Play Order (Release = Chronological)Recommended
0 / 17 playedEvery major Metal Slug game in release order. Start with 1, 3 or X, then play the rest in sequence.
Main series
- 1 Metal Slug Neo Geo original, April 1996.
- 2 Metal Slug 2 Revised as Metal Slug X. Play X instead.
- 3 Metal Slug X The definitive version of Metal Slug 2.
- 4 Metal Slug 3 The fan favorite and the longest entry.
- 5 Metal Slug 4 First entry without the original Nazca staff.
- 6 Metal Slug 5 Neo Geo original, November 2003.
- 7 Metal Slug 6 Atomiswave arcade original, PlayStation 2 port the same year.
- 8 Metal Slug 7 Nintendo DS entry. Revised as Metal Slug XX, so play XX instead.
- 9 Metal Slug XX The definitive version of Metal Slug 7, PSP first.
Handheld spin-offs
- 10 Metal Slug: 1st Mission Neo Geo Pocket Color side story.
- 11 Metal Slug: 2nd Mission Neo Geo Pocket Color sequel.
- 12 Metal Slug Advance Game Boy Advance original. Included in the 2027 collection.
- 13 Metal Slug (3D) PlayStation 2 third person shooter spin-off.
Modern era
- 14 Metal Slug Defense Tower defense spin-off. Mobile servers closed in 2023.
- 15 Metal Slug Attack Tower defense sequel. Re-released as Attack Reloaded in 2024.
- 16 Metal Slug: Awakening Run and gun revival. China 2023, worldwide July 2024.
- 17 Metal Slug Tactics Turn based tactics spin-off. Released November 5, 2024.
About Metal Slug
Metal Slug is SNK's run and gun series about the Peregrine Falcon Squad and their fight against General Morden, aliens and stranger threats. Release order is the recommended play order, and this single list covers it from the 1996 Neo Geo original through Metal Slug Tactics (2024).
Good to know
SNK announced Metal Slug Ultimate Collection on September 9, 2026, a compilation slated for 2027 with the mainline games, Advance and a location test version. Metal Slug X (1999) is a revised Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug XX (2009) is a revised Metal Slug 7, so play the revisions and skip the originals.
