For a first playthrough, follow the series’ release path: begin with Metal Gear (1987), continue through Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, then play the modern sequence from Metal Gear Solid to The Phantom Pain. This order preserves the way the mechanics, characters and major story revelations were originally introduced.
The recommended release order
The route below contains the nine essential releases in the principal stealth-action saga. It includes the two original MSX2 games, the numbered Metal Gear Solid titles, and the major bridge entries that connect Metal Gear Solid 4 to Metal Gear Solid V.
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| Step | Game | First release | Original platform or platforms | Role in the first playthrough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Gear | 1987 | MSX2 | Beginning of the series |
| 2 | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake | 1990 | MSX2 | Direct sequel to the original |
| 3 | Metal Gear Solid | 1998 | PlayStation | 3D introduction to the modern saga |
| 4 | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Follow-up to the 1998 game |
| 5 | Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | 2004 | PlayStation 2 | Prequel experienced after the first two 3D games |
| 6 | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | 2008 | PlayStation 3 | Conclusion of Solid Snake’s central arc |
| 7 | Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker | 2010 | PlayStation Portable | Major post-MGS4 release and setup for MGS V |
| 8 | Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes | 2014 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Short prologue to the fifth numbered game |
| 9 | Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | 2015 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Full fifth installment and endpoint of this route |
The years in the table are each game’s first release year, not the year of a later port, remake or collection. A rerelease can be the most convenient way to play, but it does not change the order in which the original games appeared.
Why release order is best for a first playthrough
Metal Gear was built as a stealth game with a comparatively compact 2D design. The later games progressively add cinematic presentation, radio conversations, more elaborate enemy systems and new approaches to infiltration. Playing in release order lets those changes arrive naturally instead of starting with the most advanced systems and moving backward through the series.
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- Title Lineup:Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid (Including VR Missions/Special Missions), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (HD Collection version), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (HD Collection version), Metal Gear (NES/FC version), Snake's Revenge
- Video: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel
- Digital book: Metal Gear Solid: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Master Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Master Book
- Soundtrack: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
The order also protects deliberate surprises. Several entries are prequels or use flashbacks, but they were written for an audience that already knew earlier games. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, for example, takes place first in the story’s chronology, yet it was released in 2004 after MGS and MGS2. Its characters, themes and historical context have a different impact when encountered in the order players originally received them.
Release order is therefore the safest option if you do not know the major plot turns. Chronological order is more useful for a replay, once you can recognize which events are intended as revelations, callbacks or prehistory.
What to expect from each essential game
1. Metal Gear (1987)
The first game introduced the basic premise: infiltrate hostile territory, avoid or outmaneuver guards, find equipment and complete objectives without turning every encounter into a firefight. It first appeared on MSX2 in 1987. Its older interface and 2D sight lines can feel unfamiliar, so treat it as a historical starting point rather than expecting the controls or pacing of the PlayStation games.
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2. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is the direct 2D sequel and first released on MSX2 in 1990. It expands the foundation established by the original and is the final stop before the series’ transition to 3D.
Play it immediately after the first game so returning ideas, characters and mechanics are still fresh. The two MSX2 titles are not optional if you want the complete historical route, although readers who find their age difficult can use the story summaries in a collection’s supplemental books as a fallback and then continue with Metal Gear Solid.
3. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
The 1998 PlayStation release is the modern narrative entry point. It translates the stealth formula into 3D while placing greater emphasis on voice acting, cinematic scenes, codec conversations and set-piece encounters.
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This is the point at which many players become comfortable with the series’ terminology and recurring conflicts. Do not skip directly to MGS2 if this is your first exposure: the sequel assumes that you have experienced the original game’s structure and its revelations.
4. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
The PlayStation 2 sequel follows the 1998 game in release order. It develops the controls and enemy behavior while deliberately challenging the player’s expectations about perspective, information and control.
Because its presentation depends on what you think you know after MGS, avoid reading plot explanations before playing it. The intended experience includes uncertainty, so guides are best reserved for missed items or difficult encounters rather than story navigation.
5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
MGS3 is the first game chronologically, taking place in 1964, but it belongs fifth in a first release-order playthrough. It moves the setting into an earlier period and introduces a different survival emphasis while retaining the series’ stealth framework.
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Playing it here allows you to recognize its prequel status without losing the context supplied by the two earlier 3D games. It also completes the first five releases covered by the current all-in-one collection described below.
6. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)
The 2008 numbered sequel continues the modern storyline and serves as the conclusion to Solid Snake’s central arc. It belongs after MGS3 in release order, even though the story jumps across different periods.
Approach it as a payoff to the preceding games rather than as an isolated action title. Characters, conflicts and terminology introduced earlier are part of its dramatic structure, so playing the first five entries first gives the ending its intended weight.
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- GAME LIST: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Versions for other regions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) can be downloaded separately from the store. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker supports online play for up to 6 players.
- DIGITAL BOOKS: Metal Gear Solid 4: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 4: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Screenplay Book, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Master Book. All are accessible via the in-game Start Menu.
- METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 SAVE-DATA BONUS*: If a user has saved data for any title included in METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1, you can receive in-game items usable in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) respectively. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Bonus: Gold Camouflage. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) Bonus: GOLD Uniform.
7. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)
Peace Walker first appeared on PlayStation Portable in 2010. It is a major story entry, not merely a side experiment, and it was released after MGS4. Later high-definition versions are included in some collections, making it easier to place after the numbered fourth game.
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8. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)
Ground Zeroes is the prologue chapter for the fifth numbered game. It released in 2014 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
Although shorter than a full series installment, it is not a skippable menu screen: it establishes the immediate situation that The Phantom Pain continues. Play it directly before the 2015 game, and keep any completed save data if your platform offers an in-game transfer or bonus system.
9. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
The 2015 release is the full fifth installment and the endpoint of the recommended route. It shares the same listed console generations as Ground Zeroes: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
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Its larger, more open mission structure gives you more freedom than the earlier linear entries. Resist the urge to rush only the main objectives; optional operations and base development explain how the game’s systems are meant to work. At the same time, you do not need to complete every side task to understand the principal sequence.
The simplest current purchase for the first five games
METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1
Konami’s METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 is the clearest single purchase for steps one through five. It contains:
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![Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1 [GRA PS4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ORg2BygsL._SL160_.jpg)
- Title Lineup: Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid (Including VR Missions/Special Missions), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (HD Collection version), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (HD Collection version), Metal Gear (NES/FC version), Snake's Revenge
- Video: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel
- Digital book: Metal Gear Solid: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 2: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 3: Master Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Master Book
- Soundtrack: Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
- The origin of stealth action returns. METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 unifies the beginning of the METAL GEAR gameplay experience in one single package. Infiltrate enemy fortresses all over the globe, complete your missions with stealth and experience the thrilling cinematic story of the METAL GEAR series.
- Metal Gear
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
- Metal Gear Solid
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The package also includes bonus games, digital graphic novels, screenplay books, master books and a digital soundtrack. Those extras are useful when an older game’s terminology or story becomes difficult to follow, but they do not replace playing the games in order.
Konami lists support for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC and Steam. Storefront contents can differ by region and platform, so check the local listing for the exact edition before buying.
Standalone digital releases
Konami’s October 24, 2023 announcement also listed Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 as standalone digital titles. This can help if you want only one game, already own the original MSX releases, or are filling a gap rather than purchasing the complete volume.
Availability and pricing change by region. Use your console or PC storefront to confirm whether a standalone edition is currently offered and whether it includes the same supplemental material as the collection.
How to continue after Master Collection Vol. 1
Vol. 1 ends with MGS3, so it covers the first five release-order steps but not the final four. You will still need access to MGS4, Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.
Konami announced a second collection for August 27, 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The announced contents are Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Because platform storefront status can vary, verify the local listing before relying on Vol. 2 for your playthrough. Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain remain separate entries in the release-order route.
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Konami’s archive also lists three notable releases that are not required to understand the principal nine-game path. They are best treated as optional after you have completed the essential sequence or when you specifically want a side story or a different style of game.
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| Game | First release | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops | 2006 | Optional side entry; it sits between the numbered-era releases but is not required for the main route. |
| Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | 2013 | Optional spin-off with a different action emphasis; play after the principal saga if you want additional context. |
| Metal Gear Survive | 2018 | Optional side entry; it is not a necessary step in understanding the numbered storyline. |
Do not insert these games into your first run simply because their dates fall between essential releases. Their optional status is more important than finding a precise slot for a spoiler-free introductory route.
Release order versus chronological order
Chronological order begins with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in 1964, then moves through Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain, the original Metal Gear games, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4.
| Approach | Starting point | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release order | Metal Gear (1987) | First-time players and anyone who wants the original progression of mechanics and reveals | The early MSX2 games look and feel dated compared with later entries |
| Chronological order | Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (1964) | Replay sessions and players who already understand the series’ flashbacks and prequels | It gives away context that the original releases expected players to discover later |
If you have never played the series, choose release order. If you have already finished it and want to trace the fictional timeline from its earliest events, chronological order is a valid second route.
Do you need to play the old MSX2 games?
You should include them when the goal is a complete release-order experience. They are the actual 1987 and 1990 starting points, and the second game is a direct continuation of the first.
You do not need to master every optional objective in them before moving on. If their age, controls or display options become a barrier, read the collection’s screenplay or master books for orientation, then continue with Metal Gear Solid. That compromise preserves the historical order without turning technical friction into a reason to abandon the series.
Platform planning
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 is listed as a supported platform for Master Collection Vol. 1, covering the first five games. The announced Vol. 2 platforms include PlayStation 5, but confirm the local store listing and contents before purchase.
Xbox
Vol. 1 is listed for Xbox Series X|S. The fifth-game releases originally appeared on Xbox 360 and Xbox One, while the announced Vol. 2 platforms include Xbox Series X|S. Check backward-compatibility and storefront availability for each individual title rather than assuming every edition is interchangeable.
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Konami lists Nintendo Switch support for Vol. 1. The announced Vol. 2 lineup includes Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Regional storefront listings determine which edition, language options and extras are actually available to you.
PC
Vol. 1 is listed for PC and Steam, and the announced Vol. 2 platforms include PC. Compare the store page’s system requirements and included files with your computer before purchasing, especially if you are choosing between a standalone release and the complete collection.
Quick Recap
A practical first-playthrough checklist
- Start with Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, keeping their 1987 and 1990 positions intact.
- Play Metal Gear Solid before Metal Gear Solid 2; do not use a chronological list that begins with MGS3 for your first run.
- Complete MGS3 as the fifth release, even though its story takes place in 1964.
- Move to MGS4, then Peace Walker, to preserve the post-2008 sequence.
- Play Ground Zeroes immediately before The Phantom Pain.
- Use optional releases only after deciding whether you want side stories, a different genre emphasis or additional historical context.
- Check your regional storefront for current availability, pricing and collection contents before buying.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting with MGS3 because it is first chronologically: that route is better suited to a replay and changes the order of intended revelations.
- Skipping Peace Walker: it is a major story entry released after MGS4, not merely a disposable portable spin-off.
- Treating Ground Zeroes as unrelated: it is the prologue chapter for The Phantom Pain.
- Assuming a remake or rerelease changes the sequence: use the edition that is convenient, but keep the original release order.
- Buying on the basis of an old regional listing: availability and pricing can change, so verify the current platform store.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
