Metal Slug Games – Play Metal Slug Online

Metal Slug in a nutshell

Metal Slug started in 1996 as a Neo Geo game by Nazca, a small team that later joined SNK. It looks like a war movie drawn by a cartoonist: every soldier, tank and explosion is animated by hand, enemies scream and run when you shoot near them, and bearded prisoners of war thank you with weapons and food when you free them. Underneath the humor is one of the best run and gun games ever made.

You play as Marco, Tarma, Eri or Fio of the Peregrine Falcons, fighting General Morden's rebel army – and, as the series goes on, aliens, mummies, zombies and worse. Press fire to shoot in eight directions, jump to dodge, throw grenades for big damage and jump into a Metal Slug tank (or a camel, an elephant or a robot) to turn the tide.

The main games in order

For the full timeline – including the Neo Geo Pocket, Game Boy Advance and DS games – read every Metal Slug game in order.

Which Metal Slug should you play first?

Start with Metal Slug X if you want the classic experience with a friend, or Metal Slug 3 if you want the biggest game. Purists should play the original Metal Slug first – it is shorter, tighter and still looks incredible.

Tips to survive

• Rescue every prisoner. POWs give you weapons, grenades and bonus points.
• The Heavy Machine Gun (H) is the best all-round weapon – save rockets (R) and lasers (L) for bosses.
• Stay inside vehicles as long as you can; they can take three hits before exploding.
• Get close to enemies – walking into a soldier triggers a melee knife attack that does more damage than the pistol.