What Order Should You Play the Metal Gear Solid Games In?

Some media franchises can be a little confusing. Like, what do you mean you should watch Captain America: The First Avenger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Iron Man, even though it came out three years later than the latter? For gamers, getting the Metal Gear Solid order right is kind of like getting that list together.

What Is Metal Gear Solid?

Metal Gear Solid is a well-loved franchise of games that was created by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami. The gist is that you play the role of Solid Snake, a rookie soldier who needs to infiltrate and disable the Metal Gear, a dangerous threat made up of nuclear energy. At least in the beginning.

The franchise had quite an influence on the stealth video game industry due to its rewarding gameplay and its complex story themes of peace, revenge. Many would even praise that it seemed well ahead of its time. 

Metal Gear Solid has solidified itself as a classic at this point. While it is an iconic part of PlayStation history, you can still find certain titles on other consoles and PC. So now, all that’s left is to figure out how you can dive into the gameplay. 

Your Options for the Order of Metal Gear Solid Games

The main options are playing by release date or by story sequence. Each one can create a very different playing experience, which is why it’s crucial for newer MGS fans to pick one. Here’s an overview of each without any spoilers. 

Order by Release Date

Metal Gear Solid by the release date entails watching them according to the year that they are released. The games initially got big in the mid-1990s, which is a little bit after its inception. However, these installments were still released a couple of years apart. The list is as follows with their date: 

1. Metal Gear (1987)
2. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)
3. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
4. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
6. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006)
7. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)
8. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)
9. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013)
10. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)
11. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)

Order by Story or Chronological Order 

The Metal Gear Solid order by story makes sense to a certain degree. Some MSG fans can find the franchise relatively hard to get into just because there’s some information gaps in some earlier releases when you’re doing a completely straight playthrough. Here’s what the chronological order looks like:

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
2. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker 
4. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
6. Metal Gear 
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
8. Metal Gear Solid
9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 
10. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
11. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Release Date VS. Chronological Order

In most forums, you have most fans rooting to play the series in order of the release date. They would argue that most of the information gaps are intentional, similar to how a film wouldn’t give you all the information that would ruin surprises for the viewer.

That said, the chronological order is frequently recommended as well if you want an actual play-by-play of what’s happening in the Metal Gear Solid universe. Some existing fans even express that they would have gone through the gaming franchise in that way if they could.   

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Metal Gear Solid Series Complete?

Yes, the Metal Gear Solid franchise was essentially completed in 2015, making it an ideal option for a satisfying playthrough. There could be room for further side stories and content, considering the complexities behind the Metal Gear.

The most that came after the actual franchise was Metal Gear Survive, a zombie survival game that came out in 2018. You can play it solo or with friends and get an immersive experience by playing as your own character versus playing the MSG characters. You can buy it at $24.97 on Amazon as an extra addition to your collection.  

In terms of what you can look forward to, there’s the Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Tactical ED. The remake is available for pre-order at $69.99 on Amazon at the moment, with the release this coming later this month already. 

Which Metal Gear Solid Game is First?

The first ever game in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, excluding Metal Gear 1 and 2, is the self-named Metal Gear Solid. However, if you prefer to follow the chronological order, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is considered the first Metal Gear Solid game. It was marketed as a prequel during its time. 

Should You Play Metal Gear Solid or Metal Gear Solid Integral?

Metal Gear Solid was released in 1998 while its remake Metal Gear Solid: Integral was released in 1999. They still provide the same content, but the latter just provides more options with camera controls and customization. Fans recommend doing the original Metal Gear Solid for simplicity’s sake, though the Integral version still works if that’s what you have. 

Is Peace Walker a Canon Part of the Series?

There was some initial contention as to whether Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is an actual part of the saga, since it was kind of marketed as a spin-off similar to Metal Gear Survive. Plus, it wasn’t dubbed with a number like other releases. However, the content in the game does bridge the information gaps between its releases, making it a relevant part of the playthrough. 

Can You Skip Certain Metal Gear Solid Games?

Some fans think that the first two Metal Gear games in terms of release order are somewhat skippable given their age. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance are also thrown into the mix. However, if you want to get the full meal-deal in experiencing the franchise, it’s definitely worth spending the extra time on. 

What is the Best Metal Gear Solid Game?

Picking the best title among the franchise is another never-ending debate among fans. You could run a poll on different corners of the internet and get a different answer every time. From a gaming perspective, the newer releases have better graphics and gameplay opportunities. However, in terms of storytelling, the franchise may have peaked with Snake Eater.

Are People Still Playing the Metal Gear Solid Series?

Surprisingly, yes. The Metal Gear Franchise had rose from 60 million copies sold to 62.1 million from 2023 to 2024, suggesting that 2.1 million sales occured within that one year. And with the Snake Eater remake coming, it’s only going to get more traction from here.

Get Your Metal Gear Solid Games Order Right

There’s not necessarily a Metal Gear Solid order that’s right or wrong, as it mainly comes down to your own preference. Plus, thanks to the stealth camo and multiple ending choices, it offers a decent amount of replayability. If you feel like doing two runs with completely different orders, just go for it!

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