By way of its (near-)constant excellence, innovation, and longevity, Resident Evil video games have earned their crown because the king of survival horror. Capcom debuted its world of mutants and mercenaries in 1996 and has since grown Resident Evil right into a multimedia franchise that spans over two dozen console video games, six movies, two current Netflix collection, novels, comics, and even stage performs.
It may be an thrilling franchise to discover given the quantity of content material it homes, although for a similar motive, it may be an equally daunting collection to method in 2024. This text focuses completely on video video games and cuts out the convolution by presenting two methods to play solely probably the most narratively important and accessible Resident Evil video games so as.
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How Many Resident Evil Video games Are There?
There are 10 core Resident Evil video games: RE 0-7, Village, and Code: Veronica. Nonetheless, the full variety of Resident Evil console video games — together with spinoffs and remakes — sits round 30. That quantity rises close to 60 when accounting for cellular and pachinko video games.
Tips on how to Play the Resident Evil Video games in Chronological Order
For this record, we’re specializing in 12 Resident Evil video games: all 10 core entries and the 2 Revelations spinoffs. Whereas many others are thought of canon, this isn’t an exhaustive chronology, however slightly an approachable information to getting into and having fun with the world of Resident Evil video video games.
Lacking from this record are cellular and pachinko video games, mild gun and Wii shooters (Resident Evil Survivor, Survivor 2, Lifeless Intention, Umbrella Chronicles, Darkside Chronicles), and non-canonical/non-consequential/troublesome to entry spinoffs (Resident Evil Gaiden, Outbreak, Outbreak: File #2, Mercenaries 3D, Operation Raccoon Metropolis, Resistance, Umbrella Corps, Re:Verse)
With collection newcomers in thoughts, the transient plot synopses under comprise solely gentle spoilers equivalent to broad plot factors and character introductions.
1. Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0 is the fifth recreation launched within the collection however the first chronologically. It takes place simply earlier than the occasions of Resident Evil, with Particular Ways and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) medic Rebecca Chambers and former marine Billy Coen discovering a practice filled with zombies within the Arklay Mountains (house to the Spencer Mansion). Billy and Rebecca uncover priceless info associated to collection villains Albert Wesker and William Birkin. We additionally be taught extra concerning the origins of the sinister Umbrella Company and its lethal T-Virus. The sport wraps with Rebecca headed towards the mansion, the place she’d function a supporting character in RE 1.
2. Resident Evil
The primary Resident Evil got here to PlayStation in 1996, although for these coming to the franchise in 2022, you’ll wish to play the 2002 remake (or its more moderen HD remaster), because it improves gameplay and expands on the story.
RE 1 picks up proper after RE 0. You play as considered one of two S.T.A.R.S. brokers — Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine — who come to the Spencer Mansion whereas investigating a collection of murders within the woodlands outdoors of Raccoon Metropolis. Chris/Jill encounters the murderous, mutated victims of the T-Virus and uncovers key details about Umbrella and its organic experimentation.
3. Resident Evil 2
Happening two months after RE 0 and 1, Resident Evil 2 introduces two new protagonists — rookie cop Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield (Chris’s sister) — every with their very own related but distinct marketing campaign. RE 2 additionally introduces the recurring character Ada Wong and the enduring Tyrant enemy.
We be taught extra about William Birkin and his work on an much more threatening virus referred to as the G-virus. Leon/Claire uncover extra disturbing particulars concerning the clandestine work of Umbrella, in addition to its ties to the Raccoon Police Division.
Resident Evil 2 is presently accessible to play totally free with an Xbox Recreation Move subscription.
4. Resident Evil 3
The chronology will get dicey with Resident Evil 3, however for the sake of simplicity, we suggest taking part in it after 2. The primary a part of RE 3 takes place earlier than the occasions of RE 2; the second half takes place after. You may play midway by means of 3, pause, play by means of 2, then return for the second half of three. Nonetheless, taking part in RE 3 after 2 received’t detract from the expertise or your understanding of the story. We selected to put it fourth on this record seeing as its conclusion progresses the general narrative past RE 2.
You start RE 3 as Jill Valentine, nonetheless coping together with her expertise from RE 1, attempting to flee from an overrun Raccoon Metropolis. For a part of the sport, whereas Jill is indisposed, management shifts to her mercenary ally Carlos Oliviera. RE 3 additionally introduces Nemesis and divulges the destiny of Raccoon Metropolis.
5. Resident Evil: Code – Veronica
Resident Evil: Code – Veronica advances the timeline by a few months and sees Claire Redfield proceed the seek for her brother Chris that started in RE 2. This time Claire’s search takes her to an Umbrella facility in France, the place she escapes captivity and follows the path to the southmost area of Earth.
Chris Redfield, one of many protagonists from the unique recreation, returns as a second playable character in Code Veronica. Chris, like Claire, is in search of his sibling, and the search leads to a gathering with collection antagonist Albert Wesker.
6. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4, arguably the collection’ most beloved entry, places gamers again within the sneakers of Leon Kennedy six years after his time in Racoon Metropolis throughout RE 2. Leon travels to a rural village in Spain on a mission to rescue the U.S. president’s daughter.
There, Leon encounters a cult and explores its ties to a mind-controlling parasite. The story that unfolds weaves collectively the narratives of two characters from Resident Evil’s previous: Albery Wesker and Ada Wong.
Learn our Resident Evil 4 Remake assessment to see the enhancements that have been made for the reason that unique.
7. Resident Evil Revelations
Resident Evil Revelations is ready between the occasions of RE 4 and 5. It explores one other consequence of Umbrella’s bioweapon growth and introduces gamers to the Bioterrorism Safety Evaluation Alliance (BSAA).
Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield are actually BSAA brokers, with Jill serving as the sport’s main protagonist. The duo head to the Mediterranean to fight the usage of T-Abyss, a brand new variant of the T-Virus.
8. Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 is ready 5 years after RE 4. Chris Redfield, as a part of the BSAA, flies to Africa together with his associate Sheva Alomar to stop the black market sale of a bioweapon. The folks of Kijuju, nevertheless, have already been contaminated with an enhanced model of the mind-controlling parasite seen in RE 4.
It’s a larger-scale story than previous Resident Evils, although Chris additionally embarks on the extra private mission of discovering his long-lost associate, Jill Valentine. We additionally be taught of Albert Wesker’s newest nefarious plot.
In contrast to previous video games within the collection, RE 5 might be performed cooperatively; the second participant controls Sheva.
9. Resident Evil Revelations 2
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is ready between RE 5 and 6. It brings Claire Redfield again into the highlight for the primary time since Code Veronica. The sport is break up into 4 episodes, with every episode divided into two components: a previous sequence with Clarie and Moira Burton and a gift sequence with Barry Burton (Moira’s father) trying to find them. The story introduces one other antagonistic Wesker.
10. Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 is an action-heavy journey that tells an much more sprawling (and convoluted) story than that of RE 5. It weaves collectively 4 campaigns starring Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and a mercenary named Jake Muller.
The BSAA launched in Revelations performs an necessary function in 6, because the quartet of protagonists work to squash the bioterrorist group Neo-Umbrella and stop the unfold of one more mutant-creating virus (the C-Virus).
11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
With Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Capcom reinvented the franchise in a number of methods: It’s RE’s return to mass acclaim and fandom following the largely disappointing fifth and sixth entries, it introduces a brand new protagonist in Ethan Winters, and most notably it switches the collection’ longrunning perspective from third-person to first-person.
Regardless of all these adjustments, RE 7 nonetheless exists on the collection canonical timeline, presumably happening within the modern-day someday after RE 6. The sport is ready in rural Louisiana, with the primary half happening within the house of the splendidly insane Baker household. Its ties to previous RE video games are slightly unfastened, although lots of the collection staples are right here: clandestine human experimentation, bioweapons, and towards the top, a well-recognized face.
12. Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village is a continuation (and the conclusion) of Ethan Winters’s story, set three years after the occasions of RE 7. Biohazard and Village stand on their very own as a duology of video games. Although Village features a few extra ties to the collection’ previous, together with a extra outstanding function for the aforementioned “acquainted face” and additional details about the origins of Umbrella.
A post-credits scene extends the timeline even additional. We’ll save the small print, however these curious can learn on to the following part for a bit extra context.
Bonus: Shadows of Rose DLC
Selecting up shortly after Village’s post-credits scene (16 years after the primary story of Village), Shadows of Rose progresses the Resident Evil timeline additional than any recreation earlier than it. Assuming the occasions of Village happen in 2021, Shadows of Rose brings the franchise into the close to way forward for 2037.
The three-4 hour DLC stars Ethan’s daughter Rose, who makes an attempt to rid herself of the undesirable powers inherited from her father.
Tips on how to Play the Resident Evil Video games by Launch Date
- Resident Evil (1996)*
- Resident Evil 2 (1998)*
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)*
- Resident Evil: Code – Veronica (2000)*
- Resident Evil 0 (2002)*
- Residet Evil 4 (2005)*
- Resident Evil 5 (2009)*
- Resident Evil: Revelations (2012)
- Resident Evil 6 (2012)*
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)*
- Resident Evil Village/Shadow of Rose (2021/2022)*
*Mainline Resident Evil video games
The Way forward for Resident Evil Video games
There’s a lot to sit up for from this iconic horror collection. In late 2023, Capcom confirmed they’re engaged on extra RE remakes, and some studies counsel Resident Evil Zero and Code Veronica are up subsequent. Earlier this month, Resident Evil 7 turned the latest RE recreation accessible to play on Apple gadgets. It is also trying fairly probably that the unique Resident Evil recreation will likely be coming to PC within the close to future.
Capcom is not simply seeking to earlier video games, nevertheless. The studio just lately confirmed that Resident Evil 9 is in growth. Helmed by Resident Evil 7’s director Koshi Nakanishi, it stays to be seen whether or not RE9 will deliver again an present character or introduce a brand new protagonist to take the place of Ethan Winters.
Jordan covers video games, exhibits, and films as a contract author for IGN.
