Metal Gear Solid – everything you need to know about the entire series

Can't tell your Big Boss from your Little John? Here's our definitive guide to the whole Metal Gear series

Metal Gear is arguably the greatest action gaming series ever created - but it is also easily the most bewildering. What is the difference between Liquid, Naked, and Solid Snake? What is Foxdie? And why is the US president involved? These are just some of the questions lurking within Hideo Kojima's expansive, convoluted and often contrived gaming classics.

So if you've been attracted to the series by the deliriously positive reviews of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, but are worried about not understanding anything that's going on, here's what you need to know. We've also ranked all the main titles for lasting quality - behind the latest title, of course, which we consider to be the very best.