The Ultimate Guide to the Complete Resident Evil Game Series

Since its debut in 1996, the Resident Evil franchise has thrived for nearly three decades, showing no signs of slowing down. Following the success of Resident Evil 7 in 2017, the franchise experienced a significant resurgence. This momentum continued with the release of Resident Evil 2 Remake in 2019, further propelling the series to new heights. Today, Resident Evil is more expansive and captivating than ever, making it an ideal starting point for newcomers.

Not all newcomers to the Resident Evil franchise are interested in starting with the latest entries. Some prefer to begin from the very beginning. However, unlike other gaming franchises that have a clear and definitive starting point, such as the first game in the series, the Resident Evil franchise is a bit more perplexing. With a total of 29 games in the franchise, only around 15 are considered canon, and their chronological order can be quite jumbled.

Resident Evil 0

Released in 2002, Resident Evil 0 is not the initial installment in the franchise, but it serves as the starting point in the series' chronological timeline. Players assume the role of Rebecca Chambers, a member of Bravo Team of the Special Tactics And Rescue Service. While en route to investigate a series of alleged murders on the outskirts of Raccoon City, Chambers and her team crash-land in the Arklay Mountains. It is here that Chambers encounters Billy Coen, an ex-convict, and together they stumble upon a concealed Umbrella research facility. Within this facility, they uncover the truth about Umbrella's co-founder, Dr. James Marcus, who had discovered the Progenitor virus several decades earlier. Marcus had utilized this virus to create the T-Virus, resulting in the horrifying transformation of individuals into zombie-like creatures.

Resident Evil

The first game to be released was Resident Evil in 1996, which is set just after the events of Resident Evil 0. In this game, players assume the role of either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, members of S.T.A.R.S.' Alpha Team, as they search for the missing Bravo Team. However, their mission takes a terrifying turn when the team is unexpectedly attacked by a group of zombie dogs. Forced to seek refuge, they find themselves in the Spencer Mansion, a seemingly ordinary residence that is actually a secret Umbrella laboratory. It is here that Albert Wesker, who was originally a member of Alpha Team, reveals himself to be a double agent working for Umbrella. In a narrow escape, the team manages to blow up the Spencer Mansion, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Resident Evil: Outbreak

Resident Evil: Outbreak takes place during the initial hours of the Raccoon City T-Virus outbreak. The game follows a group of bar-goers as they strive to escape the city before it is destroyed by a government nuclear attack. Players assume the role of eight different survivors, including a member of the Raccoon City Police Department and a surgeon at Raccoon General Hospital.

Resident Evil 2

Set in the aftermath of the initial game, Resident Evil 2 takes place two months later as Leon S. Kennedy, a fresh recruit of the Raccoon City Police Department, and Claire Redfield find themselves caught in the midst of the Raccoon City outbreak. Their primary objective becomes escaping the chaos that surrounds them. As they navigate through the city, their path leads them to an undisclosed Umbrella laboratory. However, this secret facility harbors a far more dangerous virus known as the G-Virus. Surprisingly, the cunning Ada Wong, a hired mercenary, endeavors to pilfer this lethal pathogen for her own mysterious purposes.

Resident Evil 3

The initial portion of Resident Evil 3 takes place a mere day before the events of Resident Evil 2. It follows the story of Jill Valentine, a former member of S.T.A.R.S., who is constantly evading the terrifying Nemesis T-Type monster. Eventually, Jill crosses paths with Carlos Oliveira, a member of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service, and their timeline aligns with that of Resident Evil 2. After falling victim to infection and subsequently being cured, Jill awakens to the shocking revelation that the government intends to obliterate Raccoon City with a nuclear strike. In a narrow escape, the team manages to elude both the impending explosion and the relentless Nemesis.

Resident Evil: Survivor

A PS1 lightgun game, Resident Evil: Survivor revolves around the protagonist, pilot Ark Thompson, who is dispatched to Sheena Island, a privately owned establishment by Umbrella Corporation, under the orders of Leon S. Kennedy. As Ark navigates through the chaos caused by the infected, he temporarily loses his memory. However, his encounters lead him to confront a formidable new enemy, the Hypnos T-Type Tyrant. Remarkably, Ark emerges victorious in the face-off and proceeds to obliterate the Umbrella facility by triggering its self-destruct mechanism.

Resident Evil - Code: Veronica

Set three months after the events of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil - Code: Veronica follows the journey of Claire Redfield as she embarks on a mission to find her brother, Chris. Having been captured by Umbrella and managing to escape, Claire finds herself in yet another secretive Umbrella facility, this time located in Antarctica. With the help of a tip from Leon, Chris sets out to locate his sister and encounters Albert Wesker along the way, who is in search of the T-Veronica Virus. Eventually, Claire successfully escapes the facility with Chris, destroying it in the process, while Wesker secures a sample of the T-Veronica Virus.

Resident Evil 4

Skipping forward a few years, in Resident Evil 4, we find Leon S. Kennedy actively serving the US government. His mission is to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley, from a group of cultists. However, while on this mission, Leon stumbles upon yet another diabolical plan to unleash a world-domination virus known as the mind-controlling Las Plagas parasite. With the assistance of the skilled mercenary, Ada Wong, Leon successfully defeats the cult leader, Saddler. As the island facility self-destructs, Leon and Ashley make a daring escape, leaving destruction in their wake.

Resident Evil: Revelations

As a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, Jill Valentine is assigned to investigate the Queen Zenobia, a cruise ship that has been rumored to house Biological Organic Weapons. Teaming up with Chris Redfield, Jill discovers that a terrorist group called Il Veltro intends to unleash a new strain of the T-Virus known as the T-Abyss into the Earth's oceans. Despite facing numerous challenges, the team successfully thwarts Il Veltro's plans and ends up destroying the ship in the process.

Resident Evil 5

Five years have passed since the events of Resident Evil 4 and Revelations, and Chris Redfield, along with his BSAA partner Sheva Alomar, have been entrusted with the critical mission of halting the utilization of Biological Organic Weapons in West Africa. While on this perilous journey, Chris stumbles upon compelling evidence suggesting that Jill, whom they had believed to be deceased, has miraculously survived a recent encounter with the notorious Wesker. As they delve deeper into their investigation, Chris and Sheva uncover the shocking revelation that a new Uroboros Virus is being developed by Wesker, intended to propel humanity into its next evolutionary stage. Determined to put an end to Wesker's malevolence, Chris and his team employ a daring strategy, ultimately defeating him by plunging him into a raging volcano and launching a barrage of rockets towards him.

Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 introduces us to Claire Redfield, Moira Burton, and her father Barry Burton as they embark on a mission to locate a T-Phobos Virus. Their search leads them to an abandoned island housing an old Umbrella facility, where they encounter Alex Wesker, who shares a namesake with Albert. Here, Alex continues her sinister experiments. Throughout their journey, Barry discovers a young girl named Natalia, who possesses the ability to detect the presence of the virus in individuals. After successfully defeating Alex and escaping, Barry makes the compassionate decision to take Natalia under his wing and become her adoptive father.

Resident Evil 6

Resident Evil 6 introduces players to a diverse array of characters, each taking on different roles at various points in the game. The action begins with Jake Muller, the son of Albert Wesker, as he desperately tries to escape from a terrifying BOW known as Ustanak. Shortly after, Chris Redfield enters the scene, embarking on a mission to dismantle the newly formed Neo-Umbrella organization. In a parallel storyline, Leon S. Kennedy finds himself reluctantly having to eliminate an infected President and ultimately joins forces with the resistance against Neo-Umbrella.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

In Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Ethan Winters embarks on a search for his long-lost wife who vanished without a trace three years ago. A cryptic message from her draws him to a dilapidated plantation in Louisiana, where he encounters the menacing Baker family, all of whom pose a deadly threat. As the story unfolds, Ethan discovers that the family has succumbed to a malevolent virus called Mold, controlled by a mysterious young girl named Eveline, who is the subject of enigmatic experiments.

Resident Evil Village

Three years have passed since the events of Resident Evil 7, and Ethan Winters embarks on a mission to find his baby daughter, Rose, who has mysteriously disappeared. During his investigation, Ethan uncovers the shocking truth that Mother Miranda, a renowned biologist from the early 20th century, is behind Rose's abduction. Not only is Miranda responsible for creating the Mold, a dangerous substance, but she also played a significant role in mentoring Oswell Spencer and developing the T-Virus.

To Ethan's astonishment, he learns that he died when he first encountered the Baker family. However, thanks to the regenerative properties of Miranda's Mold, Ethan has managed to stay alive. Just when the situation seems dire, Chris Redfield arrives to save the day. With his intervention, Chris destroys the source of the Mold and successfully rescues Mia, Ethan's wife. Unfortunately, Ethan is left behind, facing an uncertain fate.