Game · in order
Resident Evil Games in Order
All eleven mainline Resident Evil games plus the five remakes, in release order and in-universe chronological order, with guidance on which version to buy today.
Resident Evil Games in Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Resident Evil is one of the longest-running survival horror series, and there are two sensible ways to play it. Release order follows the games as Capcom shipped them, from the 1996 original through Resident Evil Requiem in 2026. This is the order most fans recommend for a first run, because each game builds on the lore, characters, and mechanics established before it, and you watch the series evolve from fixed-camera survival horror into modern over-the-shoulder action.
Chronological order rearranges the games by when their events take place in the story. The big change is Resident Evil Zero, which released fifth but is a prequel set on the night just before the first game, so it leads the chronological list. From there the timeline runs through the Raccoon City outbreak (RE2 and RE3), the island events of Code: Veronica, and onward to 4, 5, 6, 7, and Village. Story and release order mostly agree after Zero, which is why release order remains the easiest starting point.
The series is genuinely confusing because of remakes, and there are now five of them. Capcom rebuilt the 1996 original for GameCube in 2002, a version widely regarded as one of the best remakes ever made and one this guide previously left out, then rebuilt Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2020) and Resident Evil 4 (2023) in the RE Engine. A Code: Veronica remake (titled Resident Evil Veronica) was announced in June 2026 for a 2027 release, so that classic is the next to get the modern treatment. Each remake retells its original's story with modern controls and visuals, so beginners can absolutely play a remake in place of the older version without missing the plot. We list every remake as its own step directly after the game it retells, so you can tick off whichever version you actually play and skip the other.
Which version you buy comes down to your platform. On PlayStation, Xbox and Switch the classics were never re-released, so the store listings named Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 are the remakes and the choice is made for you. On PC it is the opposite: Capcom put the 1996, 1998 and 1999 originals on GOG from June 2024 and on Steam on April 1, 2026, so both versions sit side by side and you have to read the store page before you pay. Resident Evil 4 is the entry where the choice genuinely matters, because original and remake are both easy to buy on consoles as well as PC. One naming trap: the product sold as Resident Evil HD Remaster is the 2002 GameCube remake, not the 1996 game, and Steam now lists a separate Resident Evil (1996) alongside it, which leaves PC buyers looking at three different products called Resident Evil.
We have kept spinoffs like the Resident Evil Revelations games and light-gun shooters off the main list so the core arc stays clear. If you enjoy this kind of franchise untangling, the same remake-versus-original question comes up across survival horror, much like comparing the various Silent Hill entries.
Timeline 1996-2027
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 1996 Resident Evil
- 1998 2
- 1999 3: Nemesis
- 2000 Code: Veronica
- 2002 (2002 Remake)Zero
- 2005 4
- 4-year gap
- 2009 5
- 2012 6
- 5-year gap
- 2017 7: Biohazard
- 2019 2 (2019 Remake)
- 2020 3 (2020 Remake)
- 2021 Village
- 2023 4 (2023 Remake)
- 2026 Requiem
- 2027 Veronica
Where to play it today
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Resident Evil.
Frequently asked questions
How many Resident Evil games are there?
There are eleven mainline Resident Evil games, from the 1996 original through Resident Evil Requiem (2026), which Capcom numbers Resident Evil 9 because Code: Veronica and Zero were never given numbers. This list runs to sixteen steps because the five remakes are broken out as their own entries next to the games they retell. Counting spinoffs like Revelations and light-gun titles, the total is much higher, but the core series is these eleven.
What order should I play Resident Evil in?
For games, release order is the recommended way to play: start with the 1996 original and continue through Resident Evil Requiem (2026). If you prefer story order, begin with Resident Evil Zero, which is a prequel, then play the first game and continue from there.
Can I play the remakes instead of the originals?
Yes. All five remakes retell their original's story with modern controls and graphics: the 2002 GameCube remake of the first game (sold today as Resident Evil HD Remaster), Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2020), Resident Evil 4 (2023), and Resident Evil Veronica, announced in June 2026 for a 2027 release. Beginners can substitute the remake in each slot without losing the plot.
Which version of Resident Evil should I buy today?
It depends on your platform. On PlayStation, Xbox and Switch the classics were never re-released, so the listings named Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 are the remakes. On PC both versions are usually available, because Capcom brought the 1996, 1998 and 1999 originals to GOG from June 2024 and to Steam on April 1, 2026. Watch the names: Resident Evil HD Remaster is the 2002 GameCube remake, not the 1996 game.
Should I play Resident Evil 4 (2005) or the 2023 remake?
Either, and this is the one entry where the choice is really yours, because both versions are easy to buy on consoles as well as PC. The 2023 remake is the smoother modern game and covers the same story; the 2005 original is the release that reinvented the series and remains widely sold. They fill the same slot in both orders, so play one and tick the other off.
Is Resident Evil Zero a prequel?
Yes. Resident Evil Zero released in 2002 but is set on the night just before the events of the first game, which is why it comes first in chronological order despite being the fifth mainline game released.
Do I need to play the spinoffs like Revelations?
No. The Resident Evil Revelations games and other spinoffs add side stories but are not required to follow the main plot. We keep them off this list so the core arc stays clear.
Where does Resident Evil Village fit in?
Resident Evil Village (2021) is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, continuing Ethan Winters' story. It is followed by Resident Evil Requiem (2026), the newest mainline entry, which sits last in both release and chronological order.
Are all the Resident Evil games connected?
Yes. Unlike the film adaptations, the mainline games all take place in one shared continuity, from the 1996 original to the newest entries, and the remakes retell parts of that same story. Most games still work standalone since each one explains what you need, but recurring characters like Chris, Jill, Leon and Ada carry through the whole timeline.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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