Release order is highly recommended for first-time players: MGS1 (1998) → MGS2 (2001) → MGS3 (2004) → MGS4 (2008) → Peace Walker (2010) → MGSV (2015). This path preserves the evolution of gameplay mechanics and the intended narrative mystery. Chronological order is better reserved for a second playthrough.

The saga is split between two eras. Solid Snake is the protagonist of the modern era (MGS1, MGS2, MGS4), fighting as a hero. Big Boss (Naked Snake) is the protagonist of the prequel era (MGS3, Peace Walker, MGSV), showing his tragic descent from a legendary soldier to the villain of the original MSX games.

A Metal Gear is a bipedal, nuclear-equipped tank capable of launching a stealth nuclear strike from any terrain on the globe. They are the series' titular doomsday weapons, designed to shift the balance of power during the Cold War and beyond.

Coined by Hideo Kojima, this genre defines gameplay that prioritizes stealth, intelligence, and infiltration over direct combat. Players are rewarded for avoiding detection, using non-lethal takedowns, and outsmarting enemy AI rather than engaging in gunfights.

A secret government cloning project initiated in 1972 to preserve the genes of the 'Greatest Soldier of the 20th Century,' Big Boss. The project produced three clones: Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake, who drive the central conflict of the series.

While Metal Gear Solid (1998) includes summaries of the MSX games (Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake), playing them provides deeper context for Big Boss's fall and Gray Fox's backstory. They are available in the Master Collection and MGS3: Subsistence.

The Patriots are a shadow organization that secretly controls the United States government and global information flow. Founded by Zero, they evolved into a network of AIs seeking to control human will and society, serving as the ultimate antagonists of the series.

MGS is famous for its dense narrative involving nanomachines, genetic engineering, political conspiracies, triple-crosses, and philosophical themes about memes, genes, and scenes. It blends military realism with anime-style supernatural elements and meta-commentary on video games.