It is indeed uncommon for a video game series to last over 30 years while keeping its story intact. The Metal Gear franchise has set the benchmark for stealth games, but its creator, Hideo Kojima, aimed to elevate gaming by introducing innovative storytelling. Each Metal Gear title can be linked to real-world events and timelines,albeit with creative liberties regarding technology and history. With numerous spin-offs and remakes like Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater, newcomers may find it challenging to navigate the series. Fortunately, we have tracked Snake's journey from the start and can guide you on how to play these games in both release order and chronological order.
Playing Metal Gear Games in Release Order
Playing the Metal Gear games in their release order is often recommended for a better experience. However, this path has become less straightforward due to various remakes that have emerged over time. Following this sequence allows players to appreciate the unfolding narrative filled with surprises while piecing together Kojima's intricate storyline.
Here’s how you shoudl approach playing these titles based on their original launch dates:
- Metal Gear (1987)
- Snake’s Revenge (1990)
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)
- Metal Gear Solid (1998) / Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004)
- Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel (2000)
- Metal gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) / Metal Gear Solid delta: Snake Eater (2025)
- 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)
- MetalGear Rising: Revengeance (2013)
– [Note that some titles are remakes or reimaginings of earlier entries.]
exploring Metal Gears Chronologically
The timeline of the Metal Gears can be quite perplexing even for dedicated fans. If you prefer a more linear storytelling approach without concern for graphics or gameplay differences between releases, playing them chronologically might suit you better.
however, since this wasn’t how they were originally designed to be played, some plot twists may loose their impact without context from other games in the series.
Here’s a list of all mainline entries arranged by their internal chronology:
- Snake Eater/Delta (1964)
- Portable Ops (1970)
- Peace Walker (1974)
- Ground Zeroes (1975)
- Survive (1975)
- The Phantom Pain (1984)
7 . Original Metal gear (1995)
8 . Snake’s Revenge (1998)
9 . Solid Snake (1999)
10 . Solid/ Twin Snakes (2005)
11 . Mobile (2005–07)
12 . Sons of Liberty (2007–09)
13 . Guns of Patriots (2014)
14 .Rising: Revengeance (2018)
This arrangement excludes non-canonical titles or those set in alternate timelines.
Conclusion
Whether you choose release order or chronological playthroughs depends on your preference as a gamer; each method offers unique experiences within Kojima's complex universe.
