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

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 delivers some of gaming's most unforgettable moments. Spanning generations of consoles and pushing the boundaries of storytelling in video games, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, often cited as some of the medium's most significant contributions.

Following Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to conclude the franchise. However, Konami's recent resurgence of the series through re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, introduces a new wave of players to this world of clandestine espionage, shadowy government conspiracies, and iconic, gruff-voiced characters. To help both newcomers and seasoned fans navigate this rich universe, we've outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series.

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How Many Metal Gear Solid Games Are There?

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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear universe boasts 17 games: 11 mainline titles, five handheld entries, and one mobile game. While extensive, a significant portion is 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 alternate timelines and distinct narratives. Similarly, the Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel presents an alternate universe, disregarding the events of 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, spanning a fictional alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's explore this saga.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

Two entry points are recommended. For the complete saga, we suggest 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, encompassing the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more contemporary introduction, start with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

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Metal Gear Games in Chronological Order

Mild spoilers for characters, settings, and plot points are included below.

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 defected. After a brutal defeat, Snake is charged with eliminating The Boss, while simultaneously preventing nuclear war. This journey transforms Naked Snake into Big Boss, a legendary figure, but also leaves him disillusioned.

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 clash with The Boss, Big Boss confronts his rogue FOX Unit. Framed for treason after escaping captivity, he hunts down his former allies and their leader, Gene, uncovering a plan to create a mercenary nation, Army's Heaven. Big Boss ultimately secures 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 later, Big Boss, having left FOXHOUND and the Patriots, leads Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. Their mission to protect vulnerable nations leads them into conflict with the Peace Sentinels, a militia wielding nuclear weapons and the powerful Peace Walker mech. Big Boss uncovers a connection to The Boss and Cipher's machinations.

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 rescuing Paz, who survived *Peace Walker*, from Camp Omega, a Cipher base. This infiltration reveals the existence of XOF, led by Skull Face, and culminates in a devastating attack on Motherbase.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Nine years later, a wounded Big Boss, operating 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 destroy a nuclear-capable Metal Gear. He encounters Grey Fox and ultimately confronts Big Boss.

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 later, Snake battles the rogue FOXHOUND at Shadow Moses Island, facing off against Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, Grey Fox, and Liquid Snake.

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 the theft of Metal Gear Ray, while Raiden confronts the Sons of Liberty at Big Shell. The game reveals Ocelot's connection to 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

Three years later, an aging Solid Snake ("Old Snake") confronts 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 battles 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?

With the confirmed remake of *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater* (*Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*), launching August 28, 2025, the future of the franchise remains uncertain. While Konami hasn't announced new original entries, the development team has expressed openness to remaking other 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 All1

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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.