MGS Games: Complete Chronological Play Order Revealed

From the iconic elevator ride to the misty cliffs of Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid to the intense showdown between student and mentor in Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's epic spy thriller franchise, Metal Gear, is renowned for its unforgettable moments. Spanning multiple console generations, the series has pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling, making the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss legendary and widely regarded as some of the most significant releases in the gaming medium.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to mark the end of the franchise, as Kojima parted ways with Konami to establish his own studio. However, Konami has since revitalized the series with re-releases and remakes, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set to launch later this year. With new players diving into the world of covert operations, shadowy conspiracies, and tough-as-nails characters with cool eyepatches, we've outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help both newcomers and returning fans get up to speed.

Jump to:

• 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 Images

Excluding remakes, ports, or remasters, there are a total of 17 Metal Gear games: 11 mainline games, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. However, several of these are considered non-canon, branching off into alternate storylines that deviate from the main saga.

Metal Gear Survive (2018) takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting overrun by a zombie virus, placing it outside the main canon. The PSP titles Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 explore alternate timelines, while Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color offers an alternate-universe sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been officially deemed non-canon by the community and Kojima himself.

This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, which form the core Metal Gear Saga, covering an alternate history from the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's delve into these games in chronological order.

Which Metal Gear Should You Play First?

For those looking to experience the full saga, we recommend starting with Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (2023), which includes the best available versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For those new to the franchise or those who prefer more modern gameplay, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an excellent entry point.

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

5See it at Amazon

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

Set during the Cold War, Snake Eater follows US Special Forces operative Naked Snake as he's tasked with extracting a Russian scientist from the Soviet Union to prevent the development of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction. Shocked to find his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets, Snake faces a brutal defeat in the jungle but survives, returning to Russia to confront The Boss and dismantle the Shagohod. By the end, Naked Snake becomes Big Boss, yet 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

Six years after Snake Eater, Portable Ops continues Big Boss's journey as he confronts his former unit, FOX, which has gone rogue. Captured and accused of treason, Big Boss escapes and pursues his former allies, led by the ruthless Gene. By the game's end, Big Boss learns of Gene's plan to create Army's Heaven, a nation of mercenaries, and later forms FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

In Peace Walker, set four years after Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and formed Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. Their mission is to protect countries unable to defend themselves, leading them to confront the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Discovering ties to The Boss and a powerful mech called the Peace Walker, Big Boss battles his former ally Paz, a Cipher agent.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Ground Zeroes, set a few months after Peace Walker, 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. Infiltrating the base, he encounters XOF, led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends with an attack on Motherbase, leaving MSF destroyed and Big Boss near death.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Nine years later, The Phantom Pain finds Big Boss awakening in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. Leading a new mercenary group, the Diamond Dogs, under the codename Venom Snake, he pursues XOF and Skull Face, who are developing a parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss's plans to create Outer Heaven, a haven for soldiers.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND agent, on a mission to Outer Heaven to destroy the Metal Gear mech, capable of launching nuclear bombs. He discovers Big Boss's betrayal and confronts him.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years after Metal Gear, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who is now building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Snake infiltrates the nation and battles Big Boss's forces.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years later, Solid Snake confronts his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has taken over Shadow Moses Island to use a new Metal Gear for nuclear threats. He battles various members, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and escapes after being declared dead.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid or see more of the best PS1 games.

9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Sons of Liberty follows Solid Snake infiltrating an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, Ray, which is stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Two years later, Raiden, a new protagonist, is sent to Big Shell, a facility hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. He uncovers secrets and meets Solid Snake, who is on a mission to stop 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

In Guns of the Patriots, three years after Sons of Liberty, an aging Solid Snake, now dubbed Old Snake, embarks on his final mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who has taken control of a new Outer Heaven. Battling his deteriorating health and the evolving FOXDIE virus, Snake confronts his nemesis.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Revengeance follows Raiden, now a cyborg, four years after Guns of the Patriots. Working for Maverick Security Consulting, Raiden is attacked by Desperado Enforcement and uncovers dark secrets about the group, setting out 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?

While it once seemed the Metal Gear 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 aims to bring Naked Snake's iconic battle with The Boss to a new generation.

As for new entries, Konami has not confirmed plans for original Metal Gear games without Kojima, but Virtuous Studios, developers of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, have hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles 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.