Highlights

• The Resident Evil franchise focuses on building tried and tested IPs like Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, and Mega Man over new ones.
• Resident Evil games like RE0 and Outbreak series offer mixed receptions but are praised for story and cooperative gameplay elements.
• Remakes of classic games like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 modernize gameplay mechanics while retaining the original horror atmosphere.

Capcom has made it clear over the last few decades that they have an ideology of building upon tried, tested, and recognizable franchises rather than frequently releasing new IPs. Examples include Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, and Mega Man, which have all had numerous releases over the years.

Another one of Capcom's flagship franchises is Resident Evil. The series' critical acclaim consistently brings new fans to the franchise, many of whom may be looking to revisit some of the franchise's older titles as well as try new releases for the first time. To help give players an idea of the order in which to approach this vast series, here is every Resident Evil game, listed from oldest release to newest.

Updated May 25, 2024, by Jake Fillery: The selection of Resident Evil games only continues to grow. The best Resident Evil games continue to test the characters that are known and loved by the community, with many more well on the way, whether those are sequels, spin-offs, or remakes, the Resident Evil release order has seen plenty of entries, whether received well or otherwise. Players can find every Resident Evil game below. With a seemingly endless amount of Resident Evil games, fans still eagerly await Resident Evil 9, or whatever the series has next for horror lovers.

29 Resident Evil

Release Date: March 22, 1996

The original Resident Evil isn't just iconic for kicking off the legendary horror franchise but also for being a pioneer in the rise of the survival horror genre. Although the game holds a nostalgic value for a lot of people, the remake is the best way to revisit the classic game.

Resident Evil is particularly memorable for the mansion that the game takes place in. The enormous building looked fantastic for 1996, and its bucket-load of secrets and puzzles hiding around every corner made it a joy to explore, despite the horror lurking within.

28 Resident Evil 2

Release Date: January 21, 1998

Following the enormous critical and commercial success of the first Resident Evil, it was no surprise when a sequel was announced shortly after. Resident Evil 2 built upon the excellent foundations that Resident Evil set and consequently received a similar level of acclaim.

The game introduced a handful of key Resident Evil characters, such as Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong. The game also included Mr. X, whose frightening size and strength terrified players in the late 90s.

27 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Release Date: September 22, 1999

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis again featured similar core gameplay mechanics to its predecessors, with the trademark puzzle-solving and fixed camera angles being central once again. The game ramped up the fear factor from the previous entries, thanks to the introduction of the horrifying Nemesis.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, like its two predecessors, received a ton of praise from fans and critics. Consequently, many people at the time regarded the Resident Evil franchise as one of the best gaming trilogies of all time.

26 Resident Evil Survivor

Release Date: January 27, 2000

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation
• Released: 27 January 2000
• Developers: Tose, Capcom
• Genres: Survival horror, Light-gun shooter

Capcom is no stranger to spin-offs for their main franchises, so it was no surprise that the company took a detour following the series' immensely successful original trilogy.

Resident Evil Survivor is a light gun shooter that was fairly well-received in most parts of the world. However, the North American release was largely dismissed, as the light gun control feature was banned, significantly harming the gameplay.

25 Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

Release Date: February 3, 2000

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica was the first game to launch on a console other than the PlayStation 1. Code Veronica was initially released on the Dreamcast before coming to the PlayStation 2 in 2001; it was then released on GameCube, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in the years that followed.

Resident Evil - Code: Veronica is best remembered today for its visuals and cinematic cutscenes that raised the bar for not just the Resident Evil series but the gaming industry in general.

24 Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica

Release Date (Consoles): November 8, 2001

• Platforms: PlayStation 2, Sega NAOMI Arcade System
• Released: 8 November 2001
• Developers: Nex Entertainment, Capcom
• Genres: Survival horror, Light-gun shooter

Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica was originally released in Japanese arcades in June 2001 before releasing for the Japanese PlayStation 2 market in 2001. The game then came to Europe in 2002 but was not release in North America due to the poor reception of its predecessor.

The game is centered around Claire Redfield, who is searching for her brother Chris in Racoon City. Claire is only one of the playable characters on offer, as Steve Burnside can also be selected, but the game doesn't have much resemblance to Resident Evil's plot outside of the characters.

23 Resident Evil Gaiden

Release Date: December 14, 2001

Resident Evil Gaiden was released exclusively on the Game Boy Color. The game differentiates itself from other entries in the series with its top-down perspective and unique combat. When approaching an enemy, players will enter into a first-person perspective and be presented with a timing mini-game to determine the accuracy of their shots.

The game was poorly received by fans and critics, with complaints predominantly being directed toward the game's underwhelming and unimaginative puzzles.

22 Resident Evil (2002 Remake)

Release Date: March 22, 2002

The remake of the original Resident Evil was released on the GameCube in 2002, but has since received a few HD remasters for players of more modern consoles, so that everyone has access to the origins of Resident Evil, to know these characters and the genre before jumping into the more modern and action-orientated entries.

The Resident Evil remake didn't try to fix what wasn't broken, keeping the best features of the original game intact and instead focusing on simply modernizing the classic game.

21 Resident Evil Zero

Release Date: November 12, 2002

At the time of release, Resident Evil Zero was a very divisive game. The GameCube game provided significant improvements to the visuals and atmosphere from previous entries while keeping the core gameplay similar to its predecessors, something that a portion of fans loved.

However, there was another section of fans who were disappointed with the game, as they were expecting sweeping changes and improvements to the pre-existing gameplay formula due to its next-generation release.

20 Resident Evil: Dead Aim

Release Date: February 13, 2003

As the name suggests, Resident Evil: Dead Aim is another notable light gun shooter. Unlike the previous light gun release in the series, Dead Aim had a North American release that struggled to impress, but still gave way to some layers of fun.

Resident Evil: Dead Aim is best remembered by fans for being one of the few games in the early iteration of Resident Evil games that would allow players to move while aiming, something that wasn't seen until later entries.

19 Resident Evil Outbreak

Release Date: December 11, 2003

Resident Evil Outbreak is a notable entry in the RE franchise as it's the first game in the series to feature co-op, as well as online multiplayer. The game fulfilled the wishes of many to experience the series' horrors with a friend, something that would be seen later in the series' lifespan.

Resident Evil Outbreak offered plenty of variety, thanks to its eight playable characters and five separate scenarios to play through, but these separate scenarios might be tough considering the heavy-handed mechanics.

18 Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2

Release Date: September 9, 2004

• Platforms: PlayStation 2
• Released: 9 September 2004
• Developers: Capcom Production Studio 1, Capcom
• Genres: Survival horror, Action-adventure

Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 is a standalone expansion for Resident Evil Outbreak. The game made minimal changes to the gameplay of its predecessor, and the lackluster co-op AI partner made gameplay rather insufferable without a real communicating partner.

A somewhat hidden gem among RE games, Outbreak: File #2 might thrill in its concept, but there's a lot to be desired with this entry, especially as a co-op title with plenty of action.

17 Resident Evil 4

Release Date: January 11, 2005

Resident Evil 4 is a great contender for one of the best RE games ever made thanks to its exhilarating action and early 2000s charm, featuring the favorite Leon Kennedy as he battles against a new mystery of horrors as he tries to locate the U.S. President's daughter.

Capcom clearly listened to the criticisms of the previous main series entry, Resident Evil Zero, as it made numerous drastic changes to the series, most notably, the implementation of an over-the-shoulder camera perspective. Resident Evil 4's excellent shooting mechanics, superb pacing, great enemy variety, and a generous amount of content made it an instant classic.

16 Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

Release Date: November 13, 2007

Attention on the Resident Evil series was at an all-time high following the release of Resident Evil 4, but Capcom decided not to rush the highly anticipated Resident Evil 5 and released a rail shooter, which could have derailed the hype, but its release on the Nintendo Wii helped make it an exciting entry.

The Umbrella Chronicles made use of the Wii system's motion controls to provide an immersive shooter experience. Whilst on-rail-shooters aren't the most exciting games in modern times, players could certainly seek the delight of good aim and fast reflexes in the Resident Evil setting.

15 Resident Evil 5

Release Date: March 5, 2009

Nearly five years after its main series predecessor, one of the gaming industry's most highly anticipated releases of the 2000s was released, and the franchise tried something new in its location, boss design, and co-op gameplay.

The game was always likely to fall short of these expectations due to its oversized ambition. When the dust had settled and initial disappointment faded, Resident Evil 5 became recognized as a solid shooter and a similar-yet-neat follow-up to RE4 that might get a little absurd and cheesy in some parts.

14 Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

Release Date: November 17, 2009

Following the positive reception of Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, the Nintendo Wii received another on-rail shooter. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles had many similarities to Umbrella Chronicles but earned players' attention with its story that tied into Resident Evil 4.

Not only were players receiving the thrills that made use of the Nintendo Wii's motion controls, but they were learning more about their favorite characters, instead of focusing on entirely new protagonists, and which RE fan doesn't enjoy Leon?

13 Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Release Date: June 2, 2011

Another game that has a connection to Resident Evil 4 is Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. As the name suggests, the game implements an expanded version of the Mercenaries mini-game from Resident Evil 4, which is unlocked once the player beats the main story.

This premise made Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D a fairly niche entry in the franchise. However, for fans of the minigame, The Mercenaries 3D was, and still is, a fun, adrenaline-pumping time.

12 Resident Evil: Revelations

Release Date: January 26, 2012

Resident Evil: Revelations was originally released exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS before coming to a plethora of modern consoles in the years that followed. The game is set between Resident Evil 4 and 5 and keeps the action-heavy combat and over-the-shoulder perspective from the two games.

The game featured both single-player and multiplayer modes. Interestingly, the multiplayer mode offered a different, altered version of the single-player campaign to ensure that it was better tailored to two-player gaming.

11 Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Release Date: March 20, 2012

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City takes players back in time from the aforementioned Revelations to a time period around Resident Evil 2 and 3. Along with a comprehensive single-player campaign, Operation Raccoon City features a four-player co-op mode and online multiplayer.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City was a step back for the franchise, as despite including four-player co-op and a game dedicated to online multiplayer, the gameplay was completely lackluster when compared to other titles in the series, and felt somewhat broken in terms of lore and mechanics.

10 Resident Evil 6

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Resident Evil 6 continued the main series' divisive trend of favoring action over horror, a continuation of the trend set by Resident Evil 4, but it seemed that Resident Evil 6 went in the wrong direction, as the series soon took a hiatus to figure out how to balance the combat with the horror.

Resident Evil 6 isn't a bad game, but it lost a lot of what made the RE franchise special, turning many fans away from the series altogether. When removing pre-existing presumptions about the series, however, Resident Evil 6 offers a decent multiplayer experience with friends, and a decent action spectacle, just without the fright.