All Metal Slug Games in Order

SNK's run and gun series has been going for almost thirty years, and the release order can be confusing – especially with Metal Slug X, the handheld spin-offs and the late sequels. Here is every Metal Slug game in order, with what each one changed and which ones you can play online on this site.

The full timeline

Later releases include Metal Slug XX (2009, an expanded PSP version of Metal Slug 7), the Japan-only Metal Slug 3D (2006) and the turn-based Metal Slug Tactics (2024).

What each game adds

Metal Slug (1996). Marco and Tarma, six missions, the SV-001 tank and the hand-drawn style that made the series famous. Short and tight – still one of the best.

Metal Slug 2 (1998). Eri and Fio join, enemies now include mummies and aliens, and you can drive a camel, a plane and more. Heavy slowdown in busy scenes is its main flaw.

Metal Slug X (1999). A remix of Metal Slug 2 with rearranged stages, new weapons and bosses, a faster pace and far less slowdown. For many players this is the Metal Slug.

Metal Slug 3 (2000). The biggest game in the series: branching routes in every mission, zombies, giant crabs, an elephant vehicle and a final mission that goes all the way to space.

Metal Slug 4 (2002). Developed after SNK's bankruptcy by Mega Enterprise and Noise Factory. New heroes Nadia and Trevor replace Eri and Tarma, and a combo meter rewards non-stop shooting. It reuses a lot of older art.

Metal Slug 5 (2003). A darker tone, the new slide move and the mysterious Ptolemaic Army. Shorter than 3 but well paced.

The handheld games. 1st Mission and 2nd Mission shrink the action to the Neo Geo Pocket Color, Metal Slug Advance adds a card-collecting system on Game Boy Advance, and Metal Slug 7 brings the classic arcade style to the Nintendo DS.

Our ranking

This is our opinion – feel free to disagree with a friend in co-op:

1. Metal Slug 3 – the most ambitious and varied.
2. Metal Slug X – the best balance of pace and fun.
3. Metal Slug – the purest one.
4. Metal Slug 5 – underrated, great bosses.
5. Metal Slug 2 – great ideas held back by slowdown.
6. Metal Slug 4 – fun, but feels recycled.

Want the overview with tips and weapons? Go back to the Metal Slug hub, or browse more shooting games.