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

From the iconic elevator ascent to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses in the original Metal Gear Solid to the intense mentor-student showdown in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's Metal Gear series has delivered some of the most memorable moments in gaming history. Spanning multiple console generations, the saga of Solid Snake and Big Boss has pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling and creativity, cementing its place as one of the most influential franchises in the medium.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to mark the end of the series, with Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami to establish his own studio. However, Konami has since revived the franchise with re-releases and remakes, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set to launch later this year. As new players dive into this world of espionage, conspiracy, and iconic characters, we've compiled the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help both newcomers and returning fans 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?

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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. However, several of these are considered non-canon, as they deviate from the main storyline and explore alternate narratives within the universe.

For instance, Metal Gear Survive, released in 2018, is set in an apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus and is not part of the main canon. The PSP titles Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 also diverge from the established timeline, presenting alternate stories. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel on the Game Boy Color is an alternate-universe sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thus falling outside the main timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been deemed non-canon by both the community and Hideo Kojima.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, which form the core of the Metal Gear Saga, covering a fictional alternate history 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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Metal 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, set during the Cold War. Players follow Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, on a mission to extract a Russian scientist from the Soviet Union to prevent the development of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. The mission takes a shocking turn when Snake discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a brutal defeat and near-death experience, Snake is tasked with returning to Russia to confront The Boss and destroy the Shagohod, preventing nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake earns the moniker Big Boss, 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, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he confronts his former unit, FOX, which has gone rogue. Captured and accused of treason, Big Boss escapes and sets out to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene. The game concludes with Big Boss thwarting Gene's plan to create a mercenary nation called Army's Heaven and using the amassed resources to form 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 confront the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Big Boss uncovers a plot involving his former mentor, The Boss, and a nuclear-capable mech called the Peace Walker. The game ends with Big Boss battling Paz, a secret agent of Cipher, on their offshore base, Motherbase.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

A few 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. During the rescue mission, he encounters XOF, a Cipher cell led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends with Motherbase under attack, leaving Big Boss critically injured.

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. He forms the Diamond Dogs and, as Venom Snake, pursues XOF and Skull Face, who are developing a parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss setting the stage for 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 sent to Outer Heaven to stop the development of a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear. With the help of agent Grey Fox, Snake uncovers Big Boss's involvement in the plot, leading to a confrontation between mentor and protégé.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years after the first game, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who has survived and is now building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Snake infiltrates the nation, battling Big Boss's forces to destroy the weapon.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years later, Solid Snake is sent to Shadow Moses to stop his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has taken over a facility housing a new Metal Gear. Snake battles various members of FOXHOUND, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and confronts the unit's leader, Liquid Snake. The game ends with Snake presumed dead but escaping 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 after Shadow Moses, a rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, only to be framed for its destruction. Two years later, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. Raiden uncovers secrets and meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. The game ends with Snake and Raiden confronting Revolver Ocelot, 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

In the final chapter of the main story, an aging Solid Snake, now called Old Snake, is sent to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who has formed a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East. With nanomachines aiding his deteriorating body, Snake confronts Ocelot's plan to locate Big Boss's corpse and execute a mysterious scheme.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years after Guns of the Patriots, Raiden, now a cyborg, works for Maverick Security Consulting. During an operation in Africa, he is attacked by Desperado Enforcement and its commander, Jet Stream Sam. Raiden uncovers sinister secrets about Desperado and vows to bring them down.

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 series had concluded, Konami has confirmed a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set for release on August 28, 2025. This modern reimagining promises to bring Naked Snake's legendary battle with The Boss to a new generation of players.

As for new entries, Konami has not confirmed plans for original Metal Gear games without Hideo Kojima. However, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind the Snake Eater remake, has hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear games could be considered 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 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 2Konami

For more lists like these, also see Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of Far Cry Games in order.