As an important component of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, the two-dimensional group IV metal chalcogenides have great application potential in the field of photoelectric devices, because of their low symmetry lattice structures, great compatibility with key semiconductor technology, as well as the excellent electrical, optical, and magnetic performance. Furthermore, they are low-cost, eco-friendly, and abundant on the earth. Based on the research progress in our group, this review first introduces the crystal structures, preparation methods, and physical properties of the 2D group IV metal chalcogenides as well as the related ternary alloys and heterojunctions. In addition, the performance of photoelectric devices based on the 2D group IV metal chalcogenides, especially polarization-sensitive photodetectors based on the 2D group IV metal chalcogenides with in-plane anisotropy, is analyzed in detail. Finally, the future research directions are discussed.