So the only Metal Gear game I've ever actually played was the 1998 Metal Gear Solid for the PS1 when I was a kid. I've not played a single other game in the series since.
Which ones would you recommend? Would it be better to play them in chronological order to get the full overarching story, or do they work ok independent of one another?
MGS 1 2 and 3 are all essential. 4 is pretty meh, has a ridiculous amount of cutscenes, but also has some fucking amazing boss battles in the final act that I won't spoil. Metal Gear Rising is a spinoff but it's pretty damn fun, one of my favorite games of all time. Give it a whirl.