Play Metal Gear Solid in Order: The Ultimate MGS Timeline Guide

From Snake's climb up the rain-soaked cliffs during his elevator ride at Shadow Moses Island to the ultimate showdown between pupil and teacher in the concluding scenes of "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater," the espionage series created by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami stands out for containing several unforgettable game sequences. This saga spans numerous console generations and pushes the boundaries of creativity within video games, with tales featuring characters like Solid Snake and Big Boss becoming renowned milestones. Many consider these titles as pivotal works that have significantly shaped the industry.

In 2015, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain appeared to conclude the series as Hideo Kojima departed from Konami and left the Metal GearSolid intellectual property behind to start his own company. Nevertheless, Konami has begun reviving the franchise via re-releases and remasters. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Releasing later this year, as numerous new players dive into the universe of covert operations, clandestine governmental plots, and tough-looking characters sporting stylish eye patches for the first time, we've organized theMetal Gear Solidsaga in chronological order. This allows both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts to get up to speed.

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• In what sequence should you play them chronologically?
• In what sequence should one watch them based on their release dates?

How many Metal Gear Solid games exist?

Without counting remakes, ports, or remastered versions, there are There are 17 total Metal Gear games altogether. : There are 11 mainline games for consoles, along with five titles designed for portable systems and one released for mobile platforms. Despite this substantial number of releases, quite a few of these games are not part of the official storyline; instead, they introduce alternate narratives that diverge from the primary saga, offering distinct perspectives within the same universe.

In 2018, Metal Gear Survive emerged in an apocalyptic setting dominated by a zombie virus, placing it outside the primary storyline. The PSP titles, Metal Gear: Acid and Metal Gear: Acid 2, diverge from the established sequence of events and present their own narrative, categorizing them as separate timelines within the franchise. Additionally, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, released for the Game Boy Color, serves as a follow-up set in an alternative universe that disregards the occurrences in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, thereby excluding itself from the official chronology. Lastly, both Metal Gear Mobile and Snake’s Revenge have been acknowledged as non-canonical works by fans and even Hideo Kojima during various discussions.

That leaves 11 titles encompassing the principal narrative arc Each installment is regarded as part of the authentic Metal Gear saga, which unfolds across an alternative history timeline stretching from the 1960s into the late 2010s. Let me walk you through every title within this narrative arc.

What Metal Gear Game Should You Start With?

We suggest two possible entry points into the Metal Gear universe. If you're eager to experience the entire saga, consider beginning with "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1" from 2023, as this collection offers updated editions of Metal Gear Solid titles 1 through 3. On the other hand, if you just want to sample what the franchise has to offer—especially if playing more dated game styles isn’t your preference—we propose jumping right into the modern era with "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain."

Chronological Sequence of Metal Gear Games

The blurbs include slight spoilers for each game, touching upon characters, settings, and key plot points.

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The initial position in the story's chronology and the subsequent game to get a modern remake Snake Eater” centers around a U.S. Special Forces agent nicknamed Naked Snake, who operates amid the tensions of the Cold War era. His mission involves rescuing a Russian scientist trapped within the Soviet Union to stop the creation of a devastating weapon called the Shagohod. However, upon embarking on this crucial assignment, Snake discovers that his previous instructor, The Boss, has defected and now supports the Soviets.

Following an intense confrontation, Naked Snake is gravely injured and presumed deceased in the thick of the jungle. Despite this, he recovers enough to be ordered by his superior, Zero, to head back into Russia. His mission: locate and assassinate his former mentor, while simultaneously hunting down the Shagohod to thwart a potential nuclear conflict. As the narrative concludes, Naked Snake assumes the alias "Big Boss," earning legendary status within the U.S. special forces community. Nevertheless, the grueling fight against The Boss and the revelations encountered during his journey render him disenchanted with both his obligations and the administration he has pledged himself to serve.

Read our Review of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater or check for updates about the A remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 .

2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Six years following the pivotal confrontation between Big Boss and his ex-mentor, "Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops" resumes the iconic warrior's journey as he faces off against his previous team, FOX Unit. The narrative kicks off when Big Boss discovers that FOX has turned renegade, having defied the CIA and initiated an uprising.

Arrested and tormented at a Colombian outpost by the FOX Unit, Boss manages to escape but discovers he has been labeled a traitor. Determined to prove his innocence, he chooses to track down his previous comrades and confront their merciless commander, Gene. Ultimately, Big Boss uncovers Gene’s plan to establish an army of mercenaries called Outer Heaven. He seizes the substantial resources set aside for this initiative. Upon returning to the U.S., he subsequently creates a squad of elite operatives named FOXHOUND.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops .

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Four years following the occurrences in Portable Ops, we reconnect with Big Boss, who has departed from both FOXHOUND and The Patriots. After his exit, he establishes a fresh group of mercenary fighters called Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF), alongside Kazuhira Miller. Leveraging this newly-formed military force to safeguard nations lacking sufficient defenses, Big Boss and Miller confront an armed faction named the Peace Sentinels when these invaders penetrate into Costa Rica.

As he delves deeper into his inquiry, Big Boss discovers that his ex-mentor, The Boss, has connections to the Peace Sentinels’ schemes. To make matters worse, these adversaries possess nuclear arms and command a highly potent mecha referred to as the Peace Walker. Gathering forces at an offshore facility named Motherbase, Snake along with the Militaires Sans Frontières confront the Peace Sentinels head-on, striving to uncover their real intentions and hidden truths. In the finale, Big Boss finds himself engaged in combat against Paz, his erstwhile comrade, only to learn she was secretly working for Zero’s clandestine state apparatus, Cipher.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker .

4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Several months after the occurrences in Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes serves as an introduction to the fifth installment of the Metal Gear Solid series: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. In this narrative, Big Boss undertakes a fresh assignment upon discovering that Paz managed to survive their intense confrontation near the end of Peace Walker and is currently undergoing interrogation by Cipher at a covert military facility called Camp Omega. Recognizing that she possesses vital intelligence regarding Cipher’s operations and might expose sensitive details about MSF to them, he quickly sets out for her extraction.

As he penetrates the facility, he uncovers a cryptic Cipher unit referred to as XOF, headed by a ruthless and badly disfigured leader named Skull Face. The introduction concludes with Snake rescuing Paz but then learning that his comrades are under assault from the XOF operatives returning to Motherbase. This barrage decimates the oil platform and wipes out Militaires Sans Frontières, placing Big Boss on the brink of demise.

Read our review of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes .

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Ghost Warrior

Nine years after the events, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain begins with Big Boss awakening in a hospital in Cyprus, gravely wounded. While trying to escape an assassination plot, he faces off against a person engulfed in fire, a psychic warrior, and a skilled marksman. Saved by Revolver Ocelot, Big Boss recovers and resumes his career at the helm of a fresh band of mercenaries called Diamond Dogs.

Promising to put an end to the XOF following their destruction of Militaires Sans Frontières, he takes on the alias Venom Snake and travels to Africa to track them down. There, he discovers that the ex-Cipher-linked faction has turned against them. Under the leadership of Skull Face, this group is developing a deadly parasite weapon capable of wiping out the West. In conclusion, Big Boss initiates his scheme for establishing a military state called Outer Heaven, aiming to provide soldiers freedom from exploitation by dubious governmental agendas.

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

6. Metal Gear

Eleven years after the initial installment, the narrative revisits the original chapter of the franchise: Metal Gear. In this sequel, we follow Solid Snake—a novice soldier and part of the elite unit FOXHOUND. Similar to before, Big Boss leads FOXHOUND and serves as both Snake’s guide and superior officer. For his inaugural assignment, Solid Snake is dispatched to locate an immense destructive device within a militaristic state referred to as Outer Heaven.

While on his mission, he encounters another operative known as Grey Fox, who was dispatched to locate the same weapon. Grey Fox discloses that this enigmatic device is actually a mecha called Metal Gear, capable of launching nuclear missiles. The game concludes with an intense confrontation between Solid Snake and Big Boss, during which Big Boss admits responsibility for orchestrating the schemes related to Outer Heaven.

Read our review of Metal Gear .

7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

A few years down the line, Solid Snake finds himself back in duty upon discovering that Big Boss has somehow made it through the incidents of the earlier game and is presently building a new Metal Gear for the make-believe country known as Zanzibar Land.

Partnering up with multiple characters, Snake invades Zanzibar Land aiming to dismantle the massive destructive device. During this mission, he confronts Big Boss and his regiment of troops throughout the journey.

See more about Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake .

8. Metal Gear Solid

Six years following Metal Gear 2, Solid Snake embarks on another mission. In this installment, he is tasked with confronting his old squad, FOXHOUND, which has betrayed the U.S., seized control of a covert governmental installation located on an island called Shadow Moses. The island reportedly serves as a testing ground for a clandestine version of Metal Gear. Now,FOXHOUND is blackmailing authorities—they’ll launch their nuclear arsenal unless they receive Big Boss' body along with substantial monetary compensation.

The snake makes his way to the installation where he battles numerous members of FOXHOUND such as Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and a cyborg iteration of his ex-comrade, Gray Fox. Additionally, he encounters Liquid Snake, the peculiar head of FOXHOUND. The narrative concludes with Snake being labeled as KIA by Colonel Campbell and considered deceased by the authorities following their plan to betray him. Despite this, he manages to escape from Shadow Moses still breathing.

Read our Review of Metal Gear Solid or explore even more of the best PS1 games .

9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Two years after the events, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty begins with the once-former hero Solid Snake going solo to raid an oil tanker in search of a newly developed version of Metal Gear heading to America. Onboard, he uncovers a preliminary model called Metal Gear Ray but loses sight of it when Revolver Ocelot steals it. Ocelot then submerges the ship before making his getaway, leaving Snake accused of causing the vessel's sinking.

A couple of years down the line, our focus moves to a fresh character: Raiden. As part of FOXHOUND, he gets dispatched to an offshore decontamination plant called Big Shell. This structure was built with the aim of cleaning up the massive oil slick created after an oil tanker exploded during Solid Snake’s operation. The Big Shell facility falls victim to terrorists from a group named the Sons of Liberty, who have also seized control of the U.S. President.

Breaking into the facility, Raiden quickly realizes nothing is as it appears, delving deep into the mysteries surrounding Big Shell and encountering a young officer known as Iroquois Pliskin, who has an obvious hidden agenda. Ultimately, Solid Snake becomes part of Raiden’s mission, informing him about his pursuit of Ocelot—whose possession by Liquid Snake's spirit is now clear—and the Patriots.

Read our Review of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty or explore more of the best PS2 games .

10. Metal Gear Solid 4: The Patriots' Firearms

Wrapping up the primary storyline and concluding Solid Snake’s last assignment, "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" revisits Snake three years following the occurrences in "Sons of Liberty." Given thatSnake was created via cloningand carries the persistent threat ofthe FOXDIE virus within him,his physical condition is deteriorating swiftly. He learnsthat he likelyhas less than ayeartolive. Adopting anew moniker,Old Snake,he embarks on what will behisfinal mission.

His mission is to take down Liquid Ocelot, who now controls an updated iteration of Outer Heaven formed from several major private military organizations based in the Middle East. With his body augmented by nanomachines, Snake embarks on this perilous journey to stop Ocelot, discovering that his adversary plans to find Big Boss' remains and carry out a cryptic scheme. While battling both his advancing years and the evolving FOXDIE virus within him, Snake pushes forward toward a climactic showdown with his fiercest opponent yet.

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

11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The concluding chapter in the present-day Metal Gear saga, "Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance," centers around Raiden. As was revealed earlier in "Guns of the Patriots," he has become a cybernetic organism. The narrative advances four years following the events of "Metal Gear Solid 4" and shows Raiden employed at a private military firm known as Maverick Security Consulting.

In an operation across Africa, Raiden faces off against a competing private military outfit called Desperado Enforcement. Abandoned and nearly killed by their leader, Jet Stream Sam, Raiden survives and presses forward with his probe into Desperado’s activities. He uncovers disturbing truths regarding both this organization and those aligned with it. With each new disclosure painting a grimmer picture of these forces, Raiden vows to dismantle them single-handedly, embarking on a quest fueled by relentless vengeance.

Read our evaluation of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance .

How to Approach Playing the Metal Gear Series by Order of Release Date

1. Metal Gear (1987)
2. Snake’s Revenge (1990)
3. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)
4. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
5. Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel (2000)
6. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
7. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
8. Metal Gear Solid: Acid (2004)
9. Metal Gear Solid: Acid 2 (2005)
10. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006)
11. Metal Gear Solid: Mobile (2008)
12. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)
13. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker was released in 2010.
14. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013)
15. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)
16. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
17. Metal Gear Survive (2018)
18. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (2025)

What's Ahead for Metal Gear?

Even though it appeared for numerous years that the Metal Gear series had concluded, Konami has announced a forthcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This news was accompanied by a reveal. cinematic trailer at Sony's 2023 Summer Showcase for PlayStation , "Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater" will be reconstructed entirely, offering enthusiasts a contemporary reinterpretation of Naked Snake’s iconic confrontation with The Boss. This remake aims to revitalize the experience for players. scheduled for release on August 28, 2025 , as revealed in Sony's February 2025 State of Play .

Regarding possible additions to the series, Konami has not officially stated whether they intend to create new Metal Gear titles without Hideo Kojima’s involvement. However, Virtuous Studios, which developed "Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater," hinted that remaking other Metal Gear games remains an option. Speaking with GudangMovies21 The team stated, "Concerning remakes of earlier titles in the series aside from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, we will take into account player feedback and make decisions based on this input."

To find additional lists similar to this one, check out Assassin's Creed Games in Order and a list of The Far Cry games in sequence.

Callum Williams is a freelance media writer who has accumulated extensive experience over the years as both a game critic and a news reporter, along with writing guides and feature articles.

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