You’ve probably seen the memes about Chris Redfield punching a boulder or Leon Kennedy’s suspiciously perfect hair, but if you’re trying to actually play through the series, things get messy fast. Most people think they can just look at a list of resident evil games and go in numerical order. Honestly? That’s the quickest way to get confused by a timeline that jumps from the 90s to the 2020s and back again.
Capcom has been at this since 1996. Over thirty years of biological outbreaks, corporate conspiracies, and more "ultimate bio-weapons" than you can shake a green herb at. But with all the remakes, spin-offs, and weird light-gun shooters, figuring out where to start—or what’s even canon anymore—is a bit of a nightmare.
The Heavy Hitters: Mainline Games and Their Modern Remakes
The core of the franchise is what most people care about. These are the games that move the global plot forward, usually involving the fall of Umbrella or the rise of new bioterror threats.
The Raccoon City Tragedy (1996–1999)
This is where it all started. You’ve got the original Resident Evil (1996), which introduced the Spencer Mansion. Most modern players skip the original for the Resident Evil HD Remake (2002). It’s basically the same game but looks gorgeous and adds the terrifying "Crimson Heads"—zombies that get back up faster and meaner if you don't burn them.
Then there’s the big one: Resident Evil 2. The 1998 original was a masterpiece, but the 2019 Remake is what really put the series back on the map for modern audiences. It sold over 16 million copies as of early 2026 for a reason. Mr. X chasing you through a rainy police station is a core gaming memory you don’t forget. Resident Evil 3 (1999/2020) follows Jill Valentine, though the remake is notoriously shorter than the original.
The Global Era (2005–2012)
Resident Evil 4 changed everything. It ditched the fixed camera for an over-the-shoulder view. Whether you play the 2005 original or the 2023 Remake, it’s widely considered one of the best action games ever made.
After that, the series went full action. Resident Evil 5 (2009) introduced co-op, which was fun but definitely less scary. Then came Resident Evil 6 (2012). It’s the "Transformers movie" of the series—explosions everywhere, four different campaigns, and a plot so bloated it almost killed the franchise’s reputation despite selling millions.
The First-Person Pivot and the Future (2017–2026)
Capcom course-corrected with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017). It switched to first-person and went back to pure, claustrophobic horror in a Louisiana swamp. Resident Evil Village (2021) continued Ethan Winters' story but added more gothic flair—think werewolves and giant vampire ladies.
As of right now, everyone is looking toward Resident Evil Requiem (often called RE9), which is set to launch on February 27, 2026. It features Leon Kennedy and a new lead named Grace Ashcroft, promising a mix of first and third-person perspectives.
The "Essential" Spin-offs You Shouldn't Skip
The numbers on the boxes don't tell the whole story. Some of the best lore is hidden in games that don't have a "5" or "6" in the title.
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (2000): This is essentially the real Resident Evil 3. It follows Claire Redfield searching for her brother Chris and is 100% canon. Fans have been begging for a remake of this for years because the 128-bit graphics haven't aged perfectly.
- Resident Evil Zero (2002): A prequel to the first game. You play as Rebecca Chambers. It’s famous for its "partner-swapping" mechanic and for being incredibly difficult because there are no item boxes. You just drop your stuff on the floor and hope you remember where it is.
- Resident Evil: Revelations 1 & 2: These were originally meant to bridge the gap between the horror of the old games and the action of the new ones. Revelations 2 is particularly great because it brings back Claire and Barry Burton.
Chronological Order vs. Release Order
If you want to understand the story from start to finish without your head spinning, you have to play them out of order. Here is how the timeline actually flows:
- Resident Evil Zero (The prequel)
- Resident Evil 1 (The Mansion Incident)
- Resident Evil 3 (The first half, before Jill gets knocked out)
- Resident Evil 2 (Leon and Claire's first day)
- Resident Evil 3 (The second half, Jill’s escape)
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (Rockfort Island)
- Resident Evil 4 (The Spanish Village)
- Resident Evil: Revelations (The Queen Zenobia ship)
- Resident Evil 5 (West Africa)
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (The Island)
- Resident Evil 6 (The global outbreaks)
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (The Baker House)
- Resident Evil Village (The European Village)
- Resident Evil Requiem (The upcoming 2026 entry)
What about the weird ones?
There is a long list of resident evil games that most people ignore. Some for good reason. Resident Evil Gaiden on the Game Boy Color is a weird top-down shooter that isn't canon. Then there are the "Gun Survivor" games, which were early attempts at first-person shooters that... well, they weren't great.
Umbrella Corps (2016) is generally considered the low point of the entire franchise. It was a competitive tactical shooter that felt nothing like Resident Evil. On the flip side, Resident Evil Outbreak was way ahead of its time. It was an online multiplayer survival game on the PS2 back in 2003. If that game were released today with modern matchmaking, it would probably be a massive hit.
The Multimedia Mess
Don’t confuse the games with the movies. The Paul W.S. Anderson movies starring Milla Jovovich are their own separate universe. They have almost nothing to do with the games’ plot, even if they borrow names like "Albert Wesker" or "Jill Valentine."
If you want movies that actually fit the list of resident evil games, you have to watch the CG films:
- Degeneration
- Damnation
- Vendetta
- Infinite Darkness (The Netflix series)
- Death Island
These are canon. They feature the game voice actors and fill in gaps between the major titles. For example, Death Island is the only time we've actually seen Leon, Chris, Jill, Claire, and Rebecca all in the same room at the same time.
Actionable Insights for New Players
If you're looking to jump into the series today, don't feel like you have to play 30 years of games.
- Start with the Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019). It is the perfect entry point. It’s scary, it looks modern, and it introduces the series' most iconic characters.
- Avoid the "Original" Resident Evil 1 unless you love "tank controls" (where you push up to move forward regardless of where the camera is). The HD Remaster is much more playable.
- Get the Gold Editions. For games like RE7 and Village, the Gold Editions include all the DLC which, in this series, usually contains the actual ending or important lore bridges.
- Prepare for Resident Evil Requiem. Since it's coming in February 2026, catching up on Leon's story in the RE2 and RE4 remakes will give you the most context for his return.
The beauty of the Resident Evil series is that it constantly reinvents itself. Whether you like slow-burn horror or high-octane action, there is something in this massive catalog for you. Just don't expect the plot to make sense on the first try. Honestly, even the hardcore fans are still arguing about how some of these characters are still alive.
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To get ready for the 2026 release, you should focus on completing the "modern trilogy" of the RE2 Remake, RE4 Remake, and Village. This will give you the best handle on the current state of the world before the next outbreak hits.