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

by Zoe Apr 25,2025

From the iconic elevator ascent to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid to the intense mentor-student showdown in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's epic spy thriller franchise, Metal Gear, has delivered some of the most memorable moments in gaming history. Spanning multiple console generations, the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss have not only pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling but have also cemented their place as some of the most influential titles in the medium.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to mark the end of the franchise, with Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami to establish his own studio. However, Konami has since breathed new life into 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 espionage, government conspiracies, and iconic characters, we've compiled the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help both newcomers and returning fans get up to speed.

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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, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline and exploring alternate narratives within the universe.

Metal Gear Survive, released in 2018, is set in an apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus, placing it outside the main canon. The PSP titles Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 also deviate from the established timeline, offering alternate stories. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color presents an alternate-universe sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thus not fitting into the main timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been officially recognized as non-canon by both the community and Hideo Kojima.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, each integral 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 eager to experience the entire saga, we recommend starting with the 2023 release, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the best 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 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the most recent mainline game.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and key plot points.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The first game in the saga's timeline and the next to receive a modern remake, Snake Eater follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, during the Cold War. Tasked with extracting a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction, Snake is shocked to discover his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a fierce battle and being left for dead, Snake is ordered to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and stop the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake becomes Big Boss, a legend among US Special Forces, but his experiences leave him disillusioned with his 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 continues Big Boss's journey as he confronts his former unit, FOX Unit, which has gone rogue. Captured and tortured in Colombia, Big Boss escapes and learns he's been accused of treason. To clear his name, he hunts down his former allies and their leader, Gene, who aims to create a mercenary nation called Army's Heaven. Big Boss ultimately acquires the resources for this project and later forms FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and the Patriots to form Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They protect countries unable to defend themselves, leading them to battle the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Big Boss uncovers a connection to his former mentor, The Boss, and a nuclear-capable mech called the Peace Walker. From their offshore base, Motherbase, Big Boss and MSF fight to uncover the Peace Sentinels' true motives, culminating in a confrontation with Paz, a secret agent of Cipher.

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 that Paz survived their previous encounter and is being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. He infiltrates the base to extract her but discovers XOF, a Cipher cell led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends with Motherbase under attack, 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, The Phantom Pain begins with Big Boss waking up in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. Rescued by Revolver Ocelot, he leads the Diamond Dogs to stop XOF, now led by Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon to destroy the Western world. Big Boss, now Venom Snake, sets the stage for his vision of 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, the original Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member under Big Boss's command. Sent to Outer Heaven to stop the construction of a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear, Snake uncovers Big Boss's betrayal and the true nature of the weapon.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who has survived and is building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Snake infiltrates the nation, destroys the weapon, and confronts Big Boss once more.

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 his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has taken over a facility housing a new Metal Gear. He battles members like Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and confronts the leader, Liquid Snake. The mission ends with Snake presumed dead, but he escapes alive.

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, a rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, Ray, which is stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Two years after that, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to Big Shell, a facility hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. Raiden uncovers secrets and meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they confront Ocelot, now possessed by Liquid Snake's will, 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, Solid Snake, now rapidly aging due to cloning and the FOXDIE virus, embarks on his final mission as Old Snake. He aims to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East. Equipped with nanomachines, Snake confronts his nemesis and the lingering effects of FOXDIE.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years after Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance follows Raiden, now a cyborg, working for Maverick Security Consulting. Attacked by Desperado Enforcement in Africa, Raiden uncovers sinister secrets and vows to bring them down, delivering justice through violent means.

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 Metal Gear series had concluded, Konami has announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Revealed during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase, this modern reimagining of Naked Snake's battle with The Boss is set to release on August 28, 2025, as announced in Sony's February 2025 State of Play.

While Konami has not confirmed plans for new entries without Hideo Kojima, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, has hinted at the possibility of remaking other Metal Gear games, 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 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.

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