Summary
- Solid Snake is the iconic stealth hero whose missions shaped the Metal Gear series and the stealth genre.
- Metal Gear’s timeline is tangled with clones, retcons, and shifting protagonists that complicate Snake’s identity.
- The Snake vs. Big Boss rivalry and cloned legacy drive the series’ moral, political, and narrative depth.
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, it’s hard not to admire the iconic status of Solid Snake, the legendary soldier who has been the cornerstone of Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear universe since its inception in the 1987 MSX2 game, Metal Gear. With his distinctive gravelly voice, strategic acumen, and enduring moral dilemmas, Snake truly embodies the essence of stealth-action gaming.
Over time, spanning various console generations, Snake’s adventures have not only solidified his position in gaming lore but also elevated the Metal Gear franchise to the ranks of the greatest video game series ever conceived.
The Metal Gear series is famously innovative, combining stealth action with deep political drama and thought-provoking ideas that extend beyond the realm of video games. From its simple 8-bit origins to grand productions powered by advanced technology, Snake’s adventures have not only defined the storyline for this series but also molded the essence of the stealth genre. Along this journey, there has been a great deal of uncertainty regarding who the real Solid Snake is and which games he appears in. Due to similar names and the introduction of clones to add complexity, determining the genuine Solid Snake can be challenging, but with time, clarity has emerged through new installments in the franchise and insights into the Snakes and their relationships.
Every Metal Gear Game That Solid Snake Appears In
From Protagonist To Hidden Easter Egg
| Game | Release Date | Platform(s) | Solid Snake’s Role |
| Metal Gear | 1987 | MSX2 | Protagonist, Solid Snake’s first mission, infiltrating Outer Heaven. |
| Metal Gear (NES) | 1987 | NES | Port/remake of the original Metal Gear, with Solid Snake as the protagonist. |
| Snake’s Revenge | 1990 | NES | Non-canon sequel, with Solid Snake as the protagonist. |
| Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake | 1990 | MSX2, MSX, PC, PlayStation 2, Wii | Protagonist, Snake infiltrates Zanzibar Land to destroy Metal Gear D. |
| Metal Gear Solid | 1998 | PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PC | Protagonist, undertakes a mission on Shadow Moses Island. |
| Metal Gear Solid: Integral | 1999 | PlayStation | Expanded version of MGS with VR missions, still starring Solid Snake. |
| Metal Gear: Ghost Babel | 2000 | Game Boy Color | Non-canon side story, Solid Snake as the protagonist. |
| Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | 2001 | PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox | Playable in Tanker Chapter, later appears as “Iroquois Pliskin.” |
| Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance | 2002 | PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC | Expanded version of MGS 2, includes VR/alternate missions starring Snake. |
| Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | 2004 | PlayStation 2, 3DS | Bonus mini-game “Snake vs. Monkey” where Solid Snake replaces Naked Snake. |
| Metal Gear Acid | 2004 | PSP | Non-canon, Snake is the protagonist in this card-based tactical RPG. |
| Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes | 2004 | Game Cube | Remake ofMGS, with Solid Snake as the protagonist. |
| Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence | 2005 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, | Found in the secret theater, which features alternative cutscenes and alternative endings. |
| Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops | 2006 | PSP | Snake is playable in multiplayer/cameo; the main story follows Big Boss. |
| Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus | 2007 | PSP | Snake appears as a playable character in multiplayer and missions. |
| Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | 2008 | PlayStation 3 | Protagonist (“Old Snake”), central to the story. |
| Metal Gear Solid Mobile | 2008 | Mobile | Snake is the protagonist in an original mobile story. |
| Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes | 2014 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Snake appears as an Easter Egg/skin in the special “Déjà Vu” mission. |
Confusing Storylines And Retcons Galore
Where Do You Even Begin
Although many players may be familiar with Solid Snake as a character, the Metal Gear series is notoriously complex due to its rotating protagonists and Hideo Kojima’s habit of introducing retcons. The franchise features characters like Big Boss, who is Snake’s genetic father and the individual Snake was initially tasked with defeating. Later games add even more figures into the mix, such as Liquid Snake and Solidus Snake, making it all the more challenging to follow the storyline. Nevertheless, the primary narrative has always revolved around Solid Snake and Big Boss, their intricate relationship that extends over several decades in both the game world and real life.
The conflict between Solid Snake and Big Boss forms a complex and multi-dimensional history in gaming, where Solid Snake is a genetically engineered son, designed to outshine the man who formed him, and Big Boss eventually becomes both mentor and adversary. The frequent revisits to different timelines, alternate characters, and conflicting facts can make the series challenging for beginners, but they also add depth to the lore, as each new addition alters Solid Snake’s legacy, ensuring his significance even when he isn’t the primary character.
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2025-08-27 03:40