From Snake's daring ascent of Shadow Moses's rainy cliffs to the emotionally charged 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 gaming's creative boundaries, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, frequently cited among the medium's most significant contributions.
Following the seemingly definitive conclusion of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in 2015, and Kojima's departure from Konami, the franchise has seen a resurgence through re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With a new wave of players discovering the world of covert espionage, government conspiracies, and charismatic, eyepatched operatives, we've compiled a chronological guide to the Metal Gear Solid series, perfect for both newcomers and seasoned veterans.
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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear universe encompasses 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. While this seems extensive, a significant portion are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline or presenting alternate interpretations of the universe.
Metal Gear Survive (2018), set in a zombie-infested apocalypse, falls outside the main canon. Similarly, the PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 offer alternate timelines. The Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel presents an alternate universe, disregarding events from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Finally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge are officially deemed non-canon.
This leaves 11 games forming the core storyline. These games comprise the true Metal Gear saga, spanning a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore this narrative.
Where Should You Begin Your Metal Gear Journey?
Two starting points are recommended. For the complete saga, 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 offers the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more modern entry point, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain provides a compelling introduction to the franchise.
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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. Tasked with retrieving a Soviet 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, uncovering secrets that will forever change his perspective on duty and government. This journey ultimately leads to Naked Snake becoming Big Boss, a legendary figure within US Special Forces.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*, Big Boss confronts his rogue former unit, FOX Unit. Framed for treason, he must clear his name, hunt down his former allies, and confront their leader, Gene. This leads to Big Boss acquiring the resources to establish Army's Heaven, a mercenary army, paving the way for his future actions.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, who possess nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. The game unveils connections to The Boss and the shadowy organization Cipher.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 sees Big Boss infiltrate Camp Omega to extract Paz, who holds vital information about Cipher. This mission unveils the existence of XOF, led by the brutal Skull Face, setting the stage for the events to follow.Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Nine years after *Ground Zeroes*, a severely injured Big Boss, now operating under the alias Venom Snake, leads Diamond Dogs in a quest for revenge against XOF and Skull Face, who are 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, a rookie FOXHOUND operative under Big Boss's command, is tasked with infiltrating Outer Heaven to destroy a nuclear-capable Metal Gear. This initial mission sets the stage for the entire saga.Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Four years later, Solid 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*, Solid Snake infiltrates Shadow Moses Island to stop the rogue FOXHOUND unit from deploying a nuclear Metal Gear. He faces off against iconic characters like Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and Cyborg Ninja.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, Solid Snake investigates a new Metal Gear, leading to a mission for Raiden at the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Patriots. The game explores deception and the manipulation of information.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 ("Old Snake") undertakes 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, now a cyborg, confronts Desperado Enforcement.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 a long period of uncertainty, Konami has confirmed a remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater*, titled *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*, slated for release on August 28, 2025. The developer, Virtuous Studios, has hinted at the possibility of remaking other *Metal Gear* titles based 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
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