MGS Timeline: Playing Metal Gear Solid Games in Chronological Order

From the iconic elevator ride in Metal Gear Solid to the emotional 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 storytelling and gameplay, cementing its place as a landmark series in the video game industry.

After Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 following the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, it seemed the franchise might have reached its conclusion. However, Konami has since revitalized the series with re-releases and remakes, such as the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, set to launch later this year. As new players dive into this world of espionage, government conspiracies, and iconic characters, it's the perfect time to explore the series' timeline.

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• 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

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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five for handheld devices, and one for 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 zombies, which places it outside the main canon. Similarly, the PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2, along with the Game Boy Color's Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, are alternate-timeline spin-offs. Metal Gear Mobile and Snake’s Revenge are also deemed non-canon by the community and Kojima himself.

This leaves us with 11 games that form the core Metal Gear Saga, covering an 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 full saga, we recommend starting with the 2023 release, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes the definitive versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. For newcomers or those less accustomed to older games, starting with the most recent entry, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, is a great way to dive into the series.

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Metal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries contain mild spoilers, including characters, settings, and plot points.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The saga's timeline begins with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which is also slated for a modern remake. The game follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, during the Cold War era. Tasked with rescuing a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction, Snake is shocked to discover his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets.

After a fierce battle leaves him for dead in the jungle, Snake is tasked by his commanding officer, Zero, to return to Russia, confront The Boss, and destroy the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end of the game, Naked Snake takes on the name Big Boss, becoming a legend among the US Special Forces, but his disillusionment with his duty and government sets the stage for future conflicts.

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 turned rogue and staging a revolt. 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 acquiring the resources to form FOXHOUND upon returning to the US.

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 formed Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They protect countries unable to defend themselves, leading to a conflict with the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica.

During his investigation, Big Boss uncovers The Boss's involvement and the Peace Sentinels' possession of a nuclear-capable mech called the Peace Walker. From their base, Motherbase, Big Boss and MSF uncover the Sentinels' true motives, culminating in a battle against Paz, a Cipher agent.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Set shortly after Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Big Boss learns that Paz survived their previous encounter and is being interrogated by Cipher at Camp Omega. As he infiltrates the base to rescue her, he encounters the sadistic XOF commander, Skull Face.

The mission ends with the destruction of Motherbase by XOF, leaving Big Boss near death.

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 Cypriot hospital, surviving an assassination attempt by a flame-covered man, a telekinetic soldier, and a sniper. Saved by Revolver Ocelot, he forms the Diamond Dogs and adopts the codename Venom Snake.

Pursuing XOF and its leader Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon to destroy the Western world, Big Boss sets the stage for his plan to create 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 first game in the series, Metal Gear, introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member under Big Boss's mentorship. Tasked with infiltrating Outer Heaven to destroy a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear, Snake uncovers Big Boss's betrayal as the mastermind behind the nation's plans.

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 has survived and is building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Snake infiltrates the nation, destroys the weapon, and confronts Big Boss once more.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years after Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake returns to battle his former FOXHOUND unit, which has taken over a secret government facility on Shadow Moses Island. The facility houses a new Metal Gear, and FOXHOUND demands Big Boss's corpse and ransom money.

Snake fights members of FOXHOUND, including Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and a cyborg Greyfox, before confronting their leader, Liquid Snake. The game ends with Snake presumed dead but actually escaping Shadow Moses.

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 rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, only to discover Metal Gear Ray, which is stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Snake is blamed for the tanker's destruction.

Two years after, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to the Big Shell facility to rescue the US president from the Sons of Liberty. Raiden uncovers secrets and meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they confront Ocelot, now 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 series finale, Solid Snake, now rapidly aging due to cloning and the FOXDIE virus, embarks on his final mission as Old Snake. He aims to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East.

Equipped with nanomachines, Snake confronts Ocelot's plan involving Big Boss's corpse and battles his own deteriorating condition.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Four years after Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance follows Raiden, now a cyborg, working for Maverick Security Consulting. Attacked by Desperado Enforcement in Africa, Raiden uncovers sinister secrets and vows to bring them down, delivering justice through his blade.

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 once seemed that Metal Gear had concluded, Konami has announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Revealed with a cinematic trailer at PlayStation’s 2023 summer showcase, the game will offer a modern reimagining of Naked Snake’s legendary battle with The Boss. It is scheduled for release on August 28, 2025, as announced during Sony's February 2025 State of Play.

While no new original games have been confirmed without Hideo Kojima, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles could be considered based on player demand.

Metal Gear Games: Complete Playlist

Here is 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.

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.