Gear Survive, set in an apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus, is outside the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 diverge from the timeline, creating alternate storylines. 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 placing it outside 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, forming the true Metal Gear Saga, which stretches from a fictional alternate-history 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's delve into the chronological order of these games.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

For those eager to experience the entire 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 players interested in a more modern entry point, or those who might find older games challenging, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a great starting point.

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

5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries contain mild spoilers, including details on characters, settings, and story arcs.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The first chronological entry and the next to receive a modern remake, Snake Eater follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, during the Cold War. Tasked with rescuing a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of a weapon of mass destruction called the Shagohod, Snake is shocked to discover his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets.

After a fierce battle leaves him for dead in the jungle, Naked Snake is ordered to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and destroy the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake adopts the moniker Big Boss, becoming a legend. However, the truths he uncovers leave him disillusioned with his government and duty.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater or stay updated on the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Six years after his battle with The Boss, Big Boss faces his former FOX Unit, which has gone rogue and staged a revolt against the CIA. Captured and tortured at a Colombian base, Big Boss escapes and sets out to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene.

He discovers Gene's plan to create Army's Heaven, a nation of mercenary soldiers, and secures the resources intended for this project. Upon returning to the US, Big Boss establishes FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years later, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and the Patriots, founding Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They protect countries unable to defend themselves, confronting the Peace Sentinels who have invaded Costa Rica.

Investigating, Big Boss uncovers The Boss's involvement in the Sentinels' plans and their access to nuclear weapons via the Peace Walker mech. From their offshore base, Motherbase, Big Boss and MSF fight to uncover the Sentinels' motives. The story concludes with Big Boss battling Paz, revealed to be a Cipher agent.

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 last encounter and is being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. He infiltrates the base, discovering XOF, a Cipher cell led by the sadistic Skull Face.

The mission ends with Big Boss extracting Paz, only to learn Motherbase is under attack by XOF, leading to MSF's destruction and Big Boss's 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. With Revolver Ocelot's help, he forms the Diamond Dogs, vowing to stop XOF.

As Venom Snake, he tracks Skull Face to Africa, learning of a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss setting up Outer Heaven, a military nation free from government manipulation.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member under Big Boss's command, is sent to Outer Heaven to stop the development of a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear.

With the help of Grey Fox, Snake discovers Metal Gear's capabilities and confronts Big Boss, who reveals his role in Outer Heaven's creation.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who survived and is now building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land.

Teaming up with allies, Snake infiltrates Zanzibar Land to destroy the weapon and confront Big Boss.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake is sent to Shadow Moses to stop a rogue FOXHOUND, who has taken over a facility and threatens nuclear attack.

Snake battles various FOXHOUND members, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and meets Liquid Snake. The mission ends with Snake presumed dead, but he escapes alive.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid or explore 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 track a new Metal Gear, discovering Metal Gear Ray, which is stolen by Revolver Ocelot.

Two years after, Raiden, a FOXHOUND agent, is sent to Big Shell, a facility hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. He meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they uncover Big Shell's secrets and pursue Ocelot, possessed by Liquid Snake.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty or discover 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 known as Old Snake, returns for his final mission. With only a year to live due to rapid aging caused by cloning and the FOXDIE virus, he aims to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who has formed a new Outer Heaven from private militaries.

As Snake confronts his mortality and the mutating FOXDIE, he heads towards a final showdown with Liquid Ocelot.

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. During an operation in Africa, he's attacked by Desperado Enforcement and left for dead by Jet Stream Sam.

Investigating further, Raiden uncovers dark secrets about Desperado and vows to bring them down, embarking on a path of violent justice.

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 seeming to conclude with The Phantom Pain, Konami is bringing back the series with the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake, set for release on August 28, 2025. This modern reimagining of Naked Snake's iconic battle with The Boss was showcased during PlayStation's 2023 summer event.

While no new original games have been confirmed without Kojima, Virtuous Studios hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles could be considered based on player feedback.

Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist

Here are all the standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, listed by release date. Log in to rank them, mark games as owned or completed, or create a game plan for your next playthrough.

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