Whether or not it’s Snake’s elevator ascent to the wet cliffs of Shadow Moses or the climactic battle between scholar and mentor within the ultimate moments of Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima and Konami’s epic spy thriller franchise, Metallic Gear, is residence to a few of gaming’s most iconic moments. Telling a narrative that spanned a number of console generations and pushed the inventive capabilities of video video games to their limits, Stable Snake and Large Boss’ adventures are legendary, a lot in order that many declare they’re among the many most essential releases the medium has ever produced.
Again in 2015, Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache seemingly ended the franchise for good, with Kojima leaving Konami and the Metallic Gear Stable IP behind to type his personal studio. Nonetheless, Konami has began resurrecting the collection by way of re-releases and remakes, like Metallic Gear Stable Delta: Snake Eater popping out later this yr. With so many new gamers experiencing this world of undercover espionage, shady authorities conspiracy and gruff-voiced dudes with cool eyepatches for the primary time, we’ve laid out the chronological order of the Metallic Gear Stable collection so newcomers and returning followers can catch up.
Soar to:
- Learn how to play in chronological order
- Learn how to play by launch order
How Many Metallic Gear Stable Video games Are There?
Not together with remakes, ports or remasters, there are 17 whole Metallic Gear video games: 11 mainline video games, 5 on handheld units and one on cell. Though that’s quite a lot of video games, an honest chunk of them are thought-about non-canon, with their tales overriding occasions from the principle saga and spinning off into their very own distinctive takes on the universe.
2018’s Metallic Gear Survive takes place in an apocalyptic actuality the place a zombie virus has overtaken the world, so it falls exterior the principle canon. As for the PSP’s Metallic Gear: Acid and Metallic Gear: Acid 2, they veer from the timeline and inform a brand new story, making them alternate-timeline spin-offs. Then there’s the Recreation Boy Coloration’s Metallic Gear: Ghost Babel, which is an alternate-universe Metallic Gear sequel that wipes away the occasions of Metallic Gear 2: Stable Snake, thus eradicating it from the timeline. And eventually, Metallic Gear Cell and Snake’s Revenge have since been deemed non-canon by the neighborhood and Kojima himself in interviews.
That leaves 11 video games inside the principle storyline. Every sport is taken into account a part of the true Metallic Gear Saga, spanning from a fictional alternate-history Nineteen Sixties to the late 2010s. So, let’s run you thru all of the video games in that story.
Which Metallic Gear Ought to You Play First?
We advocate two potential beginning factors for Metallic Gear. For these within the full saga, we advocate 2023’s Metallic Gear Stable: Grasp Assortment Vol. 1, which incorporates one of the best obtainable variations of Metallic Gear Stable 1–3. Alternatively, for these eager about merely making an attempt out the franchise (and for these with a decrease tolerance for older video games), we advocate beginning with the collection’ most modern iteration, Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache.
Metallic Gear Video games in Chronological Order
These blurbs comprise gentle spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Metallic Gear Stable 3: Snake Eater
The primary slot within the saga’s timeline and the latest sport to get a contemporary remake, Snake Eater follows a US Particular Forces operative codenamed Bare Snake in the course of the occasions of the Chilly Struggle. Despatched to find and extract a Russian scientist from the Soviet Union to forestall him from constructing a weapon of mass destruction often called the Shagohod, Snake’s shocked to seek out his former mentor, The Boss, has betrayed the US authorities and sided with the Soviets.
After a heated battle, Bare Snake is brutally defeated and left for lifeless within the jungle. Surviving the encounter, he’s tasked by his commanding officer, Zero, to return to Russia, discover his mentor and kill her, all of the whereas monitoring down the Shagohod to forestall nuclear conflict. By the top of the story, Bare Snake adopts the moniker of Large Boss, changing into a legend among the many US Particular Forces. Nonetheless, his battle with The Boss and the secrets and techniques he’s uncovered all through his journey depart him disillusioned along with his responsibility and the federal government he serves.
Learn our authentic evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable 3: Snake Eater or our new evaluation of the MGS3 remake.
2. Metallic Gear Stable: Moveable Ops
Set six years after Large Boss’ climactic battle along with his former mentor, Metallic Gear Stable: Moveable Ops picks up the legendary soldier’s story as he goes face to face along with his former squad, FOX Unit. The sport begins with Large Boss studying FOX has gone rogue, betraying the CIA and staging a revolt.
Captured and tortured on a Colombian base by FOX Unit, Boss breaks free however learns he’s been accused of treason. In a bid to clear his identify, he decides to search out his former allies and pursue their ruthless chief, Gene. By the top of the sport, Large Boss learns of Gene’s want to create a nation of mercenary troopers often called Military’s Heaven and acquires the mass of funds and gear saved for the mission. Returning to the US, he later types a squadron of particular ops troopers often called FOXHOUND.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable: Moveable Ops.
3. Metallic Gear Stable: Peace Walker
4 years after the occasions of Moveable Ops, we meet up with Large Boss, who has left FOXHOUND and the Patriots. Since leaving, he’s shaped a brand new band of mercenary troopers often called Militaires Sans Frontières (or MSF) with Kazuhira Miller. Utilizing their newfound military to guard nations that don’t have the forces or means to defend themselves, Large Boss and Miller wage conflict towards an armed militia often called the Peace Sentinels after they invade Costa Rica.
Throughout his investigation, Large Boss quickly realizes that his former mentor, The Boss, is someway concerned within the Peace Sentinels’ plans. Worse, they’ve entry to nuclear weapons, wielding a supremely highly effective mech known as the Peace Walker. Rallying on an off-shore oil rig often called Motherbase, Snake and the Militaires Sans Frontières take the struggle to the Peace Sentinels, making an attempt to find their true motive and secrets and techniques. The sport ends with Large Boss battling his former ally Paz, who seems to be a undercover agent of Zero’s shady authorities group, Cipher.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable: Peace Walker.
4. Metallic Gear Stable V: Floor Zeroes
A number of months following the occasions of Peace Walker, Floor Zeroes acts as a prologue to the fifth entry within the Metallic Gear Stable collection: Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache. The story sees Large Boss embark on a brand new mission after studying that Paz survived their climactic battle in the course of the ultimate moments of Peace Walker and is being interrogated by Cipher at a mysterious army base often called Camp Omega. Figuring out that she has essential details about Cipher and will reveal secrets and techniques about MSF to the shadowy group, he rushes to extract her.
Whereas infiltrating the bottom, he discovers a mysterious Cipher cell often called XOF, which is led by a sadistic, severely burned commander known as Cranium Face. The prologue ends with Snake extracting Paz solely to understand his allies are being attacked by the XOF again at Motherbase. The onslaught destroys the oil rig and eradicates Militaires Sans Frontières, leaving Large Boss on the cusp of dying.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable: Floor Zeroes.
5. Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache
9 years later, Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache opens with a severely injured Large Boss waking up in a hospital in Cyprus. Evading an assassination try the place he’s attacked by a person coated in flames, a telekinetic soldier and a grasp sniper, Boss is saved by Revolver Ocelot and returns to motion as he leads a brand new mercenary group often called the Diamond Canine.
Swearing to cease the XOF after they destroyed Militaires Sans Frontières, he adopts the codename Venom Snake and heads to Africa to choose up their path, studying that the former-Cipher-affiliated group went rogue. Their chief, Cranium Face, is as an alternative engaged on a devastating parasitic weapon with the ability to eradicate the Western world. The sport ends with Large Boss setting in movement his plans to create a army nation often called Outer Heaven, the place troopers are free to dwell with out getting used to additional shady authorities plans.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable 5: The Phantom Ache.
6. Metallic Gear
11 years later, the story catches up with the primary entry within the collection: Metallic Gear. The sport follows Stable Snake: a rookie soldier and member of FOXHOUND. FOXHOUND is as soon as once more run by Large Boss, who acts as Snake’s mentor and commanding officer. On his first mission, Stable Snake is shipped to trace down a weapon of mass destruction being constructed in a army nation often called Outer Heaven.
Throughout his mission, he finds one other agent codenamed Gray Fox, who was additionally despatched to trace the weapon. Gray Fox reveals the mysterious weapon is a mech codenamed Metallic Gear, which has the ability to launch nuclear bombs. The sport ends with Stable Snake and Large Boss coming to blows, with the latter revealing he was behind Outer Heaven’s plans.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear.
7. Metallic Gear 2: Stable Snake
4 years later, Stable Snake returns to motion after he learns Large Boss survived the occasions of the earlier sport and is at present establishing a brand new Metallic Gear for the fictional nation of Zanzibar Land.
Teaming with varied characters, Snake infiltrates Zanzibar Land and makes an attempt to destroy the weapon of mass destruction, battling Large Boss and his military of troopers alongside the best way.
See extra about Metallic Gear 2: Stable Snake.
8. Metallic Gear Stable
Six years after Metallic Gear 2, Stable Snake returns in a brand new mission. This time he’s despatched to battle his former unit, FOXHOUND, which has gone rogue, turned towards the US and brought over a mysterious authorities facility on an island often called Shadow Moses. Shadow Moses is allegedly a take a look at web site for a secret Metallic Gear, with FOXHOUND threatening to make use of its nuclear weapons in the event that they aren’t provided with Large Boss’ corpse and a big sum of cash.
Snake heads to the power and fights varied members of FOXHOUND, together with Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis and a Cyborg model of his former ally, Greyfox. He additionally meets the eccentric chief of FOXHOUND, Liquid Snake. The sport ends with Snake being declared killed-in-action by Colonel Campbell and presumed lifeless by the federal government after they supposed to double-cross him. He flees Shadow Moses alive.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable or see extra of the greatest PS1 video games.
9. Metallic Gear Stable 2: Sons of Liberty
Metallic Gear Stable 2: Sons of Liberty opens two years later, with a now-rogue Stable Snake infiltrating an oil tanker whereas searching down a brand new Metallic Gear being transported to the US. There he discovers a prototype Metallic Gear often called Metallic Gear Ray, which is subsequently stolen by Revolver Ocelot. Ocelot sinks the tanker and escapes, whereas Snake is blamed for the tanker’s destruction.
Two years later, we shift to a brand new protagonist: Raiden. An agent of FOXHOUND, Raiden is shipped on a mission to an off-shore decontamination facility often called Large Shell, which was constructed to clear the crude oil spill prompted when the oil tanker was destroyed throughout Stable Snake’s mission. Large Shell has been hijacked by a militant group often called the Sons of Liberty, which has taken the US president hostage.
Infiltrating the power, Raiden quickly discovers issues aren’t fairly what they appear, wanting into Large Shell’s secrets and techniques and assembly a junior lieutenant named Iroquois Pliskin, who’s clearly hiding an enormous secret. By the top of the sport, Stable Snake joins Raiden’s mission, telling him he’s going after Ocelot (who it’s revealed is possessed by the need of Liquid Snake) and the Patriots.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable 2: Sons of Liberty or take a look at extra of the greatest PS2 video games.
10. Metallic Gear Stable 4: Weapons of the Patriots
Marking the top of the principle story and Stable Snake’s ultimate mission, Metallic Gear Stable 4: Weapons of the Patriots catches up with Snake three years after the occasions of Sons of Liberty. Because of the cloning course of used to create Snake and the rampant FOXDIE virus nonetheless coursing by way of his veins, we uncover that his physique is quickly getting old, with the protagonist being advised he solely has a yr left to dwell. Donning a brand new nickname, Outdated Snake, he returns for one ultimate mission.
He’s to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who’s at present working a brand new model of Outer Heaven which is comprised of among the greatest personal militaries within the Center East. Equipping his physique with nanomachines, Snake units out to carry Ocelot down, studying that his nemesis intends to as soon as once more find Large Boss’ corpse and execute a mysterious plan. As Snake battles his age and the lingering FOXDIE mutating in his physique, he makes his manner in direction of a ultimate confrontation along with his most ruthless enemy.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Stable 4: Weapons of the Patriots.
11. Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance
The ultimate story within the present Metallic Gear timeline, Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance focuses on Raiden who, as we discovered throughout Weapons of the Patriots, has remodeled right into a cyborg. The story picks up 4 years after Metallic Gear Stable 4, revealing that Raiden now works with a personal army firm known as Maverick Safety Consulting.
Throughout an operation in Africa, Raiden is attacked by a rival personal army group often called Desperado Enforcement. Wounded and left for lifeless by its commander, Jet Stream Sam, Raiden continues his investigation into Desperado and learns some sinister secrets and techniques concerning the group and its allies. Because the revelations concerning the personal army develop darker, Raiden swears to carry them down, setting off on his personal to ship violent justice.
Learn our evaluation of Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance.
What’s Subsequent for Metallic Gear?
Now that we have gotten our fingers on the Snake Eater remake, questions stay about what we would see subsequent within the stealth franchise. Whereas there’s nonetheless no indication that we’ll get new MGS video games with out Kojima, Metallic Gear Stable Delta: Snake Eater developer Virtuous Studios did tease that remakes of different Metallic Gear video games aren’t off the desk.
Talking with IGN, the crew stated, “Relating to remakes of earlier video games within the collection apart from Metallic Gear Stable 3: Snake Eater, we’ll take heed to participant demand and contemplate accordingly.” True to their claims, the studio is rumored to have been spreading a ballot after Tokyo Video games Present that allow followers vote on which Metallic Gear sport to remake subsequent.
Within the meantime, Konami has introduced a second quantity of the Metallic Gear Stable Grasp Assortment. The brand new assortment consists of Metallic Gear Stable 4: Weapons of the Patriots, Metallic Gear Stable: Peace Walker (HD Assortment model), and Metallic Gear: Ghost Babel, with a launch date of August 27. That is up for preorder on PC and consoles, together with Swap 2.
For extra sport timelines, additionally see Murderer’s Creed Video games in Order and an inventory of Far Cry Video games so as.
Callum Williams is a freelance media author with years of expertise as a sport critic, information reporter, guides author and options author.