How to Play the Metal Gear Solid Games in Chronological Order: The Full MGS Timeline

From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses' rainy cliffs to the heart-wrenching 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 generations and pushing video game storytelling to its limits, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, often cited among the medium's most important contributions.

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, including the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and charismatic, gruff characters, we've outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series for both newcomers and 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 universe boasts 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. While seemingly extensive, a significant portion is considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline and offering unique interpretations of the universe.

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 present alternate timelines, while the Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel rewrites the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, removing it from the established timeline. Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have also been officially declared non-canon.

This leaves 11 games forming the core storyline. These games constitute the true Metal Gear saga, spanning a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore this narrative.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

We suggest two starting points. For the complete saga, we recommend 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, containing the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more contemporary entry point, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain offers a compelling starting point, especially for players less inclined towards older games.

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

5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

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 Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction, Snake discovers his mentor, The Boss, has betrayed the US.

After a devastating defeat, Snake is tasked with eliminating The Boss while preventing nuclear war. This journey transforms Naked Snake into Big Boss, a legend within the US Special Forces. However, the 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 accused of treason, he escapes and hunts down his former allies, ultimately uncovering their leader Gene's ambition to create a mercenary army, Army's Heaven. Big Boss secures the resources intended for this project, laying the groundwork for his future FOXHOUND unit.

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) alongside Kazuhira Miller. Their mission to protect vulnerable nations leads them into conflict with the Peace Sentinels, a militia wielding nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. The Boss's involvement is revealed, culminating in a confrontation with 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 depicts Big Boss's mission to extract Paz from Camp Omega, a Cipher base. He encounters XOF, a Cipher faction led by Skull Face, resulting in a devastating attack on Motherbase and 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, a wounded Big Boss, now Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs against XOF and Skull Face, who are developing a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss initiating the creation of 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 capable of launching nuclear weapons. He encounters Grey Fox, ultimately confronting Big Boss and exposing his role in Outer Heaven's creation.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Snake confronts Big Boss again, this time in Zanzibar Land, where a new Metal Gear is being developed.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after *Metal Gear 2*, Snake confronts the rogue FOXHOUND unit at Shadow Moses Island, battling iconic characters like Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and Cyborg Ninja. The game concludes with Snake's presumed death.

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 the theft of Metal Gear Ray, leading to Raiden's mission at Big Shell, where he uncovers a conspiracy involving the Patriots and Liquid Ocelot.

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 Solid Snake ("Old Snake") embarks on his final mission against Liquid Ocelot and the Patriots.

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 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?

Despite years of uncertainty, Konami confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, revealed during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase and slated for release on August 28, 2025. The developer, Virtuous Studios, hinted at potential remakes of other *Metal Gear* titles, 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.