The Metal Gear series, a legendary franchise crafted by Hideo Kojima and Konami, has delivered some of the most iconic moments in gaming history. From Snake's gripping elevator ride to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid to the emotional climax of the mentor-student battle in Snake Eater, the saga of Solid Snake and Big Boss has not only spanned multiple console generations but also pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling.
In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to mark the end of the series, coinciding with Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami. However, Konami has since revived the series with re-releases and remakes, including the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater slated for later this year. As new players dive into this world of espionage, conspiracy, and intense action, understanding the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series becomes essential for both newcomers and returning fans.
Jump to:
- 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
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Excluding remakes, ports, or remasters, there are a total of 17 Metal Gear games. This includes 11 mainline entries, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. However, not all of these games are part of the main canon. Titles like Metal Gear Survive, set in an apocalyptic zombie-infested world, fall outside the main storyline. Similarly, Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 for the PSP, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color, and Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge are considered non-canon, either creating alternate timelines or being officially deemed non-canonical by the community and Kojima.
This leaves us with 11 games within the main storyline, which form the true Metal Gear Saga. The saga spans from the 1960s to the late 2010s, and we'll guide you through each game in chronological order.
Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?
For those eager to experience the entire saga, we recommend starting with the 2023 Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For players who prefer a more modern entry point and have less tolerance for older games, starting with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a good choice.
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Metal Gear Games in Chronological Order
These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The saga begins with Snake Eater, set during the Cold War. Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, is tasked with extracting a Russian scientist from the Soviet Union to prevent the development of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. However, he discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a brutal confrontation and near-death experience, Naked Snake returns to Russia on a mission to stop The Boss and the Shagohod. By the end, he adopts the name Big Boss, but his journey leaves him disillusioned with 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
Set six years after Snake Eater, Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he confronts his former squad, FOX Unit, which has gone rogue. Captured and tortured, Big Boss escapes and aims to clear his name by hunting down FOX's leader, Gene. The game concludes with Big Boss thwarting Gene's plans to create a mercenary nation and subsequently forming FOXHOUND.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Four years later, in Peace Walker, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and formed Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They battle the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica, uncovering a plot involving nuclear weapons and the Peace Walker mech. The story ends with Big Boss confronting Paz, a secret agent of Cipher, hinting at deeper conspiracies.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue to The Phantom Pain, occurring months after Peace Walker. Big Boss attempts to rescue Paz from Cipher's clutches at Camp Omega, only to discover the XOF, led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends in tragedy as XOF attacks and destroys Motherbase.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Nine years later, The Phantom Pain finds a severely injured Big Boss awakening in a Cyprus hospital. After surviving an assassination attempt, he leads the Diamond Dogs as Venom Snake, pursuing the rogue XOF and Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon. The game ends with Big Boss setting the stage for Outer Heaven, a sanctuary for soldiers.
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 agent sent to Outer Heaven to stop the construction of the Metal Gear mech. He uncovers Big Boss's involvement, leading to a confrontation between mentor and protégé.
Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Four years on, Metal Gear 2 sees Solid Snake tackling another Metal Gear threat in Zanzibar Land, where Big Boss is revealed to be alive and behind the weapon's development. Snake destroys the mech and faces Big Boss once more.
See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
8. Metal Gear Solid
Six years later, Metal Gear Solid brings Solid Snake back to face his former unit, FOXHOUND, now rogue and threatening nuclear war from Shadow Moses. Snake battles iconic foes and uncovers deeper conspiracies, ending with his supposed death and escape.
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, Sons of Liberty follows Solid Snake's mission to stop the theft of Metal Gear Ray, leading to the destruction of an oil tanker. The story then shifts to Raiden, who infiltrates Big Shell, uncovering secrets and meeting Solid Snake under the alias Iroquois Pliskin. The game ends with Snake and Raiden confronting 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
In Guns of the Patriots, set three years after Sons of Liberty, an aging Solid Snake, now called Old Snake, embarks on his final mission to stop Liquid Ocelot and his new Outer Heaven. Struggling with the effects of accelerated aging and the FOXDIE virus, Snake confronts his nemesis in a climactic battle.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
The saga concludes with Revengeance, focusing on Raiden four years after Guns of the Patriots. Now a cyborg, Raiden works for Maverick Security Consulting and battles the private military group Desperado Enforcement. His journey uncovers dark secrets, leading him to seek 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?
Although it seemed the series had ended, Konami has announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Scheduled for release on August 28, 2025, this modern reimagining promises to bring Naked Snake's epic battle with The Boss to new audiences. While Konami has not confirmed plans for new entries without Kojima, the developers at Virtuous Studios have hinted at potential remakes of other games based on fan demand.
Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist
Here is a comprehensive list of all 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.
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For more lists like these, also see Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of Far Cry Games in order.
