Let’s be real for a second. If you try to follow the Resident Evil timeline based on the release years on the boxes, you’re going to end up more confused than a S.T.A.R.S. member in a hallway full of Hunters. Capcom didn't exactly make it easy. They released the first game, then a sequel, then a prequel, then a spin-off that’s actually a main entry, and eventually, they started remaking everything. It’s a mess. But if you want the full, terrifying story of Umbrella Corporation’s downfall and the rise of global bioterrorism, you have to play the Resident Evil games in chronological order.
It isn't just about the numbers. The lore is thick. You’ve got the 19th-century origins of the Megamycete clashing with 1990s industrial espionage. Honestly, the timeline is the only way the character arcs for Chris Redfield or Leon S. Kennedy actually make a lick of sense.
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The Nightmare Begins: 1998 in Raccoon City
Everything kicks off with Resident Evil 0. Most people think the original 1996 game is the start, but that’s not right. Chronologically, we start with Rebecca Chambers and the escaped convict Billy Coen on a train in the middle of the woods. It’s July 23, 1998. This game explains where the T-Virus actually came from. It’s clunky, sure. The "no item boxes" mechanic is a total pain in the neck. But if you want to know why there are giant leeches everywhere and what James Marcus was up to before he became a literal monster, you can't skip it.
Then comes the big one. Resident Evil (or the 2002 Remake, which is basically the definitive version now). It takes place exactly one day later, July 24. You’re in the Spencer Mansion. This is where we meet Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. It’s tight, claustrophobic, and sets the stage for every betrayal that follows. Albert Wesker becomes the villain we love to hate here.
The Raccoon City Disaster
September 1998 is a busy month for zombies. This is where the timeline gets tricky because Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (and its remake) actually wraps around Resident Evil 2.
Jill Valentine starts her escape from the city on September 28. She’s being hunted by Nemesis. She gets infected, passes out, and the game hits a pause button for a couple of days. During that "nap," Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield roll into town on September 29. That’s the plot of Resident Evil 2. They deal with Mr. X, explore the R.P.D. station, and blow up a secret lab. By the time Jill wakes back up on October 1 to finish her escape, Leon and Claire are already gone. It’s a chaotic three-day window that ends with the US government literally nuking the city to stop the spread.
The Global Spread and the Action Era
After Raccoon City, the series stops being a local ghost story and becomes a global thriller. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica happens in December 1998. Claire is still looking for Chris. She ends up on Rockfort Island. This game is essential. It’s not a numbered entry, but it’s the true sequel to RE2. It brings back Wesker and introduces the T-Veronica virus. Without this, the jump to the later games feels like you missed a whole season of a TV show.
Then we hit the four-year gap.
- Resident Evil 4 (2004): Leon is a secret agent now. He's in rural Spain saving the President’s daughter. No zombies here—just Las Plagas parasites. It’s a huge shift in tone.
- Resident Evil: Revelations (2005): Set on a ghost ship, the Queen Zenobia. This brings Jill and Chris back together and bridges the gap between the rural horror of RE4 and the high-octane action of RE5.
By the time we get to 2009 in Resident Evil 5, the world is basically on fire. Chris Redfield is in Africa fighting Wesker for the last time. This is where the series peaked in terms of "action-horror." Some fans hated the boulders and the motorcycles, but chronologically, it represents the moment bioterrorism became a public, worldwide threat.
The Complexity of Resident Evil 6
Honestly, Resident Evil 6 is a beast to place because it spans from 2012 to 2013 across four different campaigns. It’s messy. You’ve got Leon in the US and China, Chris in Edonia, and Jake Muller (Wesker's kid) running from a giant monster called Ustanak. If you’re playing for the story, play the campaigns in this order: Jake, Chris, Leon, then Ada. It makes the most narrative sense even if the timelines overlap constantly.
Between the chaos of RE6 and the modern era, there’s Resident Evil: Revelations 2. It takes place in 2011. It brings back Claire Redfield and Barry Burton. It’s a smaller, more intimate story that feels like a palate cleanser after the Michael Bay-style explosions of the sixth game.
The Modern Shift: Ethan Winters and the Village
In 2017, Capcom decided to scare us again. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard moves to a first-person perspective. We meet Ethan Winters. He’s just a guy looking for his wife in a swamp in Louisiana. This isn't about Umbrella or the T-Virus—at least not at first. It introduces the "Mold," a fungal bio-weapon. It feels like a reboot, but it’s a direct continuation.
Finally, we hit Resident Evil Village, which takes place in 2021. Ethan is back, but now he’s in Eastern Europe. This game is wild. It connects the Mold back to the 1960s and the founders of Umbrella. It’s the connective tissue that ties the old-school 90s lore to the modern era.
If you really want to be a completionist, the "Shadows of Rose" DLC for Village is the furthest point in the future, set around 2037. It follows Ethan’s daughter, Rose, as she deals with her powers. It's a weird, psychological trip that effectively ends the "Winters Family" saga.
Why the Chronological Order Matters for Fans
You might wonder if it's worth the hassle. It is. When you play the Resident Evil games in chronological order, you see the evolution of the characters. You see Chris Redfield go from a scared rookie in a mansion to a grieving soldier in Africa, to a hardened, somewhat morally grey commander in Village.
The series is often criticized for its "convoluted" plot, but it’s actually quite consistent if you look at the bio-weapon evolution. You move from accidental leaks (RE1-3) to intentional viral engineering (Code: Veronica) to parasitic manipulation (RE4-5) and finally to sentient fungal colonies (RE7-8). It’s a logical escalation of scientific horror.
Essential Tips for Your Playthrough
Don't feel like you have to play the original 90s versions unless you love tank controls. The remakes are incredibly faithful to the timeline. For the best experience, use the 2002 Remake for the first game, the 2019 Remake for RE2, and the 2020 Remake for RE3.
- Skip the spin-offs: Unless you’re a die-hard fan, avoid Operation Raccoon City or Umbrella Corps. They aren't canon and they’ll just confuse you.
- Watch the CGI movies: If you have time, Resident Evil: Degeneration and Damnation actually fit into the game timeline between RE4, RE5, and RE6. They provide some great context for what Leon was doing between his big missions.
- Read the files: Resident Evil tells its best stories in the notes scattered on desks. If you ignore the "Itch, Tasty" diary in the first game or the researchers' logs in the later ones, you're missing half the fun.
The best way to start is simply to grab Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil 1 as a bundle. They are often sold together as the "Origins Collection." Start there on a rainy weekend. By the time you get through the Spencer Mansion, you’ll be hooked on the mystery of Umbrella. Just remember to save your ammo—you're going to need it for what's coming in Raccoon City.
To get the most out of your journey, focus on mastering the "dodge" mechanics in the newer titles early on. The combat shifts significantly around the middle of the timeline, and being comfortable with the movement will save you hours of frustration when the bosses start getting faster and more aggressive.