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

From the iconic elevator ride to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid to the intense mentor-student confrontation in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear series has delivered some of the most memorable moments in video game history. Spanning multiple console generations, the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss have pushed the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay in the medium, cementing their place as some of the most influential titles ever created.

After the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in 2015, it seemed that the franchise had reached its conclusion, especially with Kojima's departure from Konami to form his own studio. However, Konami has breathed new life into the series through re-releases and remakes, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set to launch later this year. As both newcomers and seasoned fans dive back into this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and legendary characters, we've outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help you 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, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five for handheld devices, and one for mobile. While this number may seem overwhelming, several of these titles are considered non-canon, as they deviate from the main storyline and explore alternate takes on the universe.

For instance, Metal Gear Survive, released in 2018, is set in an apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus and falls outside the main canon. The PSP titles, Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2, introduce alternate timelines and are considered spin-offs. Similarly, 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 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, each integral to the Metal Gear Saga, which spans from the 1960s to the late 2010s in a fictional alternate history. Let's explore these games in chronological order.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

For those eager to dive into the entire saga, we recommend starting with 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the definitive versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. If you're new to the series or prefer more modern gameplay, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain offers a great entry point into the franchise.

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

5See it at AmazonMetal 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 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which is also slated for a modern remake. Set during the Cold War, you follow Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, on a mission to rescue a Russian scientist and prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. The plot thickens when Snake discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a fierce confrontation leaves him for dead, Snake's mission evolves into a quest for revenge and redemption, culminating in his transformation into the legendary Big Boss.

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 Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he confronts his former unit, FOX, now turned rogue. Captured and tortured in Colombia, Big Boss escapes and embarks on a mission to clear his name by hunting down FOX's leader, Gene. The game concludes with Big Boss uncovering Gene's vision of creating a mercenary nation and founding FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Set four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and formed Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. The duo intervenes when the Peace Sentinels invade Costa Rica, leading to a confrontation involving nuclear threats and the mysterious Peace Walker mech. The game ends with Big Boss facing Paz, revealed to be an agent of Cipher, a shadowy government organization.

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. As he attempts her rescue, he encounters XOF, led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends in disaster as XOF attacks Motherbase, 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, Big Boss awakens in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. With the help of Revolver Ocelot, he forms the Diamond Dogs and adopts the codename Venom Snake. His quest for vengeance against XOF and Skull Face leads him to uncover a plot involving a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss setting the stage for Outer Heaven, a haven for soldiers free from government manipulation.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years after The Phantom Pain, the original Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND operative led by Big Boss. His mission is to infiltrate Outer Heaven and stop the construction of the Metal Gear mech, capable of launching nuclear strikes. The game ends with a confrontation between Snake and Big Boss, revealing the latter's involvement in Outer Heaven.

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 now building another Metal Gear for Zanzibar Land. Snake's journey involves infiltrating the nation, destroying the weapon, and facing off against Big Boss once more.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake battles his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has gone rogue and taken over Shadow Moses Island. The facility houses a new Metal Gear, and FOXHOUND threatens nuclear retaliation unless their demands are met. Snake fights through various members, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and confronts Liquid Snake. The game ends with Snake presumed dead, but he survives and escapes.

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 prototype, Metal Gear Ray. The tanker sinks after Revolver Ocelot steals the weapon, and Snake is blamed for the incident. The story shifts to Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, tasked with rescuing the US President from the Sons of Liberty at Big Shell. As Raiden uncovers the facility's secrets, he teams up with a mysterious ally, Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they pursue Ocelot, now possessed by Liquid Snake, 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

The final chapter in Solid Snake's story, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, finds Snake rapidly aging due to the effects of cloning and the FOXDIE virus. Now known as Old Snake, he embarks on a mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who has formed a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East. Equipped with nanomachines, Snake confronts Ocelot's plans and his own mortality in a climactic battle.

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 focuses on Raiden, now a cyborg working for Maverick Security Consulting. During a mission in Africa, he is attacked by Desperado Enforcement and their commander, Jet Stream Sam. As Raiden delves deeper into Desperado's sinister activities, he vows to bring them down in a quest for 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 once seemed that Metal Gear had concluded, Konami is bringing the series back with the upcoming remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Unveiled during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase, this modern reimagining of Naked Snake's epic confrontation with The Boss is set to release on August 28, 2025, as announced in Sony's February 2025 State of Play.

Regarding future original entries, Konami has not confirmed plans for new games without Hideo Kojima. However, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles could be considered based on fan demand.

Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist

Here are all the standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, listed in order of release. Log in to rank them, mark games owned, completed, or create a game plan for what to play next.

See All1Metal Gear (MSX)Konami2Metal GearKonami3Snake's RevengeKonami4Metal Gear 2: Solid SnakeKonami5Metal Gear SolidKonami6Metal Gear Solid: VR MissionsKonami7Metal Gear Solid [2000]Konami OSA (KCEO)8Metal Gear Solid IntegralKonami9Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyKCEJ10The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2KonamiFor more lists like these, also see Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of Far Cry Games in order.