Learn the best way to play the Resident Evil games in chronological order, focusing on the most significant entries for an optimal experience in the iconic survival horror series.
Playing the Resident Evil games in chronological order can enhance your understanding and enjoyment of this iconic survival horror series. With its complex narrative and extensive media presence, knowing where to start can be challenging. This guide simplifies the process, focusing on the most narratively significant and accessible games.
How Many Resident Evil Games Are There?
There are 10 core Resident Evil games: RE 0-7, Village, and Code: Veronica. Including spinoffs and remakes, the total number of Resident Evil console games is around 30, and nearly 60 when counting mobile and pachinko games.
How to Play the Resident Evil Games in Chronological Order
For this list, we’re focusing on 12 Resident Evil games: all 10 core entries and the two Revelations spinoffs. While many others are considered canon, this is an approachable guide for newcomers.
1. Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0 is the fifth game released but the first chronologically. It takes place just before the events of Resident Evil, with S.T.A.R.S. medic Rebecca Chambers and former marine Billy Coen discovering a train full of zombies in the Arklay Mountains. They uncover information about Albert Wesker, William Birkin, and the Umbrella Corporation.
Available on: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii, GameCube, PC
2. Resident Evil
The first Resident Evil game came out in 1996. For newcomers, the 2002 remake or its HD remaster is recommended. The game picks up after RE 0, featuring Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine investigating the Spencer Mansion and encountering mutated victims of the T-Virus.
Available on: PS4, PS3, PS1, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii, GameCube, DS (Deadly Silence), Saturn, PC
3. Resident Evil 2
Set two months after RE 0 and 1, RE 2 introduces rookie cop Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield (Chris’s sister). They uncover more about the G-virus and Umbrella’s ties to the Raccoon Police Department.
Available on: PS5, PS4, PS1, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, GameCube, N64, Dreamcast, PC
4. Resident Evil 3
RE 3’s timeline overlaps with RE 2. For simplicity, play it after RE 2. You play as Jill Valentine, trying to escape from Raccoon City. The game introduces Nemesis and reveals the fate of Raccoon City.
Available on: PS5, PS4, PS1, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, GameCube, Dreamcast, PC
5. Resident Evil: Code – Veronica
Set a few months after RE 2, Code Veronica follows Claire Redfield searching for her brother Chris in an Umbrella facility in France. Chris also appears as a playable character, and they encounter Albert Wesker.
Available on: PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, GameCube, Dreamcast
6. Resident Evil 4
Six years after RE 2, Leon Kennedy is on a mission to rescue the U.S. president’s daughter from a cult in Spain. The game features connections to past characters like Albert Wesker and Ada Wong.
Available on: PS5, PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii, GameCube, PC, VR
7. Resident Evil Revelations
Set between RE 4 and 5, Revelations introduces the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield combat the T-Abyss virus in the Mediterranean.
Available on: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii U, 3DS, PC
8. Resident Evil 5
Five years after RE 4, Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar prevent the sale of a bioweapon in Africa. The story also focuses on Chris’s search for Jill Valentine and Albert Wesker’s plot.
Available on: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC
9. Resident Evil Revelations 2
Set between RE 5 and 6, Revelations 2 features Claire Redfield and Moira Burton in past sequences, and Barry Burton searching for them in present sequences. A new Wesker antagonist is introduced.
Available on: PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC
10. Resident Evil 6
RE 6 features four campaigns with Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and Jake Muller, battling the bioterrorist group Neo-Umbrella and the C-Virus.
Available on: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC
11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
RE 7 reinvents the franchise with first-person perspective and introduces Ethan Winters. Set in rural Louisiana, it ties loosely to previous RE games with familiar themes and characters.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
12. Resident Evil Village
Continuing Ethan Winters’s story three years after RE 7, Village includes more ties to the series’ past and expands the timeline with a post-credits scene.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Bonus: Shadows of Rose DLC
Set 16 years after the main story of Village, this DLC stars Ethan’s daughter Rose, taking the franchise into the near future of 2037.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
How to Play the Resident Evil Games by Release Date
Resident Evil (1996)*
Resident Evil 2 (1998)*
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)*
Resident Evil: Code – Veronica (2000)*
Resident Evil 0 (2002)*
Resident 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 games
The Future of Resident Evil Games
There's plenty to look forward to from this iconic horror series. Capcom confirmed more RE remakes are in development, with rumors suggesting Resident Evil Zero and Code Veronica are up next. Additionally, Resident Evil 7 is now playable on Apple devices, and the original Resident Evil game might be coming to PC soon. Capcom also announced that Resident Evil 9 is in development, helmed by Resident Evil 7's director Koshi Nakanishi. It remains to be seen whether RE 9 will bring back an existing character or introduce a new protagonist to replace Ethan Winters.
FAQs
Q: What is the best order to play the Resident Evil series?
A: Playing in chronological order helps understand the storyline better. Follow the guide in this article for an optimal experience.
Q: Which Resident Evil games are the most important?
A: The most important games are the 10 core entries: RE 0-7, Village, and Code: Veronica, along with the two Revelations spinoffs.
Q: Which Resident Evil game is the best for beginners?
A: Start with the remakes of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2, as they improve gameplay and expand the story, making them great for newcomers.
Q: Can I skip the spin-offs and only play the main Resident Evil games?
A: Yes, while the spin-offs provide additional background, playing the core games will give you a solid understanding of the main storyline.
Q: What is the latest Resident Evil game?
A: The latest game is Resident Evil Village and its DLC, Shadows of Rose.
By following this guide, you can methodically play through the Resident Evil series and fully immerse yourself in its horror and intricate storyline.
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