Spies. Soldiers. Betrayals. Double-crosses. Triple-crosses. Giant Metal Tanks. PMCs. Armies. Some more betrayals. That's what Metal Gear Solid is all about. Today, it's almost folklore in gaming — a 38-year-old franchise that tells one of the greatest, most convoluted yet unforgettable stories the medium has ever seen.

Between the eleven mainline games and the seventeen total titles, Metal Gear's story can certainly be hard to track, even for those who have played each game. Still, there's no better place to start than at the very beginning chronologically, right? Right? Well, if you're looking to play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which just came out this week, you'd technically be right. The game is chronologically the very first game in the series, and yet, given the nature of this fabled franchise, there are a few titles you should have under your belt before you hit New Game on the shiny new remake in town.

Metal Gear (1987)

Avoid the butchered NES version at all costs

Now, this one is a bit of an optional selection, which is why it might also be easy to dismiss. However, the original Metal Gear is more than just a relic. This is where stealth gaming truly began. It was released on the MSX2, and puts you in the shoes of Solid Snake for the first time as you are tasked with infiltrating Outer Heaven.

The gameplay may very well be clunky by today's standards, but if you find the time to emulate the MSX2 version instead of the butchered NES variant of 1987's Metal Gear, you'll realize that Metal Gear is the root of the franchise's DNA. You'll be sneaking, avoiding direct combat, and unraveling Big Boss' secrets. In order to understand Snake's complicated relationship with his mentor, Metal Gear is the place to start. This is essential history, and it's certainly rough around the edges, but it's necessary.

Action
Stealth
Systems
Released
July 13, 1987
ESRB
e 10+ // Mild Violence, Tobacco Reference
Developer(s)
Konami
Publisher(s)
Konami
Engine
Fox Engine

WHERE TO PLAY

The first title in the METAL GEAR series, released in 1987. This praised game series was born from the idea of avoiding combat and infiltrating enemy territory undetected, a complete reversal of common action gameplay resulting in the creation of a brand-new game genre: stealth action.

Genre(s)
Action, Stealth

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990)

8-bit stealth simply didn't get better than this

Truth be told, you might find a lot of people telling you that even Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is skippable before playing Delta, and they would be half-right. However, this is the game that refined everything. Snake returns, and this time, Kojima's vision finally begins taking shape, because there's just nothing like a sequel to polish up an idea.

This is the game where you start feeling the narrative weight of the overarching story. Philosophical musings, melodramatic boss fights, and Snake's growing disillusionment are all on full display here. Again, the events of Metal Gear 2 happened way after even The Phantom Pain, but there are crucial insights about Snake and Big Boss's past here that you'd be better off knowing before diving into Delta.

This is the second title in the METAL GEAR series that establishes the basic mechanics of the series, such as crouching to avoid detection, intentionally attracting enemies by banging on walls, enemies reacting to Snake's footsteps, a radar to detect enemy locations, actions and movements.

Genre(s)
Stealth, Action

Metal Gear Solid (1998)

This is the ultimate starter game

This is the gold standard. The milestone. The watershed moment when Metal Gear finally exploded onto the mainstream gaming scene. On the PlayStation, 1998's Metal Gear Solid changed gaming forever, showing gamers and developers alike that cinematic storytelling was the future of the medium. From codec calls and 3D stealth to Hollywood-level storytelling and one of the most memorable boss fights of all time with Psycho Mantis — Metal Gear Solid had it all.

Most importantly, it was this game that really cemented Snake's place as an icon of gaming, and looking back, it's still a wonder to see Kojima tackling themes of genetics and identity 27 years ago. If there's just one single title you play before Metal Gear Solid Delta, make sure it's this one, because without MGS1, you would miss half the poetic irony in Snake's origins.

The game, today, is best enjoyed with the Master Collection Volume 1, and almost three decades later, it's remarkable how well its themes have aged. Sure, you'll take some time to get used to the controls and jank, but MGS 1 is an absolute must-play for every gamer out there, and not just those looking to dive into the series.

Action
Stealth
Systems
👁 Placeholder Image
OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Avg: 73/100 Critics Rec: 61%
Released
October 24, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Konami
Publisher(s)
Konami
Engine
Unity
Franchise
Metal Gear

Released in 1998, this was the first 3D title in the METAL GEAR series. The game pioneers 3D stealth action against the threat of war and global nuclear weapons, using live action footage, cinematic cut scenes, interwoven with innovative gameplay.

Genre(s)
Action, Stealth

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

The ultimate troll job from Kojima

If we were to boil it down to the absolute minimum, MGS 1 and MGS2: Sons of Liberty are the two games you need to experience before booting up Snake Eater. MGS 3 came out in 2004, and before it, 2001's Sons of Liberty was Kojima's ultimate troll job for gamers all over the world. You think you're getting more Snake, and instead, you meet someone else entirely, chalking up to a lesson on player expectation itself.

With its themes of information control and the digitization of truth itself, MGS 2 is a game that, in hindsight, feels entirely prophetic. On the gameplay front? It came with unparalleled polish, and it propelled the stealth systems from MGS1 to new heights.

Why do you need to play Sons of Liberty before Delta: Snake Eater even if the latter happened before? Because MGS 2 contextualizes the entire series and its obsession with legacy and control, showing us exactly why we're playing as soldiers doomed to stay stuck in a cycle, repeating history over and over again.

The Master Collection Volume 1 is the best way to play this, and it's also pretty imperative that you do. The fact that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater chronologically occurs before these games is of no bearing whatsoever. Why? Because you're going to be missing out on a lot of nuances and references during your playtime, especially from Metal Gear Solid and Sons of Liberty. Some things in Snake Eater's story will simply mean more to you if you play through these games first. Plus, much like anyone else who has invested their time into these games, there's every chance that you'll find yourself playing all future games in the series.

These games are essential to knowing why Snake's story matters

For Delta, just skip the noise and play the essentials.

Legacy, identity, and the weight of history repeating itself. These are the themes that Metal Gear is all about, and Delta: Snake Eater is Kojima's myth at its most primal. These four games are the keys to unlocking it — if you want to dive into the series further, Snake Eater is the middle point.

Snake Eater is clearly turning out to be a fantastic remake, despite a few performance issues that are sure to be patched. After that, it's Ground Zeroes, Ground Zeroes, Phantom Pain, and Guns of the Patriots. For Delta, however, just skip the noise, play the essentials, and step into Snake Eater knowing exactly why Snake is one of gaming's biggest icons, and why his story should matter to everyone holding the controller.