13 Resident Evil Games in Order: The Complete 2026 Timeline and Guide
Playing the Resident Evil games in order sounds simple until you realize the series spans 30 years, with more remakes than most franchises have sequels.
I’ve been an avid Resident Evil games fan since I was a kid. With the release of Resident Evil Requiem, I’ve spent some time replaying the series again. The biggest thing I can tell you is this – the order you play them in can genuinely change how you experience the story.
Thirty years of survival horror is a lot to unpack when viewing all Resident Evil games. So let’s get into all the Resident Evil games in order, examine how many Resident Evil games are there, spin-offs worth knowing about, and my personal picks for the ideal Resident Evil order to play.
Jump to:
How Many Resident Evil Games Are There?
Capcom has released 11 mainline Resident Evil games, with Resident Evil Requiem being the latest. If you ask how many resident evil games are there in total across all resident evil games, the number climbs to roughly 30 if you add spin-offs and handheld ports. We’re also including Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 because both fit into the timeline when experiencing Resident Evil in order.
The franchise started as a fixed-camera survival horror series with tank controls and ink ribbons. By the mid-2000s, it had shifted toward over-the-shoulder action. Then Resident Evil 7 in 2017 yanked everything back into intimate, claustrophobic horror from a first-person view. Now, with Requiem, Capcom appears to be threading the needle between both eras once more.
13 Resident Evil Games in Order: Full Timeline
Here they are, all Resident Evil games in order of their place in the franchise timeline. Looking at all Resident Evil games and playing Resident Evil in order reveals the in-universe story sequence rather than release dates. If you are deciding on the proper Resident Evil order to play, this list includes Resident Evil Requiem as the newest release on the horizon.
How many of these have you played?
1. Resident Evil 0 [Where the Nightmare Begins]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | PS4, GameCube, Nintendo Switch, PS3, Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC |
| Year of release | 2002 (remastered 2016) |
| Average playtime | 9–12 hours |
Planning to play Resident Evil in order? This opening chapter provides important context for all Resident Evil games that follow. For anyone deciding on a Resident Evil order to play, this is also the point where how many Resident Evil games are there starts to feel like a much bigger question.
Resident Evil 0 is where the Resident Evil games in order truly begin. Set just hours before the events of the first Resident Evil, you play as S.T.A.R.S. rookie Rebecca Chambers and convicted ex-Marine Billy Coen aboard a train overrun with the undead.
From there, the story takes them deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Umbrella Corporation and how the outbreak in the area actually began. It’s essentially the origin story of the T-virus outbreak that sets the entire original Resident Evil in motion, so it does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of filling in the lore.
Without getting into spoilers, the story explores some dark corners of Umbrella’s history and introduces a villain with a pretty memorable and twisted backstory.
My Verdict: If you want every piece of the puzzle before diving deep into the Resident Evil games in order, Resident Evil 0 is your starting line.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
2. Resident Evil Remake [The Definitive Survival Horror Remake]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, GameCube, PS4, Wii, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC |
| Year of release | 2002 (remastered 2015) |
| Average playtime | 10–15 hours |
The story that started everything. S.T.A.R.S. officer Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine investigate a series of disappearances near Raccoon City and end up trapped in a mansion hiding something far worse than missing hikers.
Inside, locked doors and cryptic puzzles guard a secret laboratory buried beneath the estate. The deeper Chris and Jill go, the clearer it becomes that the disappearances were engineered. Among all the Resident Evil games in order, no other origin story carries this much weight.
It remains a foundational stop in Resident Evil in order and one of the most important games across all Resident Evil games in the core saga. Its position is important when mapping the Resident Evil order to play, especially for readers wondering how many Resident Evil games are there beyond the numbered entries.
My Verdict: The definitive starting point for anyone who wants to experience the series’ roots while working through the Resident Evil games in order.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
3. Resident Evil 2 Remake [Resident Evil’s Survival Horror Peak]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | PS4, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, iPadOS, macOS |
| Year of release | 2019 |
| Average playtime | 8–12 hours per campaign |
Set two months after the mansion incident, Resident Evil 2 Remake drops rookie cop Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield into a Raccoon City already overrun. The police department, their only refuge, is no refuge at all.
Leon and Claire each carve separate paths through the station, searching for survivors and a route underground. The police department holds answers, but it also holds Mr. X, a towering Tyrant that stalks them through every corridor without warning. It’s the pivotal third chapter of the Resident Evil games in order and a natural follow-up to the original Resident Evil 2.
For anyone following Resident Evil in order, this is one of the strongest entries among all Resident Evil games to start with. For newcomers building a Resident Evil order to play, this is an easy recommendation once you understand how many Resident Evil games are there across the wider franchise.
My Verdict: Resident Evil 2 Remake is the easiest recommendation on this list and the ideal entry point for anyone new to the series.
Cheap Steam Wallet Gift Cards
4. Resident Evil 3 Remake [Best Resident Evil Nemesis Experience]
| Genre | Survival horror / action |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Year of release | 2020 |
| Average playtime | 6–8 hours |
For readers following Resident Evil in order, this is one of the most important overlaps among all Resident Evil games in the main timeline.
Resident Evil 3 Remake runs alongside the events of RE2, following Jill Valentine’s escape from Raccoon City before the government destroys it. It sits fourth among all Resident Evil games in order, and the overlap with RE2 Remake makes them a natural back-to-back pair.
The star is Nemesis, an upgraded bioweapon programmed to hunt S.T.A.R.S. members. He’s faster than Mr. X and carries a rocket launcher.
It’s shorter than fans expected, though (about six hours), and Capcom cut several areas from the 1999 original, a sore spot that the community hasn’t let go. But Jill’s characterization here is the best she’s ever been written, and for anyone tracking the Resident Evil games in order, this chapter is timeline-essential.
My Verdict: A fast, cinematic companion piece to RE2 Remake. Still one of the best survival horror games ever made.
Cheap Steam Wallet Gift Cards
5. Resident Evil Code: Veronica [Most Underrated Resident Evil Story]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | PlayStation 2, PS4, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS3, Xbox 360 |
| Year of release | 2000 (X version 2001) |
| Average playtime | 12–16 hours |
After escaping Raccoon City, Claire Redfield tracks Umbrella to a remote island prison and ends up captured. What follows pulls Chris back into the fight and reunites the Redfield siblings for the first time in the series. As a survival horror game, it stands among the most punishing entries in the Resident Evil timeline.
The Antarctic research facility, the Ashford twins as its villains, and the emotional weight of that reunion make it a particularly dramatic chapter in the franchise. Capcom hasn’t remade it yet, leaving it as the essential entry without a modern replacement.
Its story earns a place when playing Resident Evil in order, even though not all Resident Evil games receive the same level of modern attention.
My Verdict: Any player following Resident Evil games in order owes it to themselves to experience Code: Veronica before a remake changes it forever.
Cheap PlayStation Network Gift Cards
6. Resident Evil 4 Remake [Best Resident Evil Game Ever]
| Genre | Survival horror / action |
| Platforms | PS4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation VR2, iOS, iPadOS, macOS |
| Year of release | 2023 |
| Average playtime | 15–20 hours |
This is a major turning point in Resident Evil in order and one of the defining entries across all Resident Evil games. Its place in the Resident Evil order to play also helps explain how many Resident Evil games are there that meaningfully shape the series’ evolution.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is the best game in the series and the most important pivot in its history. Every Resident Evil 4 Remake review says it, and after three full playthroughs, I agree completely.
Leon Kennedy is sent to a remote Spanish village to rescue the President’s daughter, Ashley. What he finds is a cult, a parasitic infection, and a situation that demands every skill he has.
The original 2005 Resident Evil 4 invented the over-the-shoulder action template that defined a generation of games. This remake takes that foundation and rebuilds it. A fully reworked knife/parry system, expanded character writing for Ashley and Luis Serra, and a second-act castle sequence that rivals anything in the series.
My Verdict: If you have to play one Resident Evil game in your entire life, make it Resident Evil 4 Remake. It’s the standout choice for anyone working through the Resident Evil games in order. A masterpiece, full stop.
Cheap PlayStation Network Gift Cards
7. Resident Evil Revelations [Best Classic-Style Resident Evil]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC |
| Year of release | 2012 |
| Average playtime | 8–12 hours |
Between the events of RE4 and RE5, Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield separately investigate a bioterrorism threat aboard a derelict cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
Revelations was Capcom’s deliberate step back from the action-heavy direction the series had taken. Tighter corridors, slower pacing, and enemies that squeeze through gaps and flood from submerged hallways. As a Resident Evil game, it blends the series’ classic survival-horror atmosphere with the more action-focused design of the RE4 era.
For fans working through the Resident Evil games in order, it fills a tonal gap between RE4‘s action and RE5‘s bombast.
As a canon side entry, it adds useful context to playing Resident Evil in order without requiring you to play all Resident Evil games.
My Verdict: The right pick for players who felt the series lost its nerve after RE4. Focused, tense, and genuinely underappreciated.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
8. Resident Evil 5 [Best Co-Op Resident Evil Game]
| Genre | Action / survival horror |
| Platforms | PS4, PS3, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, PC |
| Year of release | 2009 |
| Average playtime | 12–15 hours |
Resident Evil 5 closes Chris Redfield’s long-running pursuit of Umbrella’s former head of security, Albert Wesker. Chris and BSAA partner Sheva Alomar investigate a bioterrorism outbreak in West Africa. The story pulls together threads from RE1, Code: Veronica, and RE4 for a finale that’s been a decade in the making.
It’s not a horror game, but it’s one of the most fun co-op games in the franchise. For anyone playing the Resident Evil games in order, it’s also essential because it closes the Wesker saga permanently.
My Verdict: The essential co-op entry and the payoff for everyone who followed Chris’s story from the beginning.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
9. Resident Evil Revelations 2 [Most Underrated Resident Evil Spin-off]
| Genre | Episodic survival horror |
| Platforms | PS4, Nintendo Switch, PS3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC |
| Year of release | 2015 |
| Average playtime | 8–10 hours |
Canon side entries like this are part of the reason why how many Resident Evil games are there has a different answer depending on your Resident Evil order to play.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 takes place between RE 5 and RE 6. Claire Redfield and Barry Burton’s daughter Moira are captured on a mysterious island by a villain called the Overseer. A second timeline follows Barry himself as he searches for Moira months later.
The asymmetrical co-op is the game’s strongest idea. One player handles offense, the other handles detection and support. The episodic structure gives it a TV-show pacing with cliffhangers between chapters.
Production values dip below mainline entries, but for anyone completing the Resident Evil games in order, the gameplay loop and co-op design make it worth experiencing.
My Verdict: The spin-off that deserves more love. Play Resident Evil Revelations 2 in co-op for the full experience.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
10. Resident Evil 6 [Most Divisive Resident Evil Game]
| Genre | Action horror / third-person shooter |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Year of release | 2012 |
| Average playtime | 8–12 hours per campaign |
Resident Evil 6 casts the widest net the series has ever thrown. Leon, Chris, Jake Muller (Wesker’s son), and Ada Wong each lead interconnected campaigns across a global bioterrorist outbreak, and their paths physically cross during shared events. It’s an ambitious storytelling structure no other entry on the Resident Evil timeline has attempted.
The execution is uneven, but for completionists tracking the Resident Evil games in order, it’s worth one run. For anyone new to the zombie games genre, you might want to start somewhere else.
My Verdict: Resident Evil 6 tried to be everything at once. It stumbled, but Leon’s campaign is worth a rainy afternoon.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard [Scariest Resident Evil Game]
| Genre | Survival horror (first-person) |
| Platforms | PS4, PS5 (PSVR), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC |
| Year of release | 2017 |
| Average playtime | 9–12 hours |
This marks a dramatic shift in playing Resident Evil in order and remains one of the most distinctive entries among all Resident Evil games.
After the divisive RE 6, Capcom switched to first-person, introduced a new protagonist in Ethan Winters, and set the game in a Louisiana plantation home haunted by the Baker family.
Ethan arrives searching for his wife Mia, who vanished three years earlier after sending a cryptic message. The Baker family has other plans. Every room in the plantation hides something worse than the last, and the Bakers always seem to know exactly where he is.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is one of the greatest horror games of the past decade and a turning point in the Resident Evil timeline.
My Verdict: With 18.4 million copies sold, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard remains one of the series’ most successful and terrifying entries, earning its place as the scariest pick in our Resident Evil games in order.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
12. Resident Evil Village [Most Atmospheric Resident Evil Game]
| Genre | Survival horror / action (first-person) |
| Platforms | PS4, PS5 (PSVR2), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Year of release | 2021 |
| Average playtime | 10–14 hours |
Picking up three years after RE7, Resident Evil Village sends Ethan into a snow-locked Eastern European village to recover his kidnapped daughter. Any Resident Evil Village review will tell you the same thing: this creepy gothic game shifts tone between areas unlike anything else in the Resident Evil games in order.
The first lord Ethan faces is Lady Dimitrescu, a nine-foot noblewoman ruling a gothic castle alongside her three bloodthirsty daughters. They hunt him through candlelit halls with an eerie elegance that turned Lady Dimitrescu into the franchise’s most iconic villain in years.
My Verdict: A horror buffet. Every section of Resident Evil Village serves something different, and nearly all of it is excellent.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
13. Resident Evil Requiem [Most Anticipated Resident Evil Game]
| Genre | Survival horror |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Year of release | 2026 |
| Average playtime | 10–15 hours |
Set 30 years after the Raccoon City Incident, Resident Evil Requiem follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates a case connected to the city’s dark past. Leon S. Kennedy also returns, bringing a familiar face into the latest chapter of the series.
Requiem blends tense exploration, combat, puzzles, and psychological horror while allowing players to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. It also uses Capcom’s RE ENGINE to deliver some of the series’ most detailed visuals and atmospheric environments.
As the latest entry in the Resident Evil games in order, Requiem brings the series’ 30-year history into a new chapter without abandoning its survival-horror roots. The game was also recognized with an Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards 2026 and surpassed 8 million units in sales by June 30, 2026.
My Verdict: Resident Evil Requiem successfully combines modern presentation with the series’ survival-horror foundations. With its dual perspectives, strong atmosphere, and connection to the wider timeline, it’s a fitting latest entry for fans following the Resident Evil games in order.
MORE GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
How To Play Resident Evil Games in Chronological Order?
The chronological table below provides a practical Resident Evil order to play for readers who want to experience the story in sequence.
This order follows the in-universe story timeline and is the clearest way to experience the Resident Evil games in order. Remakes replace their originals here since they cover the same events with superior production values.
A quick note on overlap: Resident Evil 3 Remake‘s story begins before RE2 Remake and concludes after. Most players find it easier to play RE2 Remake first, then treat the RE3 Remake sections as surrounding context.
| Game Title | Year (Setting) | Importance | Notes |
| 1. Resident Evil 0 | 1998 | Optional (Prequel) | Shows the outbreak’s origin hours before RE1 |
| 2. Resident Evil Remake | 1998 | Essential | The Spencer Mansion incident; the beginning of everything |
| 3. Resident Evil 3 Remake (Opening) | 1998 | Essential (Part 1) | Jill’s escape begins before Leon and Claire arrive |
| 4. Resident Evil 2 Remake | 1998 | Essential | Leon and Claire’s Raccoon City campaigns |
| 5. Resident Evil 3 Remake (Conclusion) | 1998 | Essential (Part 2) | Jill’s story wraps up as the city falls |
| 6. Resident Evil Code: Veronica | 2000 | Semi-Essential | Claire and Chris reunite; Wesker resurfaces |
| 7. Resident Evil 4 Remake | 2004 | Essential | The narrative pivot that defines the post-Umbrella era |
| 8. Resident Evil Revelations | 2005 | Optional | BSAA context between RE4 and RE5 |
| 9. Resident Evil 5 | 2009 | Essential (Chris Arc) | Closes the Wesker storyline permanently |
| 10. Resident Evil Revelations 2 | 2011 | Optional | Claire and Barry’s standalone arc |
| 11. Resident Evil 6 | 2013 | Optional (Narratively Consequential) | Global C-Virus outbreak across multiple campaigns |
| 12. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard | 2017 | Essential | Begins the Ethan Winters era |
| 13. Resident Evil Village | 2021 | Essential | Direct continuation of RE7 |
| 14. Resident Evil Requiem | 2026 | Essential (Latest Chapter) | Grace Ashcroft and Leon investigate the ruins of Raccoon City |
Revelations, Revelations 2, and Code: Veronica are optional side entries that add context without being strictly necessary for understanding the main arc. Every numbered entry and its remake is essential.
Best co-op Resident Evil games
Looking for the best Resident Evil games to play with a friend? Resident Evil 5 is the standout co-op entry, built around two-player cooperative campaigns and coordinated combat.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is another strong choice, combining its episodic survival-horror campaign with cooperative play. Both are worth adding to your Resident Evil order to play if multiplayer is a priority.
Resident Evil Spin-Offs and Multiplayer Experiments
If you’re asking how many Resident Evil games are there, the answer grows quickly once these side projects are included, although they don’t belong in the recommended Resident Evil order to play.
Several spin-offs explored multiplayer and online concepts outside the core single-player experience. Most are disconnected from the canonical story, and a few have already been shut down.
Beyond the games, Resident Evil has also expanded into live-action and animated films and series. The Resident Evil Netflix series (our Resident Evil Netflix series review covers what landed and what didn’t), while the new Resident Evil movie from director Zach Cregger takes a fresh story into the franchise’s world. Released in September 2026, it follows a medical courier caught in a terrifying night of survival in Raccoon City.
Between these films, the Netflix series, and the side games, Capcom’s universe stretches well past the mainline entries. These are the ones that stand out, for better or worse.
1. Resident Evil Outbreak [Online Survival Horror Pioneer]
Resident Evil Outbreak was ahead of its time. Set during the Raccoon City disaster, it lets up to four players team up online using a roster of civilian survivors, each with unique abilities. The PS2-era online infrastructure couldn’t support it well, and servers shut down years ago, though fan-run private servers still exist through emulators.
Notably, Grace Ashcroft’s mother, Alyssa, was one of the playable characters, a connection that Requiem picks up decades later. Outbreak File #2 followed in 2004 with five more scenarios. Neither is part of the mainline Resident Evil games in order, but both add real texture to the Raccoon City timeline.
2. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City [Alternate-Canon Umbrella Shooter]
Developed by Slant Six Games, Operation Raccoon City put players on Umbrella’s side during the outbreak. It was a squad-based TPS game with co-op and the ability to alter franchise canon, including killing Leon.
The execution fell short with poor AI and clunky combat. It sold 2.8 million copies on name recognition but remains one of the franchise’s weakest points.
3. Umbrella Corps [Competitive Multiplayer Experiment]
Umbrella Corps was a competitive multiplayer shooter that leaned into close-quarters combat and tactical gadgets. Community reception was overwhelmingly negative due to clunky controls, bad matchmaking, and almost zero connection to the franchise’s identity. The lowest point in the franchise’s multiplayer game experiments.
4. Resident Evil: Resistance [Asymmetrical 4v1 Mode]
Bundled with Resident Evil 3 Remake, Resistance was a 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer mode where one Mastermind sets traps and spawns enemies while four survivors escape. The concept worked better than most gave it credit for. Player counts dropped fast post-launch, but if you own RE3 Remake, it’s worth a few sessions.
5. Resident Evil Re:Verse [Arcade-Style Deathmatch Spin-Off]
A deathmatch experiment built around iconic RE characters transforming into mutant bosses on death. Multiple delays preceded a launch that struggled to hold a player base, and Capcom eventually discontinued the game and shut down its servers in 2025. It’s now a snapshot of the series’ brief multiplayer experimentation rather than something new players can still try.
These spin-offs are worth knowing about for completeness, and Outbreak holds a special place in the community’s heart. None are required for the main Resident Evil timeline.
When considering the wider Resident Evil order to play, discontinued experiments like this are still worth knowing about.
My Overall Verdict on Resident Evil Games
After playing through all Resident Evil games in order, here’s where I’d point you depending on what you’re after.
- Best overall Resident Evil experience → Resident Evil 4 Remake. It’s the most polished, replayable, and satisfying game in the franchise.
- Best modern starting point → Resident Evil 2 Remake. It’s accessible, modern, and drops you straight into the heart of Raccoon City’s nightmare.
- Pure horror above everything else → Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is the scariest game in the franchise, with its first-person perspective and relentless atmosphere.
- Best for completionists → Resident Evil 0. Follow the chronological order above to see how the early events connect to the wider story.
- Best modern entry after playing the classics → Resident Evil Requiem. Released in February 2026, it brings the series’ 30-year history into a new chapter while combining first-person and third-person perspectives.
No matter where you jump in, the franchise rewards the commitment. And if you’ve already played through all the Resident Evil games in order, Resident Evil Requiem is the latest chapter waiting at the end of the timeline.
FAQs
There are 11 mainline Resident Evil games, plus Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2, which are canon side entries. This guide covers all 13 Resident Evil games in order, while the wider franchise includes roughly 30 games.
Start with Resident Evil 2 Remake. It’s the franchise’s best-selling entry, features modern controls, and introduces Raccoon City’s core storyline. For anyone tackling the Resident Evil games in order, it’s the most accessible jump-in point.
Yes, every mainline Resident Evil shares a connected universe. Early entries tie together through Umbrella, recurring characters like Chris, Claire, Leon, and Jill, and the Raccoon City incident. Later games introduce new protagonists with looser connections to the classic cast.
Resident Evil 0 and Code: Veronica are widely considered the hardest. Both feature punishing resource management, and Code: Veronica can softlock your save if you reach certain bosses without enough ammo.
Resident Evil 2 (2019) is the best-selling game in the series, with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide. It has overtaken Resident Evil 5 and remains the franchise’s top-selling individual title. It has become a standout entry for anyone exploring the Resident Evil games in order.
Yes. Resident Evil Requiem is a canonical sequel set 30 years after Raccoon City. It follows Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy as they investigate the city’s dark past, with ties to Resident Evil Outbreak.
