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?
If you're going through the series, I'd definitely recommend emulating the original versions of MGS1&2 over Twin Snakes. Twin Snakes went too over the top with the campiness. Snake Eater is fantastic. 4's gameplay is good, but it got really long in the tooth with all the campiness and the cutscenes go on forever despite having some interesting themes. Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes/Phantom Pain feel like a linear evolution after 4, and are all really good imo.