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So, you wanna take the plunge into Raccoon City, eh? You've come to the right place. As Popverse's evil resident who has spent way too many hours of his life playing, thinking, and screaming about the Resident Evil games, I'm happy that you're considering taking a deepdive into Capcom's beloved survival horror video game franchise. Buckle up, because things are about to get campy, scary, and above all, fun.

How to play the Resident Evil games in release order

There is a certain wisdom to be gained from playing all the Resident Evil games in the order in which they were released. After all, that's how millions of gamers have already played the games. The only problem you'll run into is scarcity when it comes to locating copies of Resident Evil games that haven't been ported to newer consoles like the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. I've bolded the mainline entries into the franchise to make your life easier. Resident Evil has plenty of spinoff games, but barring the now-classic Code: Veronica game, I wouldn't consider any of the spinoffs to be worth hunting down and playing. 

• Resident Evil (1996)
• Resident Evil 2 (1998)
• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
• Resident Evil - Code: Veronica (2000)
• Resident Evil Survivor (2000)
• Resident Evil Survivor 2 - Code: Veronica (2001)
• Resident Evil Gaiden (2001)
• Resident Evil Zero (2002)
• Resident Evil Remake (2002)
• Resident Evil: Dead Aim (2003)
• Resident Evil: Outbreak (2003)
• Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 (2004)
• Resident Evil 4 (2005)
• 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 Raccoon 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 Re:Verse (2022) - no longer available 
• Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)
• Resident Evil Requiem (2026)

How to play the Resident Evil games in chronological order

Okay, okay, but what if you want to get a handle on the Resident Evil timeline? Look no further than this chronological order guide. Be warned that Resident Evil 0 didn't have the same cultural impact that the Resident Evil original and remake did when they came out. So if Resident Evil 0 feels lackluster to you, don't be discouraged. Also, please know that it's perfectly acceptable to me as the Popverse evil resident if you only play the remakes of the Resident Evil games. The tank controls of the original games can be jarring to play in 2026. 

• Resident Evil 0
• Resident Evil - remake or original 
• Resident Evil 2 - remake or original
• Resident Evil 3 - remake or original 
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica
• Resident Evil 4 - remake or original 
• Resident Evil: Revelations
• Resident Evil 5
• Resident Evil: Revelations 2
• Resident Evil 6
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• Resident Evil VILLAGE
• Resident Evil Requiem 

Which Resident Evil game should you play first?

Look, the Resident Evil games aren't for everyone. They're stressful and difficult. But within the particular experience that they provide us as gamers, there are different flavors. When it comes to answering the question of "which Resident Evil game should I play first," I am going to ask you what experience you would like to get from playing a Resident Evil game in the first place. 

If you want a classic survival horror experience, where you are working with super limited resources and are trying to fend off zombies in an enclosed space, I recommend starting with Resident Evil 2's remake. Nothing against the original Resident Evil remake, but it's from 2002, and its graphics and gameplay may not match most gamers' sensibilities today. The Resident Evil 2 remake is exceptional and provides an introduction to Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, two of the franchise's main characters. It also flows well into the Resident Evil 3 remake. 

If you want a more action-oriented experience where you're kicking ass and trying to ignore your own terror, look no further than Resident Evil 4 and its perfect 2023 remake. There's a reason why Resident Evil 4 is the most enduring Resident Evil game. Its mix of both camp and horror, plus its impeccably crafted gameplay and plot about Leon S. Kennedy rescuing the US President's daughter from a cult in Spain, showed gamers that the franchise could get silly without forgetting how to scare us. It's also where the iconic "Where's everybody going, bingo?" line from Leon Kennedy comes from. 

Lastly, if you're unable to experience fear, or you just simply want the pants scared off of you, look no further than Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Unlike the other mainline RE games, Resident Evil 7 has first-person POV gameplay, and you're not playing as a badass like Leon Kennedy or Chris Redfield either. Instead, you're a regular guy named Ethan Winters investigating the disappearance of his wife on a dilapidated plantation in Louisiana. What could go wrong! Be warned, though. Starting with Resident Evil 7 is like jumping into the deep end without floaties after your first swim lesson. But you know yourself best. You could be Namor the Sub-Mariner for all I know. 

Upcoming Resident Evil games

Currently, there is one Resident Evil game that will be released in the near future - Resident Evil: Requiem. Requiem will feature a new character named Grace Ashcroft, but will also include our favorite emo Resident Evil boy, Leon S. Kennedy, who is now middle-aged. 

• Resident Evil: Requiem - February 27, 2026

Is every Resident Evil connected?

Yes, all of the Resident Evil games exist within the same timeline. For instance, the forthcoming Resident Evil: Requiem features a middle-aged Leon S. Kennedy, meaning that Requiem is following the events of Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil 2, which took place when Leon was 36, 27, and 21 years old, respectively. That said, each Resident Evil game is a self-contained adventure meant to be accessible to newcomers. 

What is the hardest Resident Evil game?

Difficulty can somewhat be subjective, particularly when it comes to a horror game series like Resident Evil. The games in this series are known for being difficult as a whole, though perhaps not Dark Souls-level difficult. What makes these games difficult is that they're scary, and being scared can make it difficult to focus on staying alive in the game. 

Just based on my personal experiences playing these games, Code: Veronica and Code: Veronica X are the most difficult Resident Evil games for a first playthrough, because you can easily find yourself stranded in the middle of the game without the ammo and other resources that you desperately need. From a purely experiential standpoint, I struggled the most with Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, because I was so scared. 

What is the #1 best-selling Resident Evil game?

The top-selling Resident Evil game is the Resident Evil 2 Remake from 2019, and for good reason! It's an amazing game, and it ushered in the current golden age of Resident Evil remakes that we're in right now. According to Capcom, Resident Evil 2's remake has sold 16.3 million units. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard comes in second place for the franchise and has sold 15.9 million units. 

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

• All upcoming games in 2025 and beyond
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And be sure to check Popverse regularly for the latest gaming news.