Play Order (Release = Chronological)Recommended
0 / 17 playedThe games in the order they came out. Arcade shooters barely carry plot between entries, so release order is the whole answer.
Arcade and MSX classics
- 1 Gradius Arcade original. Released as Nemesis outside Japan.
- 2 Salamander Released as Life Force in North America.
- 3 Gradius 2 MSX exclusive, known as Nemesis 2 in Europe.
- 4 Gradius II: Gofer no Yabo Released as Vulcan Venture in Europe.
- 5 Nemesis 3: The Eve of Destruction MSX exclusive sequel to Gradius 2.
- 6 Gradius III
Console and handheld era
- 7 Nemesis Game Boy original, not a port of the arcade game.
- 8 Gradius: The Interstellar Assault Second Game Boy entry.
- 9 Salamander 2 Arcade sequel to Salamander.
- 10 Gradius Gaiden PlayStation exclusive, later ported to PSP in Gradius Collection (2006).
- 11 Solar Assault 3D arcade rail shooter. Japan-only and hard to find today.
- 12 Gradius IV
Modern era
- 13 Gradius Advance Game Boy Advance entry, titled Gradius Generation in Japan.
- 14 Gradius V PlayStation 2 entry co-developed with Treasure.
- 15 Gradius ReBirth WiiWare entry, delisted with the Wii Shop Channel.
- 16 Salamander III New game developed by M2, set after the Salamander Wars. Sold standalone and inside Gradius Origins.
- 17 Gradius Origins Collection of the arcade versions plus Salamander III. The easiest way to play the classics.
About Gradius
Gradius is Konami's foundational horizontal shooter series, running from the 1985 arcade original through decades of sequels, Salamander offshoots, and handheld entries.
This single play order follows release order, which matches the story order closely enough that no separate timeline is needed.
Good to know
Gradius Origins launched August 7, 2025 with Salamander III, the first new series entry in over 15 years, and is the easiest way to play the arcade classics. Parodius and Otomedius are parody spinoffs and are not listed here.
