The quick answer: to play the Resident Evil games in order today, start with the Resident Evil 2 remake, then play the Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 remakes, and finish with Resident Evil 7, Village and Requiem. That path covers the core story with modern controls and skips the oldest, hardest-to-find releases.

If you want the full picture, below you will find every mainline game in release order and in story order, plus the mistakes that trip up new players.

Official Resident Evil Requiem screenshot showing the game's dark atmosphere
Resident Evil Requiem, released in February 2026, is the most recent mainline entry. Image: Capcom

Resident Evil games in release order

These are the mainline games and the main Revelations spin-offs, listed by original release year:

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  1. Resident Evil (1996)
  2. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
  3. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
  4. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (2000)
  5. Resident Evil remake and Resident Evil Zero (2002)
  6. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
  7. Resident Evil 5 (2009)
  8. Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil 6 (2012)
  9. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)
  10. Resident Evil 7 biohazard (2017)
  11. Resident Evil 2 remake (2019) and Resident Evil 3 remake (2020)
  12. Resident Evil Village (2021)
  13. Resident Evil 4 remake (2023)
  14. Resident Evil Requiem (2026)
Official Resident Evil 2 remake screenshot of Leon in the Raccoon City police station
The Resident Evil 2 remake is the most popular starting point for new players. Image: Capcom

Resident Evil in story order (chronological timeline)

The story does not follow the release dates. Here is the timeline, with the year each game is set in:

  1. Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil (1998): the Raccoon Forest and the Spencer Mansion.
  2. Resident Evil 3, first half, then Resident Evil 2, then the rest of Resident Evil 3 (1998): the fall of Raccoon City.
  3. Code: Veronica (1998): Claire's search for Chris after Raccoon City.
  4. Resident Evil 4 (2004), Revelations (2005), Resident Evil 5 (2009), Revelations 2 (2011) and Resident Evil 6 (2012–2013).
  5. Resident Evil 7 (2017) and Resident Evil Village (2021): Ethan Winters' story.
  6. Resident Evil Requiem: set about three decades after the destruction of Raccoon City, with Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy.

Remakes keep the same place on the timeline as the originals they replace. You do not need both versions of Resident Evil 2, 3 or 4.

How the remakes differ: the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes trade the fixed camera angles of the PlayStation originals for an over-the-shoulder view, and the Resident Evil 4 remake rebuilds the 2005 classic with modern movement and expanded story scenes. The 2002 remake of the first game kept fixed camera angles and is still the best way to experience the original mansion story. Together with Resident Evil Zero, it is the oldest pair we still recommend for fans who want the full timeline.

Official Resident Evil 4 remake screenshot of Leon in the European village
Resident Evil 4 jumps to 2004 and is a good bridge between the classic era and the action-heavy sequels. Image: Capcom

Where to start: the best order for beginners

Most new players are better served by a modern path than a strict timeline. We recommend: Resident Evil 2 remake → Resident Evil 3 remake → Resident Evil 4 remake → Resident Evil 7 → Village → Requiem. All six use Capcom's RE Engine, share modern controls and are available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.

If you prefer first-person horror, you can start directly with Resident Evil 7: it introduces a new protagonist and works as a fresh entry point. Just play Village right after it, because Village is a direct sequel.

Price check, October 2026: on Steam, the regular US prices are $39.99 for Resident Evil 2, 3, 4 and Village, and $19.99 for Resident Evil 7. Sales are frequent, so check the store before buying.

Official Resident Evil 7 biohazard screenshot of the Baker family house
Resident Evil 7 switches to first person and is a strong alternative starting point. Image: Capcom

Common mistakes when playing Resident Evil in order

  • Playing Village before 7. Village continues Ethan's story and spoils Resident Evil 7.
  • Thinking you must play everything. Revelations 1 and 2 are optional side stories; skipping them does not break the main plot.
  • Buying a cloud version on the first Switch. On Switch 2, look for the native releases; Capcom says saves from the old Cloud Versions do not carry over.
  • Starting with Resident Evil 6. It is an action-heavy entry that leans on years of story; it makes more sense after 4 and 5.
Official Resident Evil Village screenshot of the snowy village
Resident Evil Village is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7, so play them back to back. Image: Capcom

FAQ

Do I need to play the originals before the remakes?

No. The remakes of 2, 3 and 4 retell the same stories with new gameplay. Play the originals only if you are curious about how the series began.

Can I play Resident Evil Requiem first?

You can, since it introduces Grace Ashcroft as a new lead. But Requiem returns to the aftermath of Raccoon City and brings back Leon, so it lands harder after the Resident Evil 2 remake.

Which platform is best for the series?

PC, PS5 and Xbox have the widest catalog. Switch 2 now has the full modern path too, since Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4 arrived on Switch 2 in October 2026; Capcom's official Switch 2 portal lists every available entry.

Finished the series and want more scares? See our list of the best horror games to play this Halloween.