From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses's rainy cliffs to the heart-wrenching showdown between student and mentor in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear saga boasts some of gaming's most iconic moments. Spanning generations and pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, often cited as among the medium's most significant contributions.
While 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain seemingly concluded the franchise after Kojima's departure from Konami, the series is experiencing a resurgence with re-releases and remakes like the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering this world of espionage, conspiracy, and charismatic, eyepatched heroes, we've compiled a chronological guide for both newcomers and seasoned 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 Images
Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear universe encompasses 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. However, 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 distinct, alternate timelines. Similarly, 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 are also widely considered 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 narrative.
Where Should You Begin Your Metal Gear Journey?
We suggest two starting points. For a comprehensive experience, begin with 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, featuring enhanced versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more modern entry point, start with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Prime Day Deal### Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (PS5)
5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order
Note: The following descriptions contain minor spoilers.
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. His mission: locate and extract a Soviet scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a devastating weapon. However, he discovers his mentor, The Boss, has betrayed the US. After a brutal defeat, Snake must survive, track down The Boss, and stop the Shagohod, ultimately becoming the legendary Big Boss. This journey leaves him disillusioned with his government and his duty.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. Captured and accused of treason, he must clear his name, hunt down his rogue former allies, and confront their leader, Gene. This leads to the acquisition of resources that will later form the foundation of his mercenary army, 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), defending vulnerable nations. They confront the Peace Sentinels, a militia possessing nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. Big Boss uncovers a connection to The Boss and the sinister organization Cipher, culminating in a battle with the seemingly betrayed Paz.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 learns Paz survived and is held captive at Camp Omega. His extraction mission reveals the existence of XOF, led by the terrifying 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 known as Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs against XOF and their leader, Skull Face, who is developing a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss laying the groundwork for 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 stop the development of Metal Gear, a nuclear-capable weapon. His mission reveals Big Boss's true role in the conflict.Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Four years later, Snake confronts Big Boss and his 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 confront the rogue FOXHOUND and their Metal Gear threat, facing 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 threat, leading to the introduction of Raiden and the events at Big Shell. The game reveals the manipulative machinations of Liquid 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, now Old Snake, embarks on his final mission against 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 confronts the Desperado Enforcement private military group.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 has confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, launching August 28, 2025. While future original entries remain unannounced, the possibility of further remakes is open, 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 All
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
