Metal Gear remakes and adaptations
Delta, comics and novelizations attach to their original games. Master Collection packages are editions, not new chronology events.
Enter the Metal Gear universe
Metal Gear Games in Chronological Order
Start with Big Boss. Follow the Snake legacy.
Follow Big Boss, Solid Snake and Raiden from 1964 to 2018, with remakes grouped and alternate games separated.
Explore Metal Gear by its in-universe years, from Snake Eater in 1964 to Revengeance in 2018. Remakes and adaptations stay attached to their games, while Acid, Ghost Babel, Survive and Snake’s Revenge have separate branches.
Last editorial check
Universe orientation
Start with Big Boss. Follow the Snake legacy.
The quick answer
The main route is MGS3 → Portable Ops → Peace Walker → Ground Zeroes → Phantom Pain → Metal Gear → Metal Gear 2 → MGS → MGS2 → MGS4 → Rising. Release order preserves the series’ original reveals on a first playthrough.
Switch to release order, or choose Core for the main story route.Universe explored
The Metal Gear universe, story by story
Explore Metal Gear by its in-universe years, from Snake Eater in 1964 to Revengeance in 2018. Remakes and adaptations stay attached to their games, while Acid, Ghost Babel, Survive and Snake’s Revenge have separate branches.
More filters
Story chronology · Core route
Portable Ops is included with a continuity caveat. Collection packages are not new events. Alternate games appear after the main route as a directory of separate branches, not later points on one calendar.
Showing 11 of 16 released stories.
- GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake EaterCanonPlayMetal Gear Solid Delta (Δ): Snake Eater — remakeCanonNaked Snake begins the Big Boss story.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid: Portable OpsCanonKonami backstory includes these broad events; later games treat some details lightly.
- GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid: Peace WalkerCanonBig Boss leads Militaires Sans Frontières in Costa Rica.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid V: Ground ZeroesCanonCamp Omega leads directly to the gap before The Phantom Pain.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainCanonDiamond Dogs and the history leading toward Outer Heaven.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal GearCanonSolid Snake infiltrates Outer Heaven.
- GameCanon
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear 2: Solid SnakeCanonSolid Snake confronts Zanzibar Land.
- GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear SolidCanonReadMetal Gear Solid — novelizationCanonReadMetal Gear Solid — comic adaptationCanonReadDigital Graphic NovelCanonThe Shadow Moses incident.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyCanonReadMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty — novelizationCanonReadMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty — comic adaptationCanonReadBande DessinéeCanonTanker chapter in 2007; Big Shell in 2009.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsCanonReadMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — novelizationCanonThe conclusion to Solid Snake’s principal story.
Steam - GameCanon
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Direct link to this storyPlayMetal Gear Rising: RevengeanceCanonRaiden’s follow-up is set four years after MGS4.
Steam
Find your route
Metal Gear order guide
Use one authoritative timeline, then choose the view that matches how you want to experience the universe.
Quick answers
Common Metal Gear order questions
Direct answers based on the same chronology, continuity labels and coverage notes used in the guide.
What order should you experience Metal Gear?
The main route is MGS3 → Portable Ops → Peace Walker → Ground Zeroes → Phantom Pain → Metal Gear → Metal Gear 2 → MGS → MGS2 → MGS4 → Rising. Release order preserves the series’ original reveals on a first playthrough.
Should you use chronological or release order for Metal Gear?
Use chronological order to follow events as they happen. Use release order when you want to preserve the sequence of the original reveals. Both views use the same researched stories.
What does this Metal Gear order guide include?
16 released story records. Adaptations and remakes are grouped as versions where specified. Coverage is current through 9 September 2026.
Suggested routes
Choose a way in.
Use the full chronology or follow a shorter route.
1964–1984
Snake Eater through The Phantom Pain traces the origins of the military factions.
1995–2014
Metal Gear through MGS4 follows the next generation.
Choose a separate branch
Acid 1 and 2 form one route. Ghost Babel, Survive and Snake’s Revenge remain separate.
Story versions
Choose how to experience it.
Researched editions and adaptations stay together under one story.
See how stories are organisedSources
What anchors this order.
Official franchise, creator and publisher sources anchor the chronology. Conflicts and uncertain placements are labelled.
Missing something?
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