From Snake's daring ascent in Shadow Moses to the climactic showdown in Snake Eater, the Metal Gear saga boasts some of gaming's most iconic moments. Spanning generations and pushing gaming's creative boundaries, Solid Snake and Big Boss's adventures are legendary, considered by many to be seminal works in the medium.
Following Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015, the franchise's future seemed uncertain after Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. However, Konami has revived the series with re-releases and remakes, like the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. This renewed interest introduces a new wave of players to the world of espionage, government conspiracies, and charismatic, eyepatched protagonists. To help both newcomers and veterans navigate this rich universe, we present the chronological order of the main Metal Gear Solid games.
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Chronological Play OrderRelease Order Play OrderHow Many Metal Gear Solid Games Exist?
Every IGN Metal Gear Review
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Excluding remakes, ports, and remasters, the Metal Gear franchise comprises 17 games: 11 mainline titles, five handheld entries, and one mobile game. However, a significant portion are considered non-canon, diverging from the main storyline or presenting alternate timelines.
Metal Gear Survive (2018), set in a zombie-infested world, falls outside the main canon. The PSP's Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2 offer alternate timelines. Similarly, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (Game Boy Color) presents an alternate universe, disregarding events from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Finally, Metal Gear Mobile and Snake's Revenge are officially deemed non-canon.
This leaves 11 games within the main storyline, spanning from the 1960s to the late 2010s.
Where to Begin Your Metal Gear Journey?
For the complete saga, we recommend the 2023 Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, featuring enhanced versions of Metal Gear Solid 1-3. Alternatively, for a more modern entry point, start with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
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Metal Gear Games: Chronological Order
(Minor spoilers ahead)
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Set during the Cold War, Snake Eater follows Naked Snake's mission to extract a Soviet scientist, only to uncover a betrayal by his mentor, The Boss. His survival and subsequent actions solidify his transformation into Big Boss.
Read our Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review or see updates about the remake.
2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Six years later, Big Boss confronts his rogue FOX Unit, clearing his name and acquiring resources that will shape his future endeavors.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Four years later, Big Boss leads MSF, combating the Peace Sentinels and uncovering a connection to The Boss and Cipher.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
A prologue to The Phantom Pain, Big Boss extracts Paz, only to face a devastating attack on Mother Base by XOF.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Nine years later, Venom Snake leads Diamond Dogs against Skull Face and XOF, setting the stage for Outer Heaven.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
6. Metal Gear
Solid Snake's first mission involves infiltrating Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear.
Read our review of Metal Gear.
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Snake confronts Big Boss and a new Metal Gear in Zanzibar Land.
See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
8. Metal Gear Solid
Snake battles FOXHOUND at Shadow Moses Island.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid or see more of the best PS1 games.
9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Snake and Raiden confront Ocelot and the Patriots at Big Shell.
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
Old Snake's final mission against Liquid Ocelot.
Read our review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Raiden's cyborg quest for revenge against Desperado Enforcement.
Read our review of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
Metal Gear Games: Release Order
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)
The Future of Metal Gear
While the series' future seemed uncertain, Konami's Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake demonstrates a continued commitment to the franchise. The possibility of further remakes remains open, contingent on player demand.
Complete Metal Gear Playlist
(Image gallery of game covers follows)
