By its (near-)constant excellence, innovation, and longevity, Resident Evil video games has earned its crown because the king of survival of 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 sequence, 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 cause, it may be an equally daunting sequence to strategy. This text focuses solely 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 whole 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.
The best way to Play the Resident Evil Video games in Chronological Order
For this listing, 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 reasonably an approachable information to getting into and having fun with the world of Resident Evil video video games.
Lacking from this listing are cellular and pachinko video games, mild gun and Wii shooters (Resident Evil Survivor, Survivor 2, Useless Goal, Umbrella Chronicles, Darkside Chronicles), and non-canonical/non-consequential/tough to entry spinoffs (Resident Evil Gaiden, Outbreak, Outbreak: File #2, Mercenaries 3D, Operation Raccoon Metropolis, Resistance, Umbrella Corps, Re:Verse)
With sequence newcomers in thoughts, the temporary plot synopses beneath include solely delicate spoilers reminiscent of broad plot factors and character introductions.
1. Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0 is the fifth recreation launched within the sequence however the first chronologically. It takes place simply earlier than the occasions of Resident Evil, with Particular Techniques and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) medic Rebecca Chambers and former marine Billy Coen discovering a practice stuffed with zombies within the Arklay Mountains (dwelling to the Spencer Mansion). Billy and Rebecca uncover worthwhile info associated to sequence villains Albert Wesker and William Birkin. We additionally study 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 one among two S.T.A.R.S. brokers — Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine — who come to the Spencer Mansion whereas investigating a sequence 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
Going down 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 linked but distinct marketing campaign. RE 2 additionally introduces the recurring character Ada Wong and the long-lasting Tyrant enemy.
We study extra about William Birkin and his work on an much more threatening virus known 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.
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 listing seeing as its conclusion progresses the general narrative past RE 2.
You start RE 3 as Jill Valentine, nonetheless coping along with her expertise from RE 1, making an attempt 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 ends in a gathering with sequence antagonist Albert Wesker.
6. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4, arguably the sequence’ 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.
A Resident Evil 4 remake is due out on March 24, 2023.
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 at the moment are BSAA brokers, with Jill serving as the sport’s major protagonist. The duo head to the Mediterranean to fight using 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 along with his associate Sheva Alomar to stop the black market sale of a bioweapon. The folks of Kijuju, nonetheless, 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 study of Albert Wesker’s newest nefarious plot.
Not like previous video games within the sequence, RE 5 could 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 essential function in 6, because the quartet of protagonists work to squash the bioterrorist group Neo-Umbrella and forestall the unfold of yet 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 sequence’ longrunning perspective from third-person to first-person.
Regardless of all these modifications, RE 7 nonetheless exists on the sequence 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 dwelling of the splendidly insane Baker household. Its ties to previous RE video games are reasonably free, although most of the sequence staples are right here: clandestine human experimentation, bioweapons, and towards the tip, a well-known 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 sequence’ previous, together with a extra distinguished 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 subsequent part for a bit extra context.
Bonus: Shadows of Rose DLC
Choosing 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.
The best way 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 or Rose (2021/2022)*
*Mainline Resident Evil video games
For extra you should definitely try our related breakdown of the Resident Evil strikes so as.
