Resident Evil, also known as Biohazard in Japan, became an instant horror hit back in 1996. The original Resident Evil marked the beginning of a horror series that is still relevant today. Over the years, multiple sequels and spin-offs were released. The success even led to multiple movies and tv shows – although those are barely related to the source material and exists in their own, separate universes.
Still, with so many video games out there, you might wonder where to start and in what order to play Resident Evil. Don’t you worry, we’ve got your back with this complete list of all Resident Evil video games in chronological order!
Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0, or Resident Evil Zero, came out in 2002, right between Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4. However, as the name suggests, it’s a prequel taking place before the original game. The game features Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen as the main protagonists and sets up events for the 1996 classic. Resident Evil 0 was also released on newer consoles as part of the Resident Evil Origins Collection.
Resident Evil
The original 1996 classic features Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield as they explore an old mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City. The game was originally released for the first PlayStation, but was later ported to many other consoles. The 2002 remake, originally developed for the GameCube, was released on even more (modern) platforms as Resident Evil HD. Resident Evil HD was also released as part of the Resident Evil Origins Collection.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – First Half
The first half of Resident Evil 3 takes place two months after the events of the original Resident Evil, but roughly one day before the start of Resident Evil 2. The game features Carlos Oliviera and Jill Valentine as main characters. Resident Evil 3 first came out in 1999, with a remake (dropping the ‘Nemesis’ subtitle) for modern consoles in 2020.
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 takes places two months after the events of the original game, and about one day after the first half of Resident Evil 2. Players take control of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, as they try to escape the zombie-infested Raccoon City. Resident Evil 2 first came out in 1998, with a remake for modern consoles in 2019.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – Second Half
In the second half of Resident Evil 3, Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliviera return. They must now escape Raccoon City, before the city is destroyed by a nuclear bomb. As mentioned before, the game originally came out in 1999, but was fully remade for modern consoles in 2020.
Resident Evil Outbreak
Resident Evil Outbreak is an episodic spin-off taking placed during the Raccoon City incident. Players control eight different characters and experience the Raccoon City Incident from different perspectives. Resident Evil Outbreak was released in 2003 for PlayStation 2.
Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2
File #2 is a direct sequel to the first Resident Evil, featuring the same characters. Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 was released in 2005 for PlayStation 2.
Resident Evil Survivor
Resident Evil Survivor is the first spin-off in the series, released as a light gun shooter in 2000 on the first PlayStation. The game takes place after the destruction of Racoon City and is set on Sheena Island, a small island hosting an Umbrella research facility.
Resident Evil CODE: Veronica
Originally a Dreamcast exclusive back in 2000, the game takes place a few months after the destruction of Raccoon City. CODE: Veronica features Claire Redfield searching for her brother, Chris Redfield. The game takes place on Rockfort Island, a prison, where another T-Virus outbreak takes place. Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X, a modified port of the original game, was released a year later on Dreamcast, GameCube and PlayStation 2.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles doesn’t take place at this time in the Resident Evil Timeline, but it does serve as a prequel to the events of Resident Evil 4 by retelling the events from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil CODE: Veronica from different perspectives. The Darkside Chronicles was released in 2009 for Nintendo Wii and was also included in the Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection for PlayStation 3.
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
Resident Evil: Dead Aim is a spin off that is pretty much stand alone from the rest of the series. It takes place at an island with and Umbrella Facility, four years after the destruction of Raccoon City. Dead Aim was released in 2003 for PlayStation 2.
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 marks a big leap in time, taking place six years after the Raccoon City incident. Leon Kennedy is sent to a Spanish village to rescue the President’s daughter, where he discovers zombies infected by a parasite known as Las Plagas. Resident Evil 4 first came out in 2005 for Nintendo GameCube, with an HD Edition for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. A complete remake for modern consoles was released in 2023.
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Just like The Darkside Chronicles, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles doesn’t take place exactly here on the Resident Evil Timeline, but rather retells the events from Resident Evil 0 up and until 4 from the perspective of Umbrella Corporation’s former scientist Albert Wesker. The Umbrella Chronicles was released for Nintendo Wii in 2007, and was included in Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection on PlayStation 3.
Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelations is set shortly after the events of Resident Evil and features Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield as they fight a bioterrorist organization that plans to infect the oceans with the T-Abyss virus. Resident Evil: Revelations was released as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive in 2012, but was later also released on PlayStation and Xbox consoles as Resident Evil: Revelations HD.
Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 takes another five-year time jump. Chris Redfield, now member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) is dispatched to West Africa to stop a biotech weapon, but the locals have already been infected with the Las Plagas parasite. Resident Evil 5 came out in 2009 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and pc, with released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in the later years.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 features Claire Redfield, working with the anti-bioterror organization TerraSave. Although the title may suggest otherwise, Revelations 2 is not a direct sequel to the first Revelations. No longer a Nintendo 3DS exclusive, Revelations 2 was released in 2015 for PS3, PS4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, pc, and Nintendo Switch.
Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 reunites almost every major protagonist from the series, coming together to stop the new C-Virus. Four of them are playable: Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and Jake Muller. All characters have their own campaign, put the stories take place simultaneously. You are basically experiencing the same story from different perspectives. Resident Evil 6 was released in 2012 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, pc, and Nintendo Switch.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard can be considered a ‘soft reboot’ for the series, both in terms of gameplay and of story. It’s the first game playable from a first-person perspective, and it introduces a brand-new protagonist: Ethan Winters. Ethan is looking for his missing wife, when he encounters the infected and mutated Baker family. As the game continues, it becomes clear that it is still connected to the rest of the series, although it is also an excellent starting point for newcomers and doesn’t require that much previous knowledge of the series. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was released in 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, pc, and Nintendo Switch
Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village is a direct sequel to the 2017 game Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Players once again play as Ethan Winters, this time looking for his kidnapped daughter in an Eastern Europe village overrun by mutants. During his search, he also has multiple encounters with Chris Redfield, tying Resident Evil: Village a bit more to the overarching story of the franchise. Resident Evil Village was released in 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and pc.
Spin-offs
Other Resident Evil games have been released over the years, but are not considered canon. Most of them are focused on multiplayer components, like Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Umbrella Corps, Resident Evil: Resistance, and Resident Evil Re:Verse. Other games, like Resident Evil Gaiden and Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code Veronica ignore the main story, while Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D only consists of minigames featured in other Resident Evil games.
So there you have it, every Resident Evil game in chronological order! What is your favorite Resident Evil?
