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The Resident Evil series is a popular survival horror video game franchise developed by Capcom. The series first debuted in 1996, and since then, it has become one of the most well-known and influential franchises in the horror gaming genre.
The games typically follow a group of protagonists, often law enforcement or other special forces members, fighting to survive in a world overrun by zombies and other biologically-engineered monsters. Gameplay often involves solving puzzles, managing limited resources, and fighting creatures in the game world.
Below is a quick list of the games in chronological order, followed by a list of all games by release date, and finally, a list of each game’s summary for those who just want to catch up.
How To Play the Resident Evil Games in Chronological Order
Here’s a quick list of the Resident Evil games in order and the dates they take place in the series.
- Resident Evil 0 – July 23 to July 24, 1998
- Resident Evil – July 24 to July 25, 1998
- Resident Evil 3 (First Half)- September 26 to September 28, 1998
- Resident Evil 2 – September 29 to September 30, 1998
- Resident Evil 3 (Second Half) – October 1, 1998
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica – December 1998
- Resident Evil 4 – 2004
- Resident Evil: Revelations – 2005
- Resident Evil 5 – 2009
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – 2011
- Umbrella Corps – March 12 to November 20, 2012
- Not technically part of the story, but this multiplayer game takes place around this time.
- Resident Evil 6 – December 24 to December 25, 2012
- Resident Evil 7 – July to August 2017
- Resident Evil Village – February 8 to February 10, 2021
All Resident Evil Games by Release Date
Here’s a quick list of the Resident Evil games in the order they were released:
- Resident Evil – 1996
- Resident Evil 2 – 1998
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – 1999
- Resident Evil Survivor – 2000
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica – 2000
- Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica – 2001
- Resident Evil Gaiden – 2001
- Resident Evil (Remake) – 2002
- Resident Evil Zero – 2002
- Resident Evil: Dead Aim – 2003
- Resident Evil Outbreak – 2003
- Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 – 2004
- Resident Evil 4 – 2005
- Resident Evil: Deadly Silence – 2006
- Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles – 2007
- Resident Evil 5 – 2009
- Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles – 2009
- Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D – 2011
- Resident Evil: Revelations – 2012
- Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City – 2012
- Resident Evil 6 – 2012
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – 2015
- Umbrella Corps – 2016
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – 2017
- Resident Evil 2 (Remake) – 2019
- Resident Evil 3 (Remake) – 2020
- Resident Evil: Resistance – 2020
- Resident Evil Village – 2021
- Resident Evil Village: Shadow of Rose – 2022
- Resident Evil Re:Verse – 2022
- Resident Evil 4 (Remake) – 2023
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All Resident Evil Games in Chronological Order
Below are short summaries of each game’s story. Beware of Spoilers!
Resident Evil 0
- Release Date: November 10, 2002
Resident Evil 0 takes place before the events of the first Resident Evil game and follows two protagonists, Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen. They are both members of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) who are sent to investigate a series of murders in the Arklay Mountains.
They soon find themselves stranded on a train filled with zombies and other monsters and must work together to uncover the truth behind the murders and survive the dangers on the train. Along the way, they uncover a sinister plot by the Umbrella Corporation involving the creation of bio-weapons. They must confront various creatures and mutated monsters to stop the corporation’s plans.
Resident Evil
- Release Date: March 22, 1996
The original Resident Evil game takes place in a mansion in the Arklay Mountains outside of Raccoon City. The player takes control of either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, two members of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) who are investigating reports of bizarre murders in the area.
As they explore the mansion, they encounter various monsters and uncover clues that suggest that the murders are linked to a bioweapons experiment conducted by the Umbrella Corporation. They eventually discover that the mansion is a front for a secret laboratory where Umbrella has been conducting illegal experiments with the T-Virus.
This mutagenic virus turns humans into zombies and other monsters. The player must fight through various creatures and mutated monsters to escape the mansion and expose Umbrella’s involvement in the outbreak.
Resident Evil 3 (First Half)
- Release Date: September 22, 1999
The first half of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis follows Jill Valentine, a former member of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.), as she tries to escape Raccoon City, which zombies and other monsters following a viral outbreak have overrun. Along the way, Jill is pursued by the Nemesis, a bio-weapon created by the Umbrella Corporation, which has been sent to Raccoon City to eliminate any remaining S.T.A.R.S. members who could expose Umbrella’s involvement in the outbreak.
Jill teams up with other survivors, including Carlos Oliveira, to find a way out of the city and uncover the truth behind the outbreak. As they progress through the city, they encounter various monsters and obstacles and uncover clues that suggest that Umbrella’s involvement in the outbreak goes beyond just the T-Virus.
The first half of the game ends with Jill and Carlos discovering a helicopter they hope to use to escape the city. However, the Nemesis attacks and destroys the helicopter, leaving them stranded and vulnerable to the monster’s relentless pursuit.
Resident Evil 2
- Release Date: January 21, 1998
Resident Evil 2 occurs in Raccoon City, where a viral outbreak has turned the population into zombies and other mutated monsters. The game follows two protagonists, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, as they attempt to survive and uncover the truth behind the outbreak.
Along the way, they encounter other survivors, including a young girl named Sherry, who must fight through hordes of zombies and other creatures. They eventually discover that the outbreak was caused by the Umbrella Corporation, a powerful pharmaceutical company, and must confront the corporation’s top scientists and their most dangerous creations to escape the city.
Resident Evil 3 (Last Half)
- Release Date: September 22, 1999
The second half of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis follows Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira as they continue navigating the dangerous streets of Raccoon City and trying to escape. They uncover a conspiracy involving the Umbrella Corporation and their plans to cover up the viral outbreak by destroying the entire city with a missile strike.
Jill and Carlos work together to disable the missile and confront the Umbrella Corporation’s top officials, including the mastermind behind the viral outbreak, William Birkin. They also face off against the Nemesis multiple times, including in a showdown in the Umbrella Corporation’s underground laboratory.
In the end, Jill and Carlos successfully escape the city as the missile strike destroys it, but not before facing numerous challenges and battles against Umbrella’s creations.
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
- Release Date: February 3, 2000
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica follows Claire Redfield as she continues her search for her missing brother, Chris, who disappeared after the events of the first Resident Evil game.
Claire is captured by the Umbrella Corporation and sent to prison on Rockfort Island, where she discovers that the corporation has been conducting illegal experiments with the T-Veronica virus. She escapes with the help of another prisoner, Steve Burnside. Together, they uncover a plot by a new faction of the Umbrella Corporation to use the T-Veronica virus to create a new breed of superhumans. The story takes them to Antarctica, where they confront the leader of the new Umbrella faction, Alfred Ashford, and his twin sister, Alexia, who has been injected with the T-Veronica virus has become a powerful monster.
Chris Redfield also appears, and the three of them work together to defeat the Ashfords and stop the new Umbrella faction’s plans. The game concludes with Claire and Chris escaping the Antarctic base as it explodes, but not before encountering one final surprise that sets up future events in the series.
Resident Evil 4
- Release Date: January 11, 2005
Resident Evil 4 follows Leon S. Kennedy, a former police officer and protagonist from Resident Evil 2. He travels to a rural village in Spain to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter, Ashley Graham, who a mysterious cult kidnaps.
Leon soon discovers that the Los Illuminados cult is controlled by a parasitic organism, Las Plagas, which turns its hosts into violent and aggressive beings. Leon must fight through the cult members and their infected followers, encountering new creatures such as chainsaw-wielding enemies and regenerators.
Along the way, Leon is assisted by a former police officer, Luis Sera, and Ada Wong, a mysterious woman with her own agenda. The story takes Leon to various locations, including a castle owned by the cult’s leader, Osmund Saddler. In the end, Leon rescues Ashley and confronts Saddler, defeating him and destroying the Las Plagas parasite. The game concludes with Leon and Ashley escaping on a jet ski as the castle explodes behind them.
Resident Evil: Revelations
- Release Date: January 26, 2012
Resident Evil: Revelations follows series protagonist Jill Valentine and her partner, Parker Luciani, as they investigate a terrorist group called Veltro that has unleashed a bio-terror attack on the floating city of Terragrigia.
As they explore the city, they encounter mutated creatures and uncover a conspiracy involving the bioterrorist organization, the Il Veltro, and the government agency, the FBC. The story also features flashbacks to an earlier mission on a luxury liner, Queen Zenobia, where Jill and her former partner, Chris Redfield, investigate another bioterrorist attack. The two storylines eventually converge as Jill and Parker uncover the truth behind the Veltro and the FBC’s involvement in the bio-terror attacks.
The game also introduces a new enemy, the Ooze, humans infected with a new type of virus. In the end, Jill and Parker successfully stop the Veltro and prevent the virus from spreading, but not before facing numerous challenges and uncovering shocking revelations.
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Resident Evil 5
- Release Date: March 5, 2009
Resident Evil 5 follows series protagonist Chris Redfield as he travels to Africa to investigate a bioterrorist threat involving a new type of virus. He is accompanied by Sheva Alomar, a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA).
Together they encounter new creatures called the Majini, humans infected with the virus. They also discover that the virus is being used by a former Umbrella Corporation researcher, Albert Wesker, who seeks to create a new world order through biological weapons. Chris and Sheva work together to stop Wesker and his allies, including Jill Valentine, who Wesker has brainwashed. The story takes them to various locations in Africa, including a mining town and a laboratory complex.
In the end, Chris and Sheva confront Wesker and Jill in a final battle, ultimately defeating Wesker and preventing the virus from spreading. The game concludes with Chris and Sheva escaping on a helicopter as the laboratory complex explodes behind them.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
- Release Date: February 24, 2015
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 follows series protagonist Claire Redfield and newcomer Moira Burton, daughter of series veteran Barry Burton, as they are kidnapped and imprisoned on a remote island by a mysterious organization called the Overseers. As they try to escape, they encounter new enemies, the Afflicted, who are humans infected with a new type of virus.
They also meet other survivors, including Barry Burton and a young girl named Natalia, who has the ability to sense enemies and hidden items. The story is told across four episodes, alternating between Claire and Moira’s story and Barry and Natalia’s story. Along the way, they uncover the truth behind the Overseers and their connection to a larger conspiracy involving the bioterrorist organization, TerraSave.
In the end, the survivors successfully stopped the Overseers and prevented the virus from spreading, but not before facing numerous challenges and making difficult choices.
Resident Evil 6
- Release Date: October 2, 2012
Resident Evil 6 follows series veterans Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield, as well as newcomers Jake Muller and Ada Wong, as they navigate a global outbreak of a new type of virus that can cause humans to mutate into deadly monsters. The game features four interconnected campaigns, each with its unique gameplay style and set of characters.
Leon’s campaign takes him to Tall Oaks, a town in America that infected creatures have overrun. In contrast, Chris’s campaign follows his mission to take down a bioterrorist organization in China. Jake’s campaign has him on the run from a different bioterrorist group, while Ada’s campaign fills in the gaps and explores the overarching conspiracy behind the virus outbreak.
The story also features numerous other returning characters and locations from previous games in the series. The game’s action-packed gameplay and large-scale set pieces are a major focus, with a variety of weapons and abilities available to the player characters. In the end, the protagonists can stop the spread of the virus and foil the plans of the various villains.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Release Date: January 24, 2017
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard follows protagonist Ethan Winters as he travels to a derelict plantation in Louisiana, searching for his missing wife, Mia. Upon arriving, he discovers that the plantation is home to a family of mutated humans. This Baker family has been infected by a new type of virus known as the Molded.
Ethan must navigate the dangerous and grotesque environment of the plantation, solving puzzles and fighting off the infected inhabitants as he uncovers the truth behind the Bakers and the mysterious organization known as The Connections. Along the way, he meets other characters, such as a mysterious woman named Zoe and an agent from a rival organization named Chris Redfield, who provide him with assistance and information.
In the end, Ethan rescues his wife and defeats the Bakers.
Resident Evil Village
- Release Date: May 7, 2021
Resident Evil Village follows protagonist Ethan Winters again, as he and his wife Mia have relocated to a remote European village to start a new life. However, their peaceful existence is disrupted when their daughter Rosemary is kidnapped by a mysterious cult known as the “Four Lords” and their leader, Mother Miranda.
Ethan sets out to rescue his daughter but must first navigate a variety of terrifying environments and enemies, including werewolves, vampires, and other monstrous creatures. Along the way, Ethan meets a cast of new characters, including a strange old man named Duke and a woman named Lady Dimitrescu, who has become something of a breakout character in the franchise.
As Ethan progresses through the game, he uncovers the truth behind the Four Lords and Mother Miranda, as well as the village’s dark secrets. In the end, Ethan rescues his daughter and ends the cult’s plans.