From the unforgettable elevator ride to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses to the intense showdown between student and mentor in the final moments of Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's iconic spy thriller franchise, Metal Gear, 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, earning its place as one of the most influential series in the medium.
In 2015, it seemed like the curtains had closed on the franchise with the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, as Hideo Kojima parted ways with Konami to start his own studio. However, Konami has been breathing new life into the series with re-releases and remakes, including the much-anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater set to launch later this year. As new players dive into this world of covert espionage, shadowy government conspiracies, and iconic characters with gruff voices and cool eyepatches, we've compiled a guide to help both newcomers and returning fans navigate 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 franchise boasts a total of 17 games. This includes 11 mainline entries, five handheld titles, and one mobile game. While that's a significant number, several of these are considered non-canon, branching off into alternate storylines that deviate from the main saga.
For instance, Metal Gear Survive, released in 2018, unfolds in an apocalyptic setting with a zombie virus, placing it outside the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 diverge from the timeline, crafting their own narratives in alternate realities. 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 excluding itself from the official timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been officially recognized as non-canon by the community and Hideo Kojima.
This leaves us with 11 games within the main storyline, each contributing to the true Metal Gear Saga, which spans 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 eager to experience the entire saga, we recommend starting with the 2023's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For those seeking a more modern entry point with a lower tolerance for older games, we suggest diving into the series' latest iteration, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order
These summaries contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and key story elements.
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The saga begins with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, set during the Cold War. You play as Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative tasked with rescuing a Russian scientist to prevent the development of a weapon of mass destruction called the Shagohod. The mission takes a shocking turn when Snake discovers his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets. After a brutal defeat, Snake is tasked with returning to Russia to eliminate The Boss and stop the Shagohod, leading to his transformation into Big Boss and a deeper disillusionment 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 FOX Unit, now rogue and staging a revolt. Captured and accused of treason, Big Boss escapes and seeks 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 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 post-Portable Ops, Big Boss has left FOXHOUND and the Patriots to form Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. Their mission to protect Costa Rica from the Peace Sentinels leads Big Boss to uncover connections to his former mentor, The Boss, and the Peace Walker mech. The narrative culminates in a confrontation with Paz, revealed to be a Cipher agent, setting the stage for further conflict.
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 follows Big Boss as he attempts to rescue Paz from Cipher's Camp Omega. The mission reveals the existence of XOF, led by the sadistic Skull Face, and ends with the destruction of Motherbase, leaving Big Boss severely 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 to pursue XOF and Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss laying the groundwork 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
The original Metal Gear introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member sent to dismantle the weapon of mass destruction, Metal Gear, in the military state of Outer Heaven. The mission leads to a confrontation with Big Boss, revealing his role in Outer Heaven's plans.
Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Four years later, Solid Snake returns to thwart Big Boss's new Metal Gear project in Zanzibar Land. The game sees Snake battling Big Boss and his forces to prevent the weapon's deployment.
See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
8. Metal Gear Solid
Six years after Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake is dispatched to Shadow Moses to stop his former FOXHOUND unit, now rogue and threatening nuclear action. The mission pits Snake against formidable foes like Revolver Ocelot and Liquid Snake, ending with Snake's presumed death and escape.
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 now-rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to uncover a new Metal Gear prototype, only to be framed for its destruction. The story shifts to Raiden, a FOXHOUND agent sent to the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty. Raiden's mission intertwines with Snake's pursuit of Revolver 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
The final chapter in Solid Snake's journey, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, follows an aging Snake on a mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who has revived Outer Heaven. Equipped with nanomachines, Snake navigates his deteriorating health and the lingering FOXDIE virus towards a final showdown with his nemesis.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Set four years after Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance focuses on Raiden, now a cyborg working for Maverick Security Consulting. After being attacked by Desperado Enforcement, Raiden uncovers dark secrets about the group and sets out to deliver 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?
Despite seeming to conclude with The Phantom Pain, the Metal Gear series is far from over. Konami has announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set for release on August 28, 2025. This cinematic trailer was showcased during PlayStation's 2023 summer event, promising a modern reimagining of Naked Snake's legendary battle with The Boss.
As for new entries, Konami has yet to confirm plans for original Metal Gear games without Hideo Kojima. However, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Virtuous Studios, hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles are a possibility, depending on player demand.
Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist
Here's a comprehensive list of all standalone Metal Gear games and spin-offs, ordered by release date. Log in to rank them, mark games as owned or completed, or plan your next gaming adventure.
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