All the Resident Evil Games in Order (2026 Guide)

Resident Evil is nearly thirty years old, spans more than twenty games and has remade a third of its own back catalogue, which makes “what order do I play these in” a genuinely difficult question. There are two valid answers: the order Capcom released them, and the order the story actually happens. This guide lays out both lists in full, separates the mainline entries from the spin-offs, and recommends the best starting points.

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All the Resident Evil games in order of story chronology

The in-universe order is Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Code: Veronica, Resident Evil 4, Revelations, Resident Evil 5, Revelations 2, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and then Resident Evil Requiem. The first five all take place between July and December 1998, with Zero beginning only hours before the original game and Resident Evil 3 overlapping Resident Evil 2 from both directions.

All the Resident Evil games in order of release

Resident Evil arrived on PlayStation in 1996, followed by Resident Evil 2 in 1998 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in 1999. Code: Veronica launched on Dreamcast in 2000. The GameCube era brought the Resident Evil remake and Resident Evil Zero, both in 2002. Resident Evil 4 followed in 2005, Resident Evil 5 in 2009, Revelations and Resident Evil 6 in 2012, and Revelations 2 in 2015. Resident Evil 7 arrived in 2017, the Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019, the Resident Evil 3 remake in 2020, Village in 2021, the Resident Evil 4 remake in 2023, and Resident Evil Requiem as the newest mainline entry.

The 1998 Raccoon City arc explained

Four games sit within six months of each other. Zero follows Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen aboard the Ecliptic Express, hours before S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team lands at the Spencer Mansion. The original game and its remake cover that mansion with Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Resident Evil 3 then brackets Resident Evil 2: Jill’s escape from the city begins about a day before Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield arrive, and her final act happens after they have already left. Code: Veronica picks up with Claire that December on Rockfort Island and closes the arc.

The modern first-person era

Resident Evil 7 jumps forward to 2017 and switches to first person, introducing Ethan Winters searching a derelict Louisiana estate for his missing wife. Village continues Ethan’s story three years later in a snowbound European region ruled by four lords. These two are the most self-contained entries in the series and share a single narrative thread, so they work perfectly well as a pair without any knowledge of the 1998 games. Playing them in the dark with good audio is genuinely transformative, and our gaming headset buying guide covers models with the positional accuracy horror games depend on.

Remakes versus originals: which should you play?

For Resident Evil 1, the 2002 remake supersedes the 1996 original completely and is available on modern platforms. For Resident Evil 2, the 2019 remake is the definitive version, though the original’s four-scenario structure tells the story differently and remains worth a look for series veterans. For Resident Evil 3, the 2020 remake is more polished but cuts content the 1999 game had, so opinions genuinely split. For Resident Evil 4, the 2023 remake is the best version by a clear margin. Playing modern remakes at high settings needs real hardware, and our gaming PC buying guide covers what the RE Engine actually asks for.

The spin-offs and where they fit

Survivor, Dead Aim and Gun Survivor 2 were light-gun and rail experiments. Outbreak and Outbreak File #2 were early online co-op games set in Raccoon City during the 1998 outbreak. The Umbrella Chronicles and The Darkside Chronicles were Wii rail shooters that retold earlier games. Operation Raccoon City offered a squad-based alternate take, Umbrella Corps was a competitive shooter, and Resistance and Re:Verse were asymmetric multiplayer modes. None are required for the story, though Outbreak has renewed relevance given how Requiem draws on that cast. For rail shooters and older ports, our retro USB controller buying guide is worth reading.

Where to start with Resident Evil in 2026

Newcomers should start with the Resident Evil 2 remake. It teaches the series’ resource management, map literacy and inventory tension better than anything else, and it looks and plays like a modern game. If you want action rather than dread, start with the Resident Evil 4 remake. If you specifically want horror and do not care about the wider plot, start with Resident Evil 7. All three are excellent, none of them require prior knowledge, and each leads naturally into a different branch of the series. A responsive display helps enormously with the tighter combat encounters, and our gaming monitor buying guide explains what matters for dark scenes.

A recommended play order that actually works

The pragmatic route blends both lists. Play Resident Evil 2 remake, then the Resident Evil 2002 remake for the mansion, then Resident Evil 3 remake, then Code: Veronica if you want the 1998 arc closed. Move on to Resident Evil 4 remake, then Resident Evil 5 with a co-op partner, then Resident Evil 6 if you are still enjoying yourself. Finish with Resident Evil 7, Village and Requiem as a modern trilogy. Add Zero and the Revelations games whenever you want more. Co-op campaigns need a second pad, and our wireless gaming controller buying guide compares options, while our console storage expansion buying guide helps with a series whose installs are enormous.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct chronological order of the Resident Evil games?

Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Code: Veronica, Resident Evil 4, Revelations, Resident Evil 5, Revelations 2, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7, Village, then Requiem. The first five all occur within roughly six months of 1998, with considerable overlap between the second and third games.

Do I need to play the older Resident Evil games first?

No. Each mainline entry is designed to stand alone, and the modern remakes include enough context to follow the plot. Resident Evil 7 and Village in particular introduce an entirely new protagonist and setting, making them completely accessible to anyone who has never touched the older titles.

Which Resident Evil game should a beginner start with?

The 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake is the strongest starting point because it combines modern controls and presentation with the series’ classic tension, map exploration and inventory management. If you prefer faster action, the 2023 Resident Evil 4 remake is equally welcoming and slightly more forgiving.

Are the Resident Evil remakes canon over the originals?

Capcom treats the remakes as the current presentation of those stories, and later games reference remake details. However, the originals were never formally erased, and some plot elements appear only in the older versions. For practical purposes, playing the remakes gives you everything the modern games assume you know.