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For a first playthrough, play the Metal Gear saga in release order. That lets you experience the story and its callbacks in the order players first encountered them. If you would rather follow the fictional timeline, use the chronological order below instead. Konami presents the saga’s history, but does not prescribe a play order; release order is a practical recommendation.
Recommended first-playthrough order: release order
The two original MSX games are optional, but they lead into Solid Snake’s story. Start with Metal Gear Solid if you want to begin with the 3D-era games.
- Metal Gear (1987) — optional starting point.
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990) — optional predecessor to Metal Gear Solid.
- Metal Gear Solid (1998).
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001).
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008).
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014).
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
The release years and series context are documented in Konami’s official history and the PlayStation Blog’s series history. The sequence above is release order for these central story games, not a rule issued by Konami.
Chronological story order
If you have already played the series or specifically want the events arranged by when they happen in the story, use this simplified timeline:
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- GAME LIST: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Versions for other regions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) can be downloaded separately from the store. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker supports online play for up to 6 players.
- DIGITAL BOOKS: Metal Gear Solid 4: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 4: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Screenplay Book, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Master Book. All are accessible via the in-game Start Menu.
- METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 SAVE-DATA BONUS*: If a user has saved data for any title included in METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1, you can receive in-game items usable in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) respectively. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Bonus: Gold Camouflage. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) Bonus: GOLD Uniform.
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater — 1964.
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker — 1974.
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes — 1975.
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain — 1984.
- Metal Gear — 1995.
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake — 1999.
- Metal Gear Solid — 2005.
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty — events in 2007 and 2009.
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — 2014.
Konami’s Legacy Collection story overview identifies the eras for the major saga entries. The timeline puts the 2014 release Snake Eater first because its story begins in 1964. For a first run, that means beginning with a later-made prequel before the games that introduced the series’ story and references.
Which games are optional, and what counts as a side story?
The original two games
Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are canonical predecessors to Metal Gear Solid. They are useful context for Solid Snake’s story, but you can start with Metal Gear Solid if you prefer the 3D-era presentation. Both originals are included in METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1.
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- GAME LIST: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Versions for other regions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) can be downloaded separately from the store. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker supports online play for up to 6 players.
- DIGITAL BOOKS: Metal Gear Solid 4: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 4: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Screenplay Book, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Master Book. All are accessible via the in-game Start Menu.
- METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 SAVE-DATA BONUS*: If a user has saved data for any title included in METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1, you can receive in-game items usable in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) respectively. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Bonus: Gold Camouflage. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) Bonus: GOLD Uniform.
Portable Ops, Ghost Babel, and Snake’s Revenge
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is an optional side entry, rather than a required step in the central sequence. Metal Gear: Ghost Babel is a spin-off, and Snake’s Revenge is bonus content; neither belongs in the recommended central story order. Konami lists Ghost Babel as bonus content in Vol. 2 and Snake’s Revenge in Vol. 1. See Konami’s Vol. 1 collection page and Vol. 2 launch announcement.
Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is a remake of the Snake Eater story, not an additional chapter. If you choose to play the remake, use it in place of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in either sequence. Konami’s Metal Gear portal lists the remake and its platforms.
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- Experience the intense thrill of infiltrating undetected. Immerse yourself in the Metal Gear series—the pinnacle of the stealth-action genre—as you infiltrate strongholds and outsmart enemies to complete your missions. This collection is the second installment in the definitive Metal Gear Master Collection.
Which collections cover the recommended order?
The collections make much of the sequence easier to access, but neither alone contains every game in the recommended order.
| Collection | Relevant games and extras | Platforms listed by Konami |
|---|---|---|
| METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 | Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid (including VR/Special Missions), Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3, plus bonus content. | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam/PC. Konami collection page |
| METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 2 | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Ghost Babel as bonus content. | Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Konami announced its launch on August 27, 2026. Konami launch announcement |
Vol. 1 is a convenient place to start, but you will need the other entries to complete the recommended sequence. Store availability and editions can vary by platform and region, so check the current listing for your location before buying.
Quick Recap
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- This innovative game series was born from the idea of avoiding combat and infiltrating enemy territory undetected
- Title line up: Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear (NES/FC version), and Snake’s Revenge
- Digital books: Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear, and Metal Gear; Screenplay and Master Books included
- Video: Metal Gear Solid; Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2; Digital Graphic Novel
- Includes Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
Rank #4
- Title Lineup:Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid (Including VR Missions/Special Missions), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (HD Collection version), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (HD Collection version), Metal Gear (NES/FC version), Snake's Revenge
- Video: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel
- Digital book: Metal Gear Solid: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Master Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Master Book
- Soundtrack: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
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