The Metal Gear series is one of the most influential and complex video game franchises in history, spanning multiple decades and featuring intricate narratives, espionage themes, and memorable characters. With numerous mainline titles, spin-offs, and remakes, the storyline can be confusing for newcomers and longtime fans alike. Understanding the Metal Gear chronological order allows players to experience the saga in the sequence that reflects the internal timeline rather than release dates. This approach provides a clearer perspective on character development, overarching plots, and the evolution of the Metal Gear universe, including key events that shape the motivations of central characters like Big Boss and Solid Snake.
Introduction to Metal Gear
Metal Gear is a stealth-action video game franchise created by Hideo Kojima and published primarily by Konami. The series debuted in 1987 with the original Metal Gear game and has since expanded into a detailed timeline exploring political intrigue, nuclear threats, private military companies, and the human consequences of warfare. The franchise is known for its cinematic storytelling, complex moral themes, and signature stealth gameplay, often requiring players to avoid direct confrontation while completing missions. By following the chronological order, players gain a more coherent understanding of the narrative arc and the relationships between characters across different eras.
Main Themes
The Metal Gear series explores recurring themes that are easier to appreciate when played in chronological order
- The impact of war on individuals and society.
- The consequences of nuclear proliferation and advanced weaponry.
- The evolution of private military organizations and geopolitical conflicts.
- The ethical dilemmas surrounding loyalty, betrayal, and identity.
- The ongoing struggle between Big Boss and Solid Snake, representing legacy and ideology.
Metal Gear Chronological Timeline
While the games were not released in chronological order, the internal timeline can be arranged to reflect the sequence of events in the Metal Gear universe. Below is a detailed guide to the Metal Gear chronological order
Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater (1964)
This game is a prequel to the entire Metal Gear series and introduces the origin of Big Boss, known initially as Naked Snake. Set during the Cold War, players witness his mission to thwart the nuclear threat posed by the Cobra Unit and the rogue Soviet operation called Project Viper. This game establishes Big Boss’s moral complexities, combat skills, and the events that shape his eventual turn from hero to antagonist in later games.
Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops (1970)
Set six years after Snake Eater, Portable Ops follows Big Boss as he combats a rogue FOX unit. The game explores his early formation of a private military force and highlights the beginnings of his ideological divergence from traditional military structures. Portable Ops introduces key characters and sets the foundation for the future creation of Militaires Sans Frontières and Outer Heaven.
Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker (1974)
Peace Walker chronicles Big Boss’s leadership of Militaires Sans Frontières in Costa Rica. He faces the challenges of nuclear weapons proliferation, private military contracts, and the political pressures of global powers. The game expands on his philosophy, highlighting his goal of creating a world where soldiers are free from national control. Peace Walker is significant for understanding the ideological origins of Outer Heaven and the seeds of conflict with the future protagonist, Solid Snake.
Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes (1975)
Ground Zeroes acts as a prologue to The Phantom Pain. It depicts a mission in which Big Boss infiltrates an enemy base to rescue key operatives. The events serve as a catalyst for the trauma and disfigurement Big Boss experiences, setting the stage for his transformation into Venom Snake and the formation of Diamond Dogs. Ground Zeroes provides important context for the chain of events leading to global conflicts in later titles.
Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain (1984)
The Phantom Pain continues Big Boss’s story following the events of Ground Zeroes. After a nine-year coma, he awakens to rebuild his private army and confront the organizations that betrayed him. The game delves into themes of revenge, identity, and the consequences of war. Players witness the establishment of Outer Heaven, marking the direct precursor to the conflicts involving Solid Snake in the original Metal Gear games.
Metal Gear (Outer Heaven Incident, 1995)
The first Metal Gear game, chronologically, follows Solid Snake as he is sent to Outer Heaven to stop a nuclear-equipped walking battle tank called Metal Gear. This mission introduces the conflict between Solid Snake and Big Boss, revealing the first direct confrontation in the overarching saga. The events here are critical for understanding the ongoing rivalry and the recurring theme of nuclear deterrence in the series.
Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake (1999)
The sequel to the original Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake, continues the story with Solid Snake sent to Zanzibar Land to prevent the nuclear weapon threat posed by another Metal Gear prototype. This game solidifies the narrative of Solid Snake as the hero opposing Big Boss’s global ambitions. It also lays the groundwork for characters and plot threads revisited in the Metal Gear Solid series.
Metal Gear Solid (2005)
Set in 2005, Metal Gear Solid introduces Solid Snake returning from retirement to the nuclear disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island. He faces the terrorist group FOXHOUND, who threaten to use Metal Gear REX, a new nuclear-capable bipedal weapon. This game expands on the philosophical conflicts between Snake and Big Boss, now a shadowy figure influencing global events, and introduces major characters like Revolver Ocelot, Liquid Snake, and Meryl Silverburgh.
Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty (2007-2009)
Sons of Liberty is set in the early 21st century, primarily focusing on Raiden, a new protagonist, while continuing to explore the legacy of Big Boss and Solid Snake. The narrative delves into information control, digital warfare, and the manipulation of history. The game is essential in the chronological timeline for understanding the ideological conflicts and the emergence of the Patriots, a shadow organization manipulating world events.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots (2014)
Guns of the Patriots concludes Solid Snake’s story, depicting an aged Snake as he confronts the remnants of the Patriots’ control. The game resolves long-running plot threads, including the culmination of the rivalry with Liquid Ocelot and the global consequences of nuclear proliferation. Understanding this game in chronological order allows players to appreciate the full arc of Snake’s character and the series’ themes of legacy, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance (2018)
Although a spin-off focusing on Raiden, Revengeance occurs after the events of Guns of the Patriots. It deals with post-war conflicts, cyborg technology, and private military operations. While not central to the main Snake storyline, placing it chronologically provides context for Raiden’s development and the ongoing evolution of military technology in the Metal Gear universe.
Benefits of Following the Chronological Order
Experiencing the Metal Gear series in chronological order offers several advantages. Players can follow character development, understand motivations, and see cause-and-effect relationships that may be confusing if played by release date. It also provides a clearer view of technological advancements, the rise and fall of military organizations, and the consequences of key events on global politics within the fictional universe.
Tips for New Players
- Start with Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater to understand the origins of Big Boss.
- Follow with Portable Ops, Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, and The Phantom Pain to trace his evolution.
- Proceed to the original Metal Gear games to experience Solid Snake’s early missions.
- Continue through Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty, and Guns of the Patriots for the modern storyline.
- Optionally, play Metal Gear Rising Revengeance to see post-war developments and Raiden’s journey.
The Metal Gear series, with its intricate plots and diverse cast of characters, benefits greatly from being experienced in chronological order. From Big Boss’s early missions to Solid Snake’s legendary battles and Raiden’s post-war conflicts, understanding the timeline enhances narrative clarity and enriches the overall experience. By following the internal chronology rather than release dates, players can appreciate the full scope of character evolution, ideological conflicts, and technological progression that define the Metal Gear universe. For both new and returning players, playing Metal Gear in order of chronological events ensures a comprehensive and immersive journey through one of the most complex and compelling video game sagas ever created.