It is kind of wild to look back at 1983 and realize Capcom was just a tiny startup in Osaka trying to sell medal games. They called themselves I.R.M. back then. Honestly, most people forget that the company's first "hit" wasn't a blue robot or a zombie-filled mansion. It was a coin-op called Little League.
By 1984, they dropped Vulgus, their first real video arcade game. It wasn't exactly Street Fighter, but it set the stage for everything we know today. If you look at Capcom games by year, you’ll see a pattern that starts with desperate arcade survival and ends with the massive, 10-million-unit blockbusters we’re seeing in 2026.
The 80s and the Birth of the Icons
The mid-80s were essentially the "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" era. In 1985, we got Ghosts 'n Goblins and Commando. These were hard. Brutally hard. They were designed to eat quarters, and they did it well. But the real shift happened in 1987. That’s when Mega Man (or Rockman in Japan) hit the NES.
It’s easy to forget that the first Mega Man wasn't an instant world-beater. It sold okay, but it was the 1988 sequel that really turned it into a flagship.
Meanwhile, in the arcades, 1987 also saw the release of the original Street Fighter. If you haven't played it lately, don't. It’s clunky. The controls are weird. You had to practically punch the giant rubber buttons to get a special move to fire. It didn't matter though, because 1991 was right around the corner.
1991 to 1999: The Decade Capcom Won Everything
If you walked into an arcade in 1991, you were playing Street Fighter II. Period. It changed the entire industry. It’s the reason we have eSports today, starting with those early national championships in 1993.
But Capcom wasn’t just the "fighting game company." In 1996, they basically invented a new genre with Resident Evil. Shinji Mikami and his team took a spooky mansion and fixed camera angles and turned it into a 170-million-unit-selling juggernaut.
Here’s a quick snapshot of that golden era:
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- 1991: Street Fighter II (The world warrior arrives)
- 1993: Breath of Fire (Capcom tries the RPG market)
- 1996: Resident Evil (Survival horror is born)
- 1998: Resident Evil 2 (Bigger, better, and arguably the peak of the PS1 era)
- 1999: Dino Crisis (Basically Resident Evil with raptors, and it was great)
The 2000s: Style Over Everything
By the time the PlayStation 2 rolled around in 2001, Capcom was feeling experimental. They released Onimusha: Warlords, which was the first PS2 game to hit a million sales in Japan. Then came Devil May Cry. Originally, DMC was supposed to be a Resident Evil game, but it was "too cool" and "too fast," so they just made it its own thing. Best decision ever.
2004 was another massive pivot. Monster Hunter debuted on the PS2. For the first few years, it was a niche obsession, mostly in Japan. People would meet up in train stations to hunt Rathalos together. It took over a decade for the West to finally "get it" with Monster Hunter: World in 2018, but the seeds were planted way back in '04.
Modern Capcom and the RE Engine Era
Fast forward to the 2020s. Capcom is currently on an unbelievable winning streak. They’ve had eight consecutive years of record-high profits as of early 2025. A big reason for this is the RE Engine. It’s their secret weapon. It makes everything from Resident Evil Village (2021) to Street Fighter 6 (2023) look and play like a dream.
Speaking of 2025, that year was dominated by Monster Hunter Wilds. It sold 10 million units in its first month. Think about that. Ten million. In 1983, they were happy if a few people played Little League. Now, they’re moving units like a Marvel movie.
What’s Happening in 2026?
We are currently seeing a return to "legacy" franchises that fans have been begging for. It’s a smart move. They’re balancing the massive new hits with remasters and revivals that pull at the heartstrings of older gamers.
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Resident Evil: Requiem (February 2026)
This is the big one for this year. Resident Evil: Requiem is finally letting us swap between first-person and third-person perspectives whenever we want. No more arguing on Reddit about which one is better. You play as Grace Ashcroft—yes, Alyssa’s daughter from Outbreak. It feels like a love letter to the fans who remember the deep lore.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword (May 2026)
It has been nearly 20 years since we had a mainline Onimusha game. Way of the Sword isn't a Soulslike, thank goodness. It’s a fast, technical action game that stays true to the parry-heavy "Issen" system from the originals. The combat on the PS5 feels sharp, especially the haptic feedback when you clash blades with a Genma.
Pragmata (April 24, 2026)
Honestly, we all thought this game was a myth. It was announced years ago and then vanished into "development hell." But it’s real, and it’s launching this April. It’s a sci-fi shooter that uses some pretty clever hacking mechanics. It’s definitely the "weirdest" game Capcom has put out in a long time, which is usually when they are at their best.
Actionable Insights for Capcom Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the Capcom games by year cycle, here is how you should approach the current landscape:
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- Don't ignore the remasters: Capcom’s recent remasters, like the Onimusha 2 update and the Capcom Fighting Collection 2, aren't just cash grabs. They often include "quality of life" updates that make these older games actually playable on modern screens.
- Watch the Switch 2 releases: Capcom is planning to bring Street Fighter 6 and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess to the Nintendo Switch 2 in June 2026. If you want these games on the go, hold off on the current Switch versions.
- Master the RE Engine titles first: If you’re new to the brand, start with Resident Evil 7 or Monster Hunter: World. These games represent the "modern" Capcom philosophy of accessibility mixed with high-fidelity visuals.
The company has come a long way from the "Little League" days. They’ve survived the transition from 2D to 3D, the near-bankruptcy of the late 80s, and the awkward "action-horror" phase of the early 2010s. Now, they are arguably the most consistent developer in the world.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the February release of Resident Evil: Requiem. It's expected to be the benchmark for survival horror for the next five years. Grab the demo if you can; the first-person mode is genuinely terrifying.