Of all the survival horror games out there, the Resident Evil series has to be the most famous one. With stories spanning across multiple games, it’s no wonder newbies are confused about where to start. If you’re one such gamer dipping their toes into Resident Evil, this one’s for you. So without further ado, here are all the Resident Evil games in order to help you get started with it all.
All Resident Evil Games in Story Order
Before I begin, I must mention I am not including any old spin-off games as they are mostly non-canon to the main storyline. So, you won’t see any Survivor games or Operation Racoon City here. With that said, here are all the Resident Evil games in story order:
1. Resident Evil 0
The prequel to the first Resident Evil game and overall the first game chronologically, Resident Evil 0 kickstarts everything and shows the origins of the T-Virus and Umbrella Corporation.
The game takes place on a train, and you control S.T.A.R.S. medic Rebecca Chambers and marine-turned-fugitive Billy Coen as they survive the onslaught of zombies while uncovering the secrets. While the first Resident Evil game in story order, this is the fifth game in the series. Nonetheless, play this one first.
2. Resident Evil
The game that kickstarted the franchise, Resident Evil is the first game here. It follows S.T.A.R.S. operatives trapped in an Arklay Mountains mansion after being attacked by bloodthirsty zombies. You either play as Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine as they uncover the mansion’s mysteries.
This game was the first to introduce the series villain Albert Wesker and the concept of B.O.W.s and will start a series spanning decades.
3. Resident Evil 2
Shortly after the struggles at Spencer Mansion end, Resident Evil 2 occurs in the Racoon City. Set two months after Resident Evil 1, the third game in the timeline order, it follows two brand-new protagonists. One is a rookie cop, Leon S. Kennedy, who gets trapped in Racoon City during a zombie outbreak.
The other is Chris Redfield’s sister, Claire Redfield, who also gets trapped in Racoon City. Featuring two distinct yet interconnected storylines, Resident Evil 2 will make you bite your nails as you try to overrun a chasing Mister X while finding the answers to the mystery. This game also introduced Ada Wong for the first time and also got itself a remake!
4. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Since it happened simultaneously and before Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 made it a little tricky to figure out the actual order of the game’s chronology. However, I decided to stick it to the fourth entry. This game follows Jill Valentine after the incident in Spencer’s Manor, right in the middle of the Racoon City outbreak. With a bio-weapon constantly chasing her named Nemesis, Jill tries to escape Racoon City before its destruction.
Resident Evil 3’s first half happens before the events of Resident Evil 2. However, the second half happens during and after the events of Resident Evil 2. Furthermore, like Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 has a remake, which you can try!
5. Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Taking place a few months after Resident Evil 2 and 3, Resident Evil: Code Veronica once again follows Claire Redfield, still in search of her missing brother, Chris Redfield. While searching for her brother, it takes her to an Umbrella Facility in France! And that’s not all; Chris Redfield once again returns to this game as a second playable character!
Code Veronica is one of the most beloved games in the franchise, and this makes sense for its story, as it directly occurs after order and chaos fail in Resident Evil 2. Unfortunately, this game has never left the older systems. The only way to play this is on a PlayStation 4.
6. Resident Evil 4
The Resident Evil series will then segway to another protagonist we never really followed for a while—Leon S. Kennedy. After the Racoon City incident, he’d go on to become a U.S. Secret Service Agent and visit a Spanish village to rescue the United States President’s kidnapped daughter, Ashley.
Resident Evil 4 is the sixth game in chronological order, occurring approximately six years after Resident Evil 2. Furthermore, the game kept its survival horror roots on the sidelines, making it more action-packed. This game would become one of the most beloved titles in the series and spawn a critically acclaimed remake.
7. Resident Evil Revelations
Initially, a Nintendo 3DS title, Resident Evil Revelations, occurs between the events of Resident Evil 4 and 5. It follows Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine across two different storylines, which once again intertwine. The game also introduces the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), which plays a significant role in the upcoming few games.
While both characters are featured in-game, Jill plays a more significant role in the story. The game also fills in the gaps about Jill’s circumstances after the Racoon City incident in Resident Evil 3.
8. Resident Evil 5
The fifth numbered entry in the Resident Evil games, and the eighth game in the order, Resident Evil 5, again introduced Chris Redfield and a new character named Sheva Alomar. After a bioweapon outbreak in an African village, Chris and Sheva arrive to contain the situation and uncover the reason.
Resident Evil 5 features an equally outlandish storyline comparable to Resident Evil 4 and a refined gameplay. Furthermore, it gave the community one of the greatest boulder-punching memes!
9. Resident Evil Revelations 2
Resident Evil Revelations 2 takes place between Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 and follows Claire Redfield in an adventure through a dilapidated island. It also follows Moira Burton, the daughter of Barry Burton and a returning Barry Burton from the first Resident Evil game.
The game follows an episodic format. Each episode switches between Claire and Barry, following their circumstances on the island. While the game might be a little underwhelming compared to most of the entries, it is still a great game that expands upon the Resident Evil lore. Furthermore, we also met Alice Wesker, Albert Wesker’s sister, for the first time.
10. Resident Evil 6
The sixth numbered entry in the Resident Evil series and the tenth game are in chronological order. Resident Evil 6 is the grandest in the series, which long-time fans consider the most disappointing.
It features four intertwining stories, with BSAA playing a massive role in the storyline and the climax in China. And yes, every vital character from Resident Evil gets featured, including Chris, Leon, Ada, and Sherry. Furthermore, the game featured brand-new characters, further wrapping up the Umbrella Corporation and Neo-Umbrella story.
11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7 is the first entry after the series declined with Resident Evil 6. It shed its action-horror elements, re-introduced survival horror gameplay, and introduced a brand-new protagonist, Ethan Winters.
After his missing wife reappears in a derelict Louisiana farmhouse, Ethan goes there for answers, inadvertently getting involved with the cannibalistic Baker family. Now, with no means of escape, Ethan has to find a way to leave the house while rescuing his wife.
12. Resident Evil Village
The latest game in the long-running series, Resident Evil Village, is the 12th mainline game in order. This is also the first game without a number attached, though people consider it the eighth game.
This is a direct continuation of Ethan Winters’s story from Resident Evil 7, which involves him going on a journey through a Romanian village to rescue his daughter Rose. The DLC follows his daughter, Rose, through various situations, concluding his storyline.
Overall, Resident Evil is this one large series of various characters stuck in unfortunate situations, using unique means to save themselves. If you’ve never played the Resident Evil games, this is the perfect order to play them.
All Resident Evil Games in Release Order
Besides organizing them by story, here are all the Resident Evil games in the Release Order below:
- Resident Evil 1: ( 1996, 2002 (Remake) | PS1, GameCube, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 2: ( 1998, 2019 (Remake) | PS1, P.C., Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS4 (Remake), Xbox One (Remake), PS5 (Remake), Xbox Series X/S (Remake), Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis ( 1999, 2020 (Remake) | PS1, PC, Dreamcast, GameCube, Ps4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil Code Veronica: ( 2000 | Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360)
- Resident Evil 0: ( 2002 | GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 4: ( 2005, 2023 (Remake) | GameCube, PS2, PS3, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS5 (Remake), Xbox Series X/S (Remake), Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 5: ( 2009 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil Revelations: ( 2012 | Nintendo 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
- Resident Evil 6: ( 2012 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil Revelations 2: ( 2015 | PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 7: ( 2017 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Nintendo Switch)
- Resident Evil 8: ( 2021 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS)
And these are all the Resident Evil games in order. Once you’re done playing all these, check out if a new Resident Evil game is coming in 2024. So what do you think about the order? Let us know in the comments below.
