"Metal Gear Solid: Complete Chronological Playthrough Guide"

From the iconic elevator ride to the rainy cliffs of Shadow Moses to the intense mentor-student showdown in 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, 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 Kojima parting ways with Konami to start his own studio. However, Konami has since revived the franchise with re-releases and remakes, including the upcoming 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 outlined the chronological order of the Metal Gear Solid series to help both newcomers and returning fans get up to speed.

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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

19 ImagesExcluding remakes, ports, and remasters, there are 17 Metal Gear games in total: 11 mainline entries, five on handheld devices, and one on mobile. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline and exploring alternate narratives.

Metal Gear Survive, set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie virus, is not part of the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 also deviate from the timeline, offering alternate stories. 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 falling outside the main timeline. Additionally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge have been deemed non-canon by both the community and Kojima himself.

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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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The first game in the saga's timeline and the next to receive a modern remake, Snake Eater follows Naked Snake, a US Special Forces operative, during the Cold War. Tasked with extracting a Russian scientist to prevent the creation of the Shagohod, a weapon of mass destruction, Snake is shocked to find his former mentor, The Boss, has defected to the Soviets.

After a fierce battle, Naked Snake is left for dead in the jungle but survives and is ordered to return to Russia to confront The Boss and destroy the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake adopts the moniker Big Boss, becoming a legend among US Special Forces, though his experiences leave him disillusioned with his duty and the 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, Portable Ops continues Big Boss's story as he confronts his former FOX Unit, which has gone rogue and staged a revolt against the CIA. Captured and tortured in Colombia, Big Boss escapes and sets out to clear his name by hunting down his former allies and their leader, Gene.

Big Boss uncovers Gene's plan to create a mercenary nation called Army's Heaven and acquires the resources needed for the project. Upon returning to the US, he forms the special ops unit 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 discovers The Boss's involvement in the Peace Sentinels' plans and their access to nuclear weapons via the Peace Walker mech. From their offshore 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

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. He infiltrates the base to extract her but discovers the XOF, led by the sadistic Skull Face.

The mission ends with Big Boss rescuing Paz, only to find Motherbase under attack by XOF, resulting in its destruction and the near-death of Big Boss.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Nine years later, The Phantom Pain begins with Big Boss waking up in a Cyprus hospital after surviving the attack on Motherbase. After evading an assassination attempt, he joins forces with Revolver Ocelot to lead the Diamond Dogs, seeking revenge against XOF.

As Venom Snake, Big Boss tracks Skull Face, who is developing a parasitic weapon to destroy the Western world. 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 under Big Boss's command. Sent to Outer Heaven to stop the construction of a nuclear-capable mech called Metal Gear, Snake teams up with Grey Fox and uncovers Big Boss's role in the operation.

Read our review of Metal Gear.

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Four years later, Solid Snake returns to stop Big Boss, who survived their previous encounter and is now 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 is sent to Shadow Moses to stop his former FOXHOUND unit, which has gone rogue and taken over a facility housing a new Metal Gear. Snake battles members like Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and confronts the leader, Liquid Snake.

The game ends with Snake presumed dead after thwarting the threat, but he escapes 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 later, a rogue Solid Snake infiltrates an oil tanker to stop the transport of a new Metal Gear, only to see it stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Two years after that, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty, who have taken the US president hostage.

Raiden uncovers the facility's 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

Three years after Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 4 marks Solid Snake's final mission. Aging rapidly due to cloning and the FOXDIE virus, Old Snake is tasked with assassinating Liquid Ocelot, who leads a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East.

Equipped with nanomachines, Snake confronts Ocelot's plan to locate Big Boss's body and execute a mysterious scheme, leading to a final showdown with his nemesis.

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 about the group 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 announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Revealed during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase, the game will be rebuilt from the ground up and is set to release on August 28, 2025.

While no new original games have been confirmed without Kojima's involvement, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind the Snake Eater remake, has hinted at potential remakes of other Metal Gear titles, stating they will consider 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.

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