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For a first playthrough, play the main Metal Gear games in release order. Treat Death Stranding as a separate series: start with the original, then play Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. You do not need to finish Metal Gear before starting Death Stranding.

Choose a series first

There are two practical entry paths here, not one continuous storyline. Metal Gear is the long-running stealth-action series; Death Stranding is a separate series. Kojima Productions describes the original Death Stranding as its first developed title after the studio was established as an independent company in December 2015. The studio history does not establish shared story continuity between the two series. Kojima Productions’ history provides the studio milestones.

Path Best starting point Commitment
Metal Gear The main games, in release order A multi-entry franchise
Death Stranding Death Stranding, then Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Two released games in the series

How to play the main Metal Gear games

For a newcomer, use release order rather than rearranging the games into the story’s in-universe chronology. Release order preserves the sequence in which the games introduced their mechanics and story revelations. This is a practical recommendation, not an official order published by Kojima Productions or Konami.

This guide focuses on a manageable main-series starting path. It is not a complete career gameography or an exhaustive list of every Metal Gear spin-off, remake, expanded edition, port, or title with a Kojima contribution. Those categories can involve different creative roles and do not all belong in a single newcomer order.

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Release order versus story chronology

Release order means playing games in the sequence they first came out; chronological order means following events as they occur within the fictional timeline. They are different goals. If you are new to the series, release order is the clearer default because it keeps the intended progression of reveals and evolving gameplay intact. The official Konami catalog lists current products but does not prescribe a canonical play order. Konami’s U.S. games catalog can help you check what is currently listed.

Buying the Metal Gear collection

Konami’s U.S. catalog currently lists METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 for PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The listing alone should not be treated as a verified, exhaustive title guide. Before buying, check the exact contents of the edition being sold and confirm that it supports your platform and region. Konami also lists METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER as a current product; its presence in the catalog does not change the release-order recommendation.

How to play the Death Stranding games

  1. Start with Death Stranding. It launched on PS4 on November 8, 2019. Kojima Productions records later releases for PC in July 2020, PS5 as Director’s Cut in September 2021, and PC Director’s Cut in March 2022. You can choose an edition available for your platform, but start with the first game.
  2. Continue with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Kojima Productions records its PS5 launch in June 2025 and PC launch in March 2026. Play the first game before the sequel for the intended series progression.

The release and platform milestones are documented on Kojima Productions’ history page. Edition names and availability can vary by platform and region, so check the current store listing before purchasing.

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What this order leaves out

Games such as Zone of the Enders, Snatcher, and Policenauts, along with Metal Gear spin-offs and remakes, sit outside this practical main-series order. A full list of all games Kojima directed, wrote, produced, or otherwise contributed to requires a separately verified credit history; this starter order does not claim to be exhaustive.

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