The Metal Gear timeline
The mainline saga in chronological (in-universe) order — not release order. Toggle the filter to spotlight the three games included in Master Collection Vol.2.
- 1964
Operation Snake Eater
Naked Snake kills his mentor, The Boss, and is crowned 'Big Boss.' The Cold War origin of everything.
- 1970
San Hieronymo Incident
Portable Ops — Big Boss rebuilds a unit and the seeds of an army are planted.
- 1974 Vol.2
Peace Walker Incident
Big Boss and Kazuhira Miller found Militaires Sans Frontières and grow Mother Base in Costa Rica.
- 1975+
Ground Zeroes / Phantom Pain era
Mother Base falls; Big Boss's long descent toward Outer Heaven begins.
- 1995
Outer Heaven Uprising
Rookie Solid Snake infiltrates Outer Heaven and destroys the first Metal Gear, facing his 'father.'
- 1999
Zanzibar Land Disturbance
Solid Snake returns to take down Big Boss for good in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
- 2000 Vol.2
Ghost Babel (alternate)
A standalone what-if: Snake storms the resurrected Outer Heaven in Galuade. The Vol.2 bonus title.
- 2005
Shadow Moses Incident
Solid Snake vs. FOXHOUND and Liquid Snake. The mission that made the series a legend.
- 2007/09
Tanker & Big Shell
Raiden takes the stage as the Patriots' grip on information tightens.
- 2014 Vol.2
Guns of the Patriots
Old Snake's final mission. The war economy, Liquid Ocelot, and the end of the saga's main thread.
Want the full breakdown? Read our chronological order guide or the where to start guide.