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

From Snake's iconic elevator ascent to the rain-soaked cliffs of Shadow Moses to the intense mentor-student showdown in the final moments of Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami's epic spy thriller franchise, Metal Gear, boasts some of gaming's most unforgettable moments. Spanning multiple console generations and pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling, the adventures of Solid Snake and Big Boss are legendary. Many consider these titles to be among the most influential in the medium's history.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain seemed to mark the end of the franchise, especially with Kojima's departure from Konami to start his own studio. However, Konami has since begun revitalizing 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 covert operations, shadowy conspiracies, and tough-talking heroes 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.

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Every IGN Metal Gear Review

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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear series comprises 17 games: 11 mainline entries, five for handheld devices, and one for mobile. While this is a substantial number, several are considered non-canon, as their narratives diverge from the main saga and explore unique takes on the universe.

Metal Gear Survive, released in 2018, occurs in an apocalyptic setting overrun by a zombie virus, placing it outside the main canon. The PSP titles Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 diverge from the timeline, crafting alternate-universe stories. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color offers an alternate-universe sequel that disregards the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thus excluding it from the official 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 forms the true Metal Gear Saga, stretching from a fictional alternate history in the 1960s to the late 2010s. Let's guide you through 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 contains the best versions of Metal Gear Solid 1–3. If you prefer a more modern entry point or have less tolerance for older games, begin with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the latest in the series.

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5See it at AmazonMetal Gear Games in Chronological Order

These summaries include mild spoilers for each game, covering characters, settings, and plot points.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

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

After a fierce battle, Snake is left for dead in the jungle but survives. His commanding officer, Zero, then orders him back to Russia to confront The Boss and destroy the Shagohod to avert nuclear war. By the end, Naked Snake takes on the moniker Big Boss, becoming a legend in the US Special Forces. Yet, his confrontation with The Boss and the secrets he uncovers 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. Captured and tortured on a Colombian base, Big Boss escapes but must clear his name after being accused of treason. He pursues his former comrades and their leader, Gene, who aims to establish a nation of mercenary soldiers called Army's Heaven. Big Boss eventually acquires the funds and equipment for the project and returns to the US 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 start Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. They work to protect nations unable to defend themselves, confronting the Peace Sentinels in Costa Rica. Big Boss discovers his former mentor, The Boss, is involved in the Sentinels' plot, which involves nuclear weapons and a powerful mech, the Peace Walker. Operating from an offshore oil rig called Motherbase, Big Boss and MSF uncover the Sentinels' true intentions, culminating in a battle with Paz, revealed to be a Cipher agent.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Set 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 at Camp Omega by Cipher. Rushing to extract her, he encounters XOF, a Cipher cell led by the sadistic Skull Face. The mission ends with Paz's extraction, but Big Boss finds MSF under attack at Motherbase, resulting in the oil rig's 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 a severely injured Big Boss waking up in a Cyprus hospital, narrowly escaping assassination. Saved by Revolver Ocelot, he leads the Diamond Dogs, seeking revenge on XOF. Under the codename Venom Snake, he tracks Skull Face, who plans to unleash a devastating parasitic weapon. The game concludes with Big Boss setting the stage for Outer Heaven, a military nation where soldiers can live free from government manipulation.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years later, the series' first game, Metal Gear, introduces Solid Snake, a rookie FOXHOUND member led by Big Boss. Snake's mission is to infiltrate Outer Heaven and destroy a new weapon of mass destruction, Metal Gear, capable of launching nuclear bombs. With the help of another agent, Grey Fox, Snake uncovers 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 learns Big Boss survived and is building another Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land. Infiltrating the nation, Snake destroys the weapon and battles Big Boss and his forces.

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 Shadow Moses Island, threatening nuclear strikes unless they receive Big Boss's corpse and ransom. Snake fights members of FOXHOUND, including Revolver Ocelot and Psycho Mantis, and meets the eccentric Liquid Snake. After thwarting the threat, Snake is presumed dead but escapes.

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, Solid Snake, now rogue, infiltrates an oil tanker to find a new Metal Gear, only to discover Metal Gear Ray, which is stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Two years after this event, Raiden, a new FOXHOUND agent, is sent to the Big Shell facility, hijacked by the Sons of Liberty, who hold the US president hostage. Raiden uncovers secrets and meets Iroquois Pliskin, who is revealed to be Solid Snake. Together, they pursue 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

Set three years after Sons of Liberty, Guns of the Patriots follows Solid Snake, now known as Old Snake due to accelerated aging from cloning and the FOXDIE virus. With only a year to live, he sets out to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who controls a new Outer Heaven in the Middle East. Equipped with nanomachines, Snake confronts his nemesis and the lingering threat of the virus.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The final chapter in the current Metal Gear timeline, Revengeance focuses on Raiden, who has become a cyborg. Four years after Guns of the Patriots, Raiden works for Maverick Security Consulting and is attacked by Desperado Enforcement during an African operation. As he uncovers sinister truths about Desperado, Raiden 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 once seemed that the Metal Gear series had concluded, Konami announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater during PlayStation's 2023 summer showcase. Titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, this modern reimagining of Naked Snake's battle with The Boss is slated for release on August 28, 2025, as revealed in Sony's February 2025 State of Play.

Regarding new entries, Konami has not confirmed plans for original Metal Gear games without Kojima. However, Virtuous Studios, the developer behind Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, hinted that remakes of other Metal Gear titles could be considered, stating to IGN, “Regarding remakes of previous games in the series other than Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, we will listen to player demand and consider accordingly.”

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