What is the best order to watch Metal Gear?

For first-timers, we recommend Release Order as it's the intended experience. For rewatches, Timeline/Chronological Order offers a fresh perspective by following the in-universe chronology.

How many titles are in Metal Gear?

Metal Gear currently includes content across multiple formats. Use the section filters to view specific content types and the order variants to choose your preferred viewing order.

Should I watch Metal Gear in release order or chronological order?

Release order is best for first-time viewers as it preserves the creators' intended narrative reveals. Chronological order is great for rewatches and understanding the timeline better.

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Metal Gear

edited 2026-05-21

A complete play order for Konami's Metal Gear franchise — every mainline stealth-action game from Hideo Kojima's 1987 MSX2 original through the 2025 remake Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, plus the GBC side story Ghost Babel. Includes both release order and the famous in-universe chronological order, where the Cold War prequel Snake Eater comes first.

sections2items15completed0 / 15 · 0%first1987latest2025

Tags · [big-boss-saga][solid-snake-saga][cold-war-era][non-canon]

page order

main games14 items · 14 unwatched

01GAME

1987The 1987 stealth action game directed by Hideo Kojima and released for the MSX2 in Japan, the first entry in the Metal Gear series. Rookie s…

02GAME

1988The 1988 NES port of Metal Gear, localised for North America and Europe by a separate Konami team distinct from Hideo Kojima's group. Solid…

03GAME

1990The 1990 MSX2 sequel to the original Metal Gear, directed by Hideo Kojima and released exclusively in Japan. Set four years after Outer Heav…

04GAME

1998The 1998 PlayStation stealth-action game directed by Hideo Kojima that brought the Metal Gear series to a global audience. Solid Snake is di…

05GAME

2001The 2001 PlayStation 2 sequel directed by Hideo Kojima, structured in two connected acts: a tanker mission starring Solid Snake, and a massi…

06GAME

2004The 2004 PlayStation 2 prequel directed by Hideo Kojima, set in 1964 during the Cold War. CIA operative Naked Snake — the future Big Boss —…

07GAME

2006The 2006 PSP entry directed by Masahiro Yamamoto and supervised by Hideo Kojima, set in Colombia in 1970, six years after the events of Snak…

08GAME

2008The 2008 PlayStation 3 entry directed by Hideo Kojima, serving as the conclusion of Solid Snake's story arc. In a near-future 2014 where pri…

09GAME

2010The 2010 PSP entry directed by Hideo Kojima, set in Costa Rica in 1974 and treated by Kojima as a true numbered entry in the series. Big Bos…

10GAME

2013The 2013 action game developed by PlatinumGames with Kojima Productions, set in 2018 — four years after the events of Guns of the Patriots.…

11GAME

2014The 2014 standalone prologue chapter to The Phantom Pain, directed by Hideo Kojima and set at the fictional Camp Omega military detention fa…

12GAME

2015The 2015 open-world stealth-action game directed by Hideo Kojima and his final entry in the Metal Gear series. Set in 1984, nine years after…

13GAME

2018The 2018 survival action game developed by Konami Digital Entertainment without Hideo Kojima's involvement. Set in a parallel dimension call…

14GAME

2025The 2025 full remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, developed by Konami Digital Entertainment with Virtuos providing additional support…

side stories2 items · 2 unwatched