Resident Evil Games in Order: Every Major Game, Platforms, Trailers & How to Play Today

This Resident Evil games in order guide follows the franchise from the 1996 original through Resident Evil Requiem and explains the best practical way to play each major entry today. Resident Evil has reinvented itself for 30 years, so the cleanest path depends on whether you want the historical experience or modern controls and presentation. For most players, release order provides the clearest view of how the series, platforms and technology evolved.

Updated September 17, 2026: PCFix411 checked current platform availability against Capcom’s Resident Evil Portal, current PlayStation/Xbox storefronts, GOG’s preserved original trilogy, and current official Resident Evil information. Older titles without a modern native port are clearly marked instead of being treated as if they are still sold everywhere.

Resident Evil Games in Order — Quick Reference

Use the Resident Evil games in order table above as the franchise map, then decide whether you want the original version, the modern remake, or both when Capcom has created substantially different editions.

Before You Start: Original Games vs Remakes

Resident Evil has several games that share a title but are not simple graphical remasters. The 2002 Resident Evil remake substantially reworked the 1996 game, while Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2020) and Resident Evil 4 (2023) rebuilt their originals around modern controls, new environments, RE Engine rendering and revised pacing.

If your goal is franchise history, play both originals and remakes. If your goal is simply to follow the major story with modern controls, the remakes are the easier path.

Classic Survival Horror Era (1996–2004)

1. Resident Evil (1996)

The original Resident Evil established the fixed-camera exploration, limited inventory, puzzle solving and resource management that defined early survival horror. Its 1996 PlayStation release is the historical starting point, while the preserved PC version now gives modern Windows players a much easier legal route into the original game.

How to play today: the preserved PC release is available through GOG and, as of 2026, Steam. Modern compatibility work includes current Windows support and modern-controller handling, making this the cleanest way to experience the original version without relying on aging hardware.

2. Resident Evil 2 (1998)

Resident Evil 2 moved the story to Raccoon City and introduced Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. It kept the original game’s pre-rendered backgrounds and tank controls but expanded the scale, dual-character structure and replay value with separate scenarios.

How to play today: the preserved PC edition is available on GOG and Steam, with compatibility work aimed at modern Windows systems and controllers. Play this version for the original 1998 design; choose the 2019 remake later in this guide if you want modern over-the-shoulder controls and RE Engine graphics.

3. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis pushed the original formula toward faster pursuit and action, with Nemesis creating pressure across Raccoon City. The quick-turn move, live-choice moments and Mercenaries mode made it mechanically distinct from Resident Evil 2.

How to play today: the preserved PC version is available through GOG and Steam. It remains worth playing separately from the 2020 remake because the original map flow, Nemesis encounters, live selections and Mercenaries implementation are materially different.

4. Resident Evil Code: Veronica (2000)

Code: Veronica moved the series from pre-rendered backgrounds into fully 3D environments and continued Claire and Chris Redfield’s story after Raccoon City. Even without a number in the title, it functions as a major story chapter between the classic trilogy and later numbered entries.

How to play today: the PS4 edition remains playable on PS5 through backward compatibility, while Xbox offers the Xbox 360 version for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This is one of the franchise’s most important older games that still lacks the kind of modern native remake or broad PC release available for several numbered entries.

5. Resident Evil Remake / Resident Evil HD Remaster (2002 / 2015)

The GameCube remake rebuilt the mansion with new areas, Crimson Heads, revised puzzles and dramatically improved presentation. The later HD Remaster made that version much easier to play on modern systems and remains the best starting point for newcomers who want the original mansion story without 1996-era presentation.

Technology shift: pre-rendered environments became far more detailed, modern widescreen support arrived later, and alternate control options reduced the learning curve for players who do not like tank controls.

6. Resident Evil 0 / HD Remaster (2002 / 2016)

Resident Evil 0 is a prequel built around Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen. Its partner-switching system lets players move between two characters, while its decision to drop items directly into rooms instead of using item boxes creates a different inventory-management rhythm.

How to play today: the HD version is broadly available on modern PC and console storefronts and is the version most players should use.

7. Resident Evil Outbreak (2003)

Outbreak was unusually ambitious for its time: it brought online cooperative survival horror to PlayStation 2 and showed the Raccoon City disaster from the perspective of ordinary survivors. The concept anticipated the cooperative and asymmetrical experiments Capcom would revisit years later.

How to play today: Capcom does not currently list a native modern port in its current Resident Evil lineup, so original PS2 hardware and a legitimate disc remain the straightforward official route.

8. Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 (2004)

File #2 expanded the Outbreak structure with additional scenarios, characters and cooperative challenges. It remains important for fans interested in Capcom’s early online multiplayer design.

How to play today: like the first Outbreak, it has no current native modern release in Capcom’s lineup. Treat it as a legacy-hardware title rather than pretending it is one click away on a modern storefront.

Over-the-Shoulder & Action Era (2005–2015)

9. Resident Evil 4 (2005)

Resident Evil 4 changed both the franchise and third-person action games by moving the camera over Leon’s shoulder and making precision aiming central to combat. The original is still widely playable through later console and PC ports.

How to play today: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam versions remain practical, with newer PlayStation and Xbox hardware able to use the compatible prior-generation editions.

10. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)

The Umbrella Chronicles retells major events from Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3 while adding new material around Umbrella’s downfall. It is an on-rails shooter rather than a traditional survival-horror game.

How to play today: there is no current native PC/PS5/Xbox Series edition in Capcom’s modern lineup. The Wii and later PS3-era releases remain the legacy routes.

11. Resident Evil 5 (2009)

Resident Evil 5 built directly on Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder combat but made cooperative play a core part of the campaign. Its modern re-releases bundle prior DLC and make split-screen or online co-op the main reason to revisit it today.

How to play today: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam editions are the easiest modern routes, with backward compatibility helping on newer consoles.

12. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009)

The Darkside Chronicles revisits Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica while adding Operation Javier, which connects Leon and Krauser before Resident Evil 4. Like Umbrella Chronicles, it uses an on-rails light-gun-style structure.

How to play today: it remains primarily a Wii/PS3-era title without a current native release in Capcom’s modern lineup.

13. Resident Evil Revelations (2012)

Revelations blended tighter horror environments with the more action-oriented combat of the post-RE4 era. The original Nintendo 3DS release was later expanded to consoles and PC, making it much easier to revisit now.

How to play today: modern console and PC versions are broadly available, including Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Steam releases listed by Capcom.

14. Resident Evil 6 (2012)

Resident Evil 6 pushed the action formula to its maximum with multiple campaigns, cooperative play and a large cast. It is mechanically very different from the slower survival-horror entries, but it remains an important endpoint for the action-heavy era before Resident Evil 7 reset the tone.

How to play today: PS4, Xbox One, Switch and Steam versions make it one of the easier older entries to access on current hardware.

15. Resident Evil Revelations 2 (2015)

Revelations 2 returned to a more contained horror structure while using episodic storytelling and two-character mechanics. Claire Redfield and Barry Burton anchor the story, and Raid Mode gives the game a large replayable side mode.

How to play today: Capcom lists versions across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and Steam-era platforms.

RE Engine & Modern Remake Era (2017–2026)

16. Resident Evil 7 biohazard (2017)

Resident Evil 7 was the franchise’s major technical and tonal reset. It introduced first-person play, the RE Engine and a much more intimate style of horror. The game later received current-generation upgrades with ray tracing, higher frame-rate support and 3D audio features on supported hardware.

How to play today: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC are straightforward choices. Capcom’s current lineup also lists additional supported ports.

17. Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)

The 2019 remake rebuilt Resident Evil 2 using RE Engine, over-the-shoulder aiming and modern environmental streaming while retaining the police-station survival loop. It is one of the easiest recommendations for a new player because it combines classic resource pressure with modern controls.

Technology note: Capcom added a current-generation update for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with ray tracing, high-frame-rate options and 3D audio support. PC received corresponding upgrades.

18. Resident Evil 3 Remake + Resident Evil Resistance (2020)

The Resident Evil 3 remake uses the same RE Engine foundation as the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake but emphasizes movement, pursuit and action. It originally shipped with Resident Evil Resistance, an asymmetrical multiplayer experiment.

How to play today: current PlayStation, Xbox and PC versions are easy to access, and the single-player remake also received the same class of next-generation technical upgrade as Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7.

19. Resident Evil Village (2021)

Village expands Resident Evil 7’s first-person foundation into larger environments, heavier combat and a more flexible upgrade economy. It also shows how far RE Engine scaled across consoles, PC and later Apple hardware.

How to play today: PS5/PS4, Xbox Series/One, Steam and Capcom’s other current supported versions are listed in the official Resident Evil lineup.

20. Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)

The 2023 remake keeps the basic story and over-the-shoulder identity of Resident Evil 4 while rebuilding combat, level design, parrying, stealth and environmental detail around RE Engine. It is not a replacement for the 2005 original so much as a modern reinterpretation worth playing separately.

How to play today: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and supported Apple versions remain the main official routes.

21. Resident Evil Requiem (2026)

Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline Resident Evil game and the newest major entry as of this update. Capcom launched it on February 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

Technology note: this is the entry where current-generation hardware matters most. If you are choosing between PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 and PC, compare display target, frame-rate expectations, storage and portability rather than assuming every version targets the same experience.

What About Operation Raccoon City, Umbrella Corps and Other Spin-Offs?

Resident Evil has many additional games, including Operation Raccoon City, Umbrella Corps, handheld titles, mobile releases and discontinued multiplayer projects. This guide focuses on the major story releases, remakes and major side-series that materially help someone understand the franchise or its technology evolution. It is deliberately not a database of every licensed or mobile Resident Evil product ever released.

Which Resident Evil Games Are Hardest to Play Legally on Modern Hardware?

Outbreak, Outbreak: File #2 and the Chronicles pair are the biggest gaps because Capcom does not currently present them as native modern releases in its active lineup. The original 1996–1999 trilogy is in a much better position because GOG’s preservation releases provide legitimate modern PC access.

Code: Veronica is also easier than many players assume: PlayStation currently sells the PS4 version, which can run on PS5, while Xbox sells a version playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Best Resident Evil Games to Start With in 2026

You do not have to complete every title in this Resident Evil games in order list before enjoying the series. If your priority is a strong first experience rather than historical completeness, these starting points make the choice easier.

Resident Evil Games in Order FAQ

Should I play Resident Evil in release order or story order?

Release order is the better default for most players because it shows how Capcom introduced characters, mechanics and technical changes over time. Story chronology can be useful on a replay, but jumping around can make older controls and presentation feel more abrupt.

Can I use the remakes instead of the original Resident Evil games?

Yes if your main goal is to follow the major story with modern controls, but the remakes are not identical replacements. Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 change level design, pacing, mechanics and sometimes story details, so franchise-history fans should treat the originals and remakes as separate experiences.

Which Resident Evil games are hardest to play on current hardware?

Outbreak, Outbreak: File #2 and the Chronicles games remain the largest access gaps because they do not have broad native current-generation releases. The original 1996–1999 PC trilogy is easier to access now because preserved releases support modern Windows systems.

Do I need a gaming PC for modern Resident Evil games?

No. Current Resident Evil entries are available across modern consoles and PC, depending on the title. A gaming PC gives you more control over resolution, frame rate and graphics settings, while consoles simplify compatibility. Check the specific game’s current requirements before buying or upgrading hardware.

PC and Console Setup Tips Before You Start

Older Resident Evil games are light by modern hardware standards, but newer RE Engine titles benefit from SSD storage, current GPU drivers and realistic resolution/frame-rate expectations. If you are buying or upgrading a PC, see How to Choose an SSD for Your PC and Console vs Gaming PC in 2026. For controller options, use the PCFix411 Game Controller Buying Guide.

Sources & Freshness

Primary checks for this guide include the official Resident Evil Portal lineup, Capcom’s Resident Evil history materials, the GOG preserved original trilogy, current PlayStation and Xbox Code: Veronica X availability, Capcom’s current-generation update information for Resident Evil 2, 3 and 7, and Capcom’s current Resident Evil Requiem product information. PCFix411 rechecked the newest entry against Capcom’s September 2026 materials before publication.

Bottom Line

If you want the simplest path through the Resident Evil games in order in 2026, start with Resident Evil HD Remaster, use the modern remakes for Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4, make time for Code: Veronica, then continue through Resident Evil 5, 6, 7, Village and Requiem. If you want to understand how survival-horror technology evolved, the preserved original trilogy, Outbreak experiments, Chronicles shooters and Revelations games make the history much richer.