Resident Evil Games In Order

The first Resident Evil was launched 25 years ago in 1996, and it laid the foundation of a successful game franchise that is still strong with millions of fans worldwide. Despite its long journey that had a few mistakes and bumps, Resident Evil is one of the most popular franchises of the gaming world.

The latest installment of the Resident Evil franchise was recently launched in 2021 and was well received by gamers and fans. It has many iconic moments and characters, which is expected from the game.

Resident Evil has had over ten games, multiple remakes, spin-offs, and a few Hollywood movies. There have been rumors and confirmations of new games coming out in the near future so that we can expect a lot more horror action from this successful franchise.

With so much happening and a lot that has already come out, it can be challenging to remember the main Resident Evil games in order, which is why we are giving you a quick recap in this article. Continue reading to find how many resident evil games are there:

Resident Evil

Launch date: March 22, 1996

Available For: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PS 3, PS Vita, PSP, Nintendo DS, and Sega Saturn

A successful first installment of a game paves the way for future releases and a celebrated gaming franchise. The first release is the one that creates the most impact in the hearts and minds of the audience. It gets them excited and earns their trust, which is crucial if you want them to play the future editions.

The first Resident Evil game accomplished that feat exceptionally well. Soon after its initial release, the developers introduced versions for other platforms, including PC, a testament to its popularity.

This game introduced the main characters – Christ Redfield and Jill Valentine, to the audience. They have a crucial role in all subsequent games in the series. The players fell in love with these characters, and they proved to be a hit among all.

The main objective of the Resident Evil game was to investigate the T-virus outbreak in Racoon City. When this game was released, the mechanics were pretty decent. Although nothing special, they continue to hold up well. The standout aspects of the game were the excellent inventory management, fantastic puzzles, and the perfectly done survival horror gameplay.

Resident Evil 2

Launch date: January 21, 1998

Available For: Microsoft Windows, Playstation, PS 3, PS Vita, Sega Dreamcast, PSP and Nintendo 64

After the success of Resident Evil, the developers were quick to launch the second edition of Resident Evil 2 to continue the momentum created by the first game. This was a wise move since it didn’t give gamers time to forget about the game.

Two new characters were introduced to the second game Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. These two also played a vital role in the franchise and were also well received. The timeline of the second game is just a couple of months after the events of the first. Therefore, the game is heavily influenced by the original.

It makes a lot of sense for Resident Evil 2’s plot to be intertwined with the first edition in every aspect. Both games have the same mechanics, and for the most part, the developers added a new and exciting Zapping system to Resident Evil 2, which allowed players to see things from the perspective of the two main characters.

The game was successful at delivering a unique experience that built upon the success of the first game. Both games were able to create a lot of buzz and positive reactions from players. Resident Evil 2 was also initially released for the PlayStation and then was made available for other platforms like the Nintendo Gamecube, PC, and Sega Dreamcast.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Launch Date: September 22, 1999

Available for: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PSP, Nintendo GameCube, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation

The timeline of RESIDENT EVIL 3: NEMESIS starts just after Resident Evil and before Resident Evil 2, so you get elements from the two preceding games in the third installment. The Resident Evil developers were able to create an exciting story for this game, a mix of the earlier fan favorites.

In this game, the audience was treated to Jill Valentine’s account of escaping Racoon City and the mastermind of the experiment – the Nemesis. This was a more action-packed version of the last two games, which fans wanted more of and the developers delivered in Nemesis.

Despite the action being amped up in this one, the actual Resident Evil experience was maintained, so it didn’t feel too different from the original. Striking this delicate balance earned the game many glowing reviews and praise from gamers and critics.

The game was initially only available for PC, but it was ported to other platforms after it earned traction.

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

Launch Date: February 3, 2000

Available: PlayStation2, PS 3, and PS 4, Xbox 360, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo GameCube.

Developers deviated away from the main Resident Evil series for the first time with Resident Evil – Code Veronica to add a new layer to the franchise while building upon the concept laid out by the previous highly successful games.

Code Veronica has Redfield and Claire’s main characters, but it wasn’t set in Racoon City. Instead, the events took place on Rockfort Island and Iceland, which gave the game a distinct feel and look, yet it had the same gameplay and mechanics as Nemesis.

The game impressed the audience by including the latest technology that allowed developers to incorporate real-time 3D rendered environments that served as the background for the action-packed game.

Code Veronica was many notches above the first Resident Evil game, which had a slow-paced horror theme. The improved graphics and faster-paced offered a better experience, which was appreciated by gamers.

The franchise was gaining momentum at this point, and things were certainly looking great for Resident Evil. Gamers were hungry for more and excited for the upcoming weekend installments.

Resident Evil Zero

Launch date: November 12, 2002

Supported platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PS 4, Xbox One & 360, Nintendo Switch, GameCube, and Wii

Capcom, the developers of the Resident Evil games, faced their first speed bump with Resident Evil: Zero because it failed to capture the audience’s attention and lacked positive reviews early from all the previous games.

The failure may be in part due to the new characters introduced to the game – Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen. Still, the greatest disappointment in Zero was the lack of advancements in terms of the gameplay, mechanics, and graphics.

Gamers weren’t as captivated by the plot of the game, which focused on Racoon City and the events prior to the T-virus breakout. Not a lot had changed in the game as far as the engine and perspective are concerned. The audience wanted more upgrades, and enough weren’t provided.

Although the game secured some positive reviews, it was evident that Capcom needed to breathe fresh life into the game. The few tweaks that were made didn’t get the expected response. The puzzles lacked luster, and the upgraded inventory system failed to impress.

Resident Evil 4

Launch date: January 11, 2005

Available for: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and One, PlayStation 2, PS 3 & PS 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Wii, GameCube, and Switch

Thankfully, Capcom took the positive and negative feedback in stride and went back to the drawing board to make some much-needed changes to Resident Evil and then launched one of the top games of the franchise – Resident Evil 4.

This time Leon served as the protagonist, and his goal was to save the daughter of the US President from a cult in Spain. This new plot differed from the original Resident Evil story as The players were up against zombies instead of the T-virus.

There were other much-needed changes to the game, including a new shoulder camera angle that improved the perspective and immersion. Players also had more control over the weapon aim instead of the fixed aim from the previous games.

New interactions with the environment, such as jumping through windows and over fences, added a new layer to the world while ducking attacks and melee weapon options increased the excitement.All these upgrades earned Resident Evil 4 critical acclaim and the status of the best installment in the franchise. Things were looking up again for the Resident Evil PS4 games.

Resident Evil 5

Launch date: March 5, 2009

Available for: PlayStation 3 & 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and Nvidia Shield

With Resident Evil 5, you will get to the action in Kijuju, a village in Africa that the Plaga Parasites infest that you would have seen in Resident Evil 4. You will find the all-time popular Chris Redfield; you will also find Shiva Alomar, a new addition in Resident Evil 5.

Although you will find an improved setup and a new protagonist, the title remains similar to Resident Evil 4. The only significant difference we found is that the game is faster-paced because it revolves less around survival horror and leans towards action.

Another exciting addition in Resident Evil 5 is the 2-player cooperative play compared to the single-player approach in Resident Evil 4. We are not impressed with the companion AI, so we recommend you to have a second player to enjoy gaming with you rather than depending on an AI companion.

The overall gaming experience in Resident Evil 5 is not as impressive as Resident Evil 4. Unfortunately, the new additions take away from the horror feel of the game rather than adding value to the game.

Resident Evil: Revelations

Launch date: February 7, 2012

Available For:Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 & 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

If you want the best of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, you have to play Resident Evil: Revelations. You will find two main characters, Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield.

Their primary mission is to stop a bioterrorist organization from infecting the oceans with a virus. To defeat multiple enemies in various scenarios, you would have to complete a series of puzzles and challenges.

Resident Evil 6

Launch date: October 2, 2012

Available For: PlayStation 3 & 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch

Many complained that Resident Evil 5 wasn’t up to the mark; thus, the developers launched another version, the Resident Evil 6. Unfortunately, Resident Evil 6 disappointed the gamers and was popularly tagged as the weakest edition to the Resident Evil series.

Having said that, there were good and bad additions to the game. The most talked-about addition in the new release was the four-player co-op mode and an action-oriented approach.

However, the action-oriented approach lacked substance and suffered severely from inconsistency in nearly all of the modes. For some odd reason, Resident Evil 4 also had an action-oriented approach; however, it offered better substance and consistency than Resident Evil 6.

Resident Evil 6 was the worst-performing launch that did not receive good remarks from gamers and critics.

Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Launch date: February 24, 2015

Available For: PlayStation 4 & 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Evident from its name, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is the follow-up of Resident Evil: Revelations released in 2012. After a (nearly) failed version – the Resident Evil: 6, and a successful version – Resident Evil: Revelations, gamers had high hopes for Revelations 2, and fortunately, it lived up to the expectations.

In Revelations 2, you will find Claire as the main protagonist and Barry Burton as a playable character in the main series’ story for the first time. The game set involves unknown assailants attacking, abducting, and taking Claire and her colleagues to a deserted island.

Although gamers praised the exciting connection between Revelation and Revelation 2, the critics were unimpressed with the lack of innovation and the presence of technical issues that at times ruined the gaming experience.

However, Revelations 2 did impressively well compared to disappointing Resident Evil 6 and earned high praises for its story, characters, and co-op gameplay.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Launch date: January 24, 2017

Available For: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Capcom had to come up with something exciting after disappointing its fans with Resident Evil 6. The game’s overall premise follows somewhat the exact blueprint as most of the other stories in the game. However, an interesting twist is as the protagonist Ethan Winters gets lost in an abandoned cannibal family-occupied plantation.

Resident Evil 7 also introduced a first-person view that has a real-like feel, and it is more immersive than the OTS view. This version also introduced tons of claustrophobic areas and a slower pace that significantly improved the survivor horror feel.

The Resident Evil 7 also has several challenging puzzles that make this version more engaging than previous ones. Game critics only complained about the lack of new weapons. However, the version became widely popular for its strategic and stealth approach.

Resident Evil 2 (Remake)

Launch date: January 25, 2019

Available For: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

The launch of Resident Evil 2 Remake sparked much excitement because Resident Evil 2, the all-time popular version of the Resident Evil series, was back as a full-fledged remake with a bit of re-imagination and new additions by the developers.

Although the introduction of the first-person view in Resident Evil 7 was well-loved by gamers, the Resident Evil 2 Remake has the same over-the-shoulder camera view that was featured in Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6.

Gamers loved the perfect balance between the action and horror elements of the Remake. The intense combat encounters and the heavy and oppressing atmosphere gives a gaming experience like never before.

The Remake did not only receive high praises from gamers and critics, but it also received several awards, making Resident Evil 2 Remake one of the best Resident Evil editions.

Resident Evil Village

Launch date: May 7, 2021

Available For: Microsoft Windows, PS4 & PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Resident Evil Village is a recent member of the Resident Evil series. There was a lot of buzz before its launch. Fortunately, it lived up to expectations and delivered an exciting gaming experience that has made Resident Evil Village a throbbing success.

Resident Evil Village is a sequel to Resident Evil 7, and it stars the well-known Ethan Winters. In this edition, he has moved to Europe with Mia due to the disturbing events that happened in the previous edition. Ethan’s daughter, Rosemary’s kidnap, is the main plot of the Village edition.

All the events revolve around looking for Rosemary. You will get to explore Castle Dimitrescu, the family home of vampires, and spend most of your time exploring and making your way through a village to find Rosemary. You will notice that Resident Evil Village has some similarities with Resident Evil 4; therefore, Resident Evil Village is popularly known as the modern version of Resident Evil 4.

The special appearance of Chris Redfield adds an exciting callback to the rest of the Resident Evil series. All-in-all, Resident Evil Village is a thrilling horror-action (leaning more towards action as compared to other Resident Evil editions) that will surely keep you engaged for hours.

Why Should You Play Resident Evil Games In Sequence?

The primary reason a player might wish to experience Resident Evil sequentially is to understand the core story of the game. Admittedly, if you go through the game in chronological sequence, you’ll need clarification on the franchise’s many events. There is a lot going on within the Resident Evil universe. You want to avoid being left perplexed when playing these games.

Last but not least, playing the game in chronological sequence is simply more enjoyable. You get to know new characters when they emerge inside the series canon, learn about the universe, and have a great time.

Closing Words

Capcom has managed to keep all Resident Evil games relevant and exciting for nearly two decades now by focusing on bringing new and exciting additions to the Resident Evil franchise.

Although not all editions had an award-winning performance, some did better than the others; however, the Resident Evil series continued to grow and strike with a triumphant version after a less popular one.

If you are looking for a game with the perfect blend of horror and action, you will undoubtedly have a blast playing all the Resident Evil series.

We hope that you will now find it easy to remember all Resident Evil games in order.

Have you played Resident Evil? Have you played all of the editions? Please share your Resident Evil experience with us and other game fanatics in the comments section.

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