Resident Evil Games in Order: Complete Guide for New and Returning Fans

The Resident Evil series helped define survival horror and has grown into a sprawling universe of remakes, spin-offs, and first-person reboots. That makes a simple question surprisingly tricky: in what order should you play the games?

This guide, inspired by GamesRadar’s coverage of the franchise, walks through every mainline Resident Evil game in order, explains how remakes fit in, and gives you both release order and a simplified story timeline so you can decide the best path for your playthrough.

How Many Resident Evil Games Are There?

Capcom’s official franchise page lists dozens of releases under the Resident Evil umbrella, including mainline entries, remakes, multiplayer experiments and mobile titles.¹ For this article we’ll focus on:

• Main numbered games (1 through 8)
• Core spin-offs that advance the story, such as Code: Veronica and Revelations
• Modern remakes that significantly reshape earlier games

That still gives us a surprisingly long list, but it’s far easier to navigate than trying to account for every side mode, rail shooter, or online-only experiment.

Resident Evil Games in Release Order

Starting with release order lets you experience the franchise the way players did as it evolved from fixed-camera horror to over-the-shoulder action and eventually to first-person psychological fear. Here’s a streamlined table of the core games and remakes:

Capcom has regularly updated and re-released the early titles, especially on newer hardware, so you can play almost all of these games on current platforms. Their official product pages confirm which entries are available on modern consoles and PC.¹

Resident Evil Story Timeline in Simple Order

The in-universe timeline doesn’t follow release order. Events jump back and forth, particularly as prequels and spin-offs were added. Here’s a simplified chronological story order covering the main narrative beats:

• Resident Evil Zero – Prequel to the mansion incident
• Resident Evil (or Resident Evil Remake) – The Spencer Mansion outbreak
• Resident Evil 2 (Remake) & Resident Evil 3 (Remake) – Raccoon City’s fall
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica – The Redfield siblings confront Umbrella
• Resident Evil 4 / Resident Evil 4 Remake – Leon’s mission in rural Europe
• Resident Evil Revelations – Terrorism on the high seas and BSAA story
• Resident Evil 5 – Chris and Sheva in Africa; Umbrella’s legacy
• Resident Evil Revelations 2 – Claire, Barry, and a new generation of characters
• Resident Evil 6 – Global scale bioterror attacks
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – Ethan Winters’ nightmare in Louisiana
• Resident Evil Village – Ethan’s story in Eastern Europe

Spin-offs like the rail shooters Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles retell earlier stories with extra detail, but you don’t need them to follow the main plot. Capcom’s official recap videos and story summaries also help you bridge gaps between games without playing absolutely everything.²

Game-by-Game Overview (What Each Entry Adds)

Below is a quick tour of each key game, focusing on its story role and gameplay style so you can prioritize what to play.

Resident Evil Zero

Story role: Acts as a direct prequel to the first game, following Rebecca Chambers and ex-soldier Billy Coen as they investigate a derailed train and an Umbrella training facility.

Gameplay:

• Traditional fixed cameras and tank controls
• “Partner zapping” system where you switch between two characters
• Inventory management without item boxes, which can be divisive

Resident Evil / Resident Evil Remake

Story role: The classic mansion incident that introduces the T-virus, Umbrella, and core characters Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine.

Gameplay:

• Slow, tense survival horror with limited ammo
• Labyrinthine mansion full of keys and puzzles
• The remake adds new areas, enemies, and expanded story beats

Resident Evil 2 (Original and Remake)

Story role: Follows rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield as Raccoon City descends into chaos.

Gameplay:

• Original: pre-rendered backgrounds and classic controls
• Remake: modern third-person over-the-shoulder perspective
• Two overlapping campaigns and the relentless Tyrant (Mr. X)

Resident Evil 3 (Original and Remake)

Story role: Takes place before and after RE2, following Jill Valentine as she tries to escape Raccoon City while being hunted by the Nemesis bioweapon.

Gameplay:

• Pushes the series toward more action-oriented encounters
• Nemesis frequently stalks the player, raising the tension
• The remake streamlines areas and leans further into cinematic pacing

Resident Evil Code: Veronica

Story role: Continues Claire and Chris Redfield’s story as they confront the remnants of Umbrella on a remote prison island and in Antarctica.

Gameplay:

• Fixed-camera survival horror with a larger scope than RE1–3
• Important character development for the Redfields and Albert Wesker
• Still considered by fans as the “missing remake” in Capcom’s modern lineup

Resident Evil 4 / Resident Evil 4 Remake

Story role: Several years after Raccoon City, Leon is now a U.S. agent sent to rescue the President’s daughter from a rural European cult that uses a new parasite, Las Plagas.

Gameplay:

• Revolutionary over-the-shoulder shooting that influenced countless games
• Blend of horror, action, and resource management
• Remake adds expanded areas, refined combat, and deeper characterisation while keeping the core story intact

Resident Evil Revelations

Story role: Set between RE4 and RE5, focusing on the formation and activities of the BSAA, with Jill and Chris investigating bioterror on an abandoned cruise ship.

Gameplay:

• Originally episodic on Nintendo 3DS
• Mix of tight, claustrophobic corridors and more action-heavy segments
• Introduces Raid Mode, a replayable, arcade-style side mode

Resident Evil 5

Story role: Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar track a bioterror threat in Africa, uncovering a conspiracy that ties back to Umbrella and long-time antagonist Wesker.

Gameplay:

• Co-op focused, with AI or a second player controlling Sheva
• Heavier on action and gunplay than earlier titles
• Still includes puzzles and inventory management, but with a faster pace

Resident Evil Revelations 2

Story role: Alternates between Claire and Moira Burton in the present and Barry Burton in the future, exploring a mysterious island and new virus.

Gameplay:

• Episodic release structure, built around cliffhangers
• Focus on co-op and character pairings with complementary abilities
• Further builds lore around the BSAA and post-Umbrella world

Resident Evil 6

Story role: Brings multiple protagonists together—Leon, Chris, Ada, and newcomers—in a sprawling narrative that spans several countries and outbreaks.

Gameplay:

• Four lengthy campaigns with intersecting story moments
• Most action-heavy mainline entry, with extensive melee and set pieces
• Polarizing among fans, but important to the overarching plot

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Story role: Soft reboot that introduces Ethan Winters and refocuses the series on grounded, intimate horror.

Gameplay:

• First-person perspective with strong emphasis on exploration and dread
• Set largely in a decaying plantation home in Louisiana
• Introduces the Molded creatures and a new bioweapons storyline

Resident Evil Village (8)

Story role: Continues Ethan’s story in a remote European village dominated by four lords and the mysterious Mother Miranda.

Gameplay:

• First-person again, mixing gothic castle horror with more open combat areas
• Hub-like village connects a series of distinct locations
• Expands lore that links back to earlier games, while wrapping up Ethan’s arc

Best Order to Play Resident Evil for New Players

You now know release order and story order, but which route actually works best if you’re starting fresh? There’s no single correct answer, but here are three sensible paths:

1. Modern Story Route (Recommended for Most Players)

This path uses the remakes and more modern entries to give you a smooth experience while still following the core story:

1. Resident Evil 2 (Remake)
2. Resident Evil 3 (Remake)
3. Resident Evil 1 Remake (optional but highly recommended)
4. Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
5. Resident Evil Revelations (optional)
6. Resident Evil 5
7. Resident Evil Revelations 2 (optional)
8. Resident Evil 6
9. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
10. Resident Evil Village

This order balances story coherence with modern controls and visuals, making it easier for new players to get hooked.

2. Release Order Route (For Series Historians)

If you want to see how the series evolved mechanically and visually over time, stick close to release order:

• Resident Evil (Remake can substitute for the original)
• Resident Evil 2 (original or remake)
• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (or remake)
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica
• Resident Evil Zero
• Resident Evil 4 (original or remake)
• Resident Evil Revelations
• Resident Evil 5
• Resident Evil Revelations 2
• Resident Evil 6
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• Resident Evil Village

Some of the oldest titles can feel stiff compared with modern action games, but they’re important pieces of game design history. Capcom’s decision to embrace tank controls and fixed cameras in the 1990s was shaped by hardware limitations as well as an intentional design focus on vulnerability and suspense, a point often discussed in developer retrospectives and interviews.³

3. Ethan Winters Route (Horror-Focused Quick Run)

If you mainly want to experience the modern, first-person horror era, you can keep it simple:

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• Resident Evil Village

This gives you a complete, self-contained story arc and showcases the franchise’s current direction, including support for modern technologies like virtual reality on some platforms.⁴

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play every Resident Evil game to understand the story?

No. The series is interconnected, but each main entry is designed to be understandable on its own. Playing in a loosely chronological or modern story order will enhance your appreciation of recurring characters and plot twists, but you can jump in at Resident Evil 2 Remake, 4 Remake, or 7 without being totally lost.

Are the remakes canon?

Capcom treats the modern remakes—especially Resident Evil 2 and 3—as the current, definitive versions of those events, even though some details differ from the original games. They broadly keep the same timeline placement, characters, and major plot beats, and they’re the versions most new players should choose.

Is Resident Evil actually survival horror or more of an action series?

The answer depends on which era you’re looking at. Early entries defined survival horror as a genre, with limited ammunition, deliberate movement, and an emphasis on managing scarce resources. Later entries, especially Resident Evil 5 and 6, adopted a more action-heavy tone. With Resident Evil 7 and Village, Capcom deliberately shifted back toward horror, aligning again with the survival focus that critics and players often associate with the series.⁵

Which Resident Evil game is the best starting point?

If you want classic zombies and police-station horror, start with Resident Evil 2 Remake. If you prefer slow-burn psychological horror, start with Resident Evil 7. If you enjoy fast-paced action with horror elements, Resident Evil 4 Remake is a strong entry point.

Do the multiplayer spin-offs matter?

Games like Resident Evil Outbreak, Operation Raccoon City, and Resistance largely sit on the fringe of the canon or are non-canonical side stories. They can be fun experiments, but you don’t need them to follow the main narrative thread.

Final Tips Before You Start Your Resident Evil Marathon

• Don’t stress about perfection. It’s fine to skip an entry that feels too dated or isn’t available on your platform.
• Use assisted or casual modes if needed. Modern ports include difficulty options that let you enjoy the story without punishing combat.
• Consider watching official recaps. Capcom has released story summary videos that can bridge gaps between games you haven’t played.²
• Embrace the tonal shifts. Resident Evil swings from straight horror to B-movie camp and back again; that variety is part of its charm.

Whether you follow release order, story order, or a focused modern route, there’s a huge amount of tense exploration, memorable monsters, and gloriously pulpy storytelling ahead. Load your handgun, conserve those herbs, and get ready to enter the world of survival horror all over again.