Every Resident Evil Game In Order Of Release

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.

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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 to newest.

Updated on March 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut: It is only a matter of time before a new Resident Evil is announced, and the assumption is that Capcom’s next reveal will be the ninth mainline entry. Until then, horror fans have decades of games they can play through. Along with adding galleries for each game listed below, Deadly Silence has been added as a separate entry since it is different enough from the original 1996 title to warrant it.

1

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.

What The Game Is Known For

The first game set up a lot of tropes, traditions, and gameplay mechanics the rest of the series will become known for. This game in particular is known for setting up pre-rendered 2D backgrounds and polygonal 3D characters set in predetermined angles, creating rather cinematic gameplay. The game’s dependence on music for setting up ambiance, limited ammunition, gathering items to be combined into new items, and even puzzles made an overall engaging survival horror experience.

2

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.

What The Game Is Known For

The game continues the first title’s prerendered backgrounds and predetermined angles, alongside a dependence on limited items and ammunition. Unique to the game is the inclusion of two characters across two story arcs, where Leon and Claire can be played separately in the first and second half of the game. Events in one gameplay scenario can directly affect elements of the second scenario, creating up to four unique storylines for players to try and enjoy.

3

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.

What The Game Is Known For

Having a “nemesis” in the form of the titular character remains a central point throughout the series. Not only is Jill the only playable main character (with timed missions using Carlos Oliviera being the only exception), Jill is also constantly stalked by Nemesis throughout her journey in Raccoon City. Save for three predetermined encounters, Nemesis cannot be killed in random skirmishes with Jill, with players having to rely on their wit and their environment to dodge the boss’s attacks or even temporarily disable them.

4

Resident Evil Survivor

Release Date: January 27, 2000

Systems

Developer(s)

Tose

How Long To Beat

2 Hours

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.

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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.

What The Game Is Known For

Desite its on-rails shooter setup, the game is known for players actually being able to move around the area, with the light gun allowing players to take aim and fire. The game has branching paths to determine the progression of the story, making it an interesting contrast from the predetermined linear light gun shooters of the time such as The House of the Head.

5

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

Release Date: March 28, 2000

Systems

How Long To Beat

12 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

The game is considered the first in the series to use 3D backgrounds, although the camera still transitions between set angles. The title takes Resident Evil 3 mechanics such as the 180-degree turn and oil drums, while it takes Resident Evil 2 elements such as side packs and upgradeable handgun parts. Although the game has three playable characters, the game pretty much forces players to control Claire Redfield, Steve Burnside, and Chris Redfield, respectively.

6

Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica

Release Date (Consoles): November 8, 2001

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.

What The Game Is Known For

Despite its weaker graphics, the gameplay of the title is close to an FPS. There’s an active timer in the game where players have to clear the level and find the exit, as the time running out will signal the arrival of Nemesis.

7

Resident Evil Gaiden

Release Date: December 14, 2001

Systems

Platform(s)

Nintendo Game Boy Color

How Long To Beat

4 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

Being a Game Boy Color title, this game is reminiscent of a traditional RPG where players move 2D sprites in 2D environments. Interestingly enough, combat transitions to a first-person perspective where players have to time a reticle within a pre-set bar in order to hit enemies in front of them.

8

Resident Evil (2002 Remake)

Release Date: March 22, 2002

Systems

Released

April 30, 2002

Developer(s)

Capcom Production Studio 4

How Long To Beat

11.5 hours

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.

7:03

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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.

What The Game Is Known For

Considered the first time Capcom has launched a remake of a game in the franchise, this title boasts considerably improved graphics and an overhaul in gameplay mechanics. The 180-degree turn becomes a new gameplay feature, as well as a defensive weapon that can be used to escape an enemy grapple. Most puzzles have also changed, forcing players to reexplore the mansion.

9

Resident Evil Zero

Release Date: November 12, 2002

How Long To Beat

11 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

Thanks to the “partner zapping” system, the game now lets players use both Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen at any point in the story. Players can control one character to go to a specific location, or have the other character as a companion to be controlled by the computer. This dual-control is important when it comes to solving the game’s puzzles, as some of them require both characters to trigger certian mechanics at the same time.

10

Resident Evil: Dead Aim

Release Date: February 13, 2003

Systems

Developer(s)

Capcom Production Studio 3

How Long To Beat

3 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

The game is another attempt at boosting Capcom’s arsenal of Gun Survivor titles, which are games built for the Namco’s light gun controllers. In turn, the title’s overall gameplay consists of walking with a third-person perspective and then transitioning to first-person when engaging enemies.

11

Resident Evil Outbreak

Release Date: December 11, 2003

Systems

Developer(s)

Capcom Production Studio 1

How Long To Beat

8 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

This is the first game in the franchise to feature multiple playable characters, each following unique scenarios that determine their fate in Umbrella City. The five scenarios each have different objectives, with players being able to select the difficulty and character they want to use. The difficulty determines the kind of items and enemies players will encounter throughout the game.

12

Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2

Release Date: September 9, 2004

Systems

How Long To Beat

10 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

Despite having the same gameplay loop as the first game, this entry in the series has vastly improved mechanics. For instance, characters can now move while firing weapons and gather items while crawling. Characters now have new mechanics tied to their gameplay, with players being able to use the same character “archetype” when playing with others online.

13

Resident Evil 4

Release Date: January 11, 2005

Platform(s)

PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii, Nintendo GameCube, PC, Android, iOS

How Long To Beat

16 Hours

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.

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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.

What The Game Is Known For

This is the first game in the series to have a full third-person view, which ties into the game’s more action-packed mechanics. Gunplay is much faster, shootouts are more common, and (infamous) quick-time events became the hallmark of the series. Leon Kennedy can upgrade his weapons throughout the game, allowing him to use different arsenals and switch loadouts whenever the situation demands it. The introduction of Ashley Graham earned the game its infamy for being a “glorified escort mission.” While fragile due to her lack of combat knowledge, players can direct Ashley to do certain things – with the character even getting her own stealth mission along the way.

14

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

Release Date: January 19, 2006

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

Survival Horror

Adventure

Action

Systems

How Long To Beat

5.5 hours

One of the more forgotten Resident Evil games, Deadly Silence brought the 1996 original to the Nintendo DS, serving as a 10-year celebration of that landmark release.

Capcom could have easily just ported the game with few changes, but the publisher went out of its way to make Deadly Silence a worthwhile release in its own right. The DS stylus is integrated into the combat, as is the touch screen. Along with playing through the classic version of the campaign, Deadly Silence also includes a new mode that shakes up the puzzles and adds more enemies.

What The Game Is Known For

Although not really discussed much in this day and age, Deadly Silence is arguably the best version of 1996 Resident Evil, not taking into account the 2002 remake. If someone has a DS and is craving a classic horror experience, they can do much worse than this title. In fact, they cannot do much better, at least if they do not have a 3DS.

15

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. Instead, they 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. While 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.

What The Game Is Known For

As with an on-rails shooter, the game follows a set path where players simply target and shoot foes. Unlike other games of its type, this title does allow players to activate melee weapons for use during a third-person view, as well as quick-time events.

16

Resident Evil 5

Release Date: March 5, 2009

How Long To Beat

12 Hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

The game is known for taking the full third-person view of Resident Evil 4 but this time also allows players to be accompanied by a second character – in this case, either an AI or another player-controlled Sheva Alomar. Unlike other titles, players are more dependent on their companion, with a new Dying Stage that requires the assistance of the other character to be stabilized or risk fully dying and resulting in a game over.

17

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?

What The Game Is Known For

Being a Wii game, the game is also an on-rails shooter with couch co-op functionality. Despite being functionally the same game as Umbrella Chronicles, gameplay in Darkside offers new changes such as Grenades having to be equipped manually, perfect headshots on lower health giving more points, and shooting a coin in mid-air giving more coins.

18

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Release Date: June 2, 2011

Systems

Developer(s)

Tose

How Long To Beat

23 hours

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.

What The Game Is Known For

This 3DS title lacks a story mode and instead becomes a full-fledged Mercenaries minigame. The third-person view returns alongside fully 3D environments. Players can customize loadouts before actual gameplay, while a time limit exists to achieve as many points as possible throughout a match.

19

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.

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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.

What The Game Is Known For

Despite having a similar third-person movement mechanic, the game transitions to first-person when fighting enemies. Health bars don’t exist in the game, and instead relies on blood splatter mechanics to determine how close to death a player is at any given point. The new Genesis bio-scanner now enables players to detect hidden enemies and objects, potentially even creating vaccines that yield herbs. Players can now swim for the first time, although they cannot fight – leaving them vulnerable to enemies that also adapted to aquatic environments.

20

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Release Date: March 20, 2012

Systems

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.

What The Game Is Known For

This is the first time the franchise has ventured into multiplayer territory, with the game allowing players to fight in teams of four. The game is more of an action shooter, forcing players to fight not just zombies, but also the enemy team using their loadouts and special abilities. The single-player title allows players to change the course of history in the franchise – such as killing Leon, Claire, and even Jill. Meanwhile, the multiplayer mode allows teams to have a point-based team game or an all-out team deathmatch before fighting for seats in the last chopper in the area.