GameTimeline

Release & story order

Resident Evil timeline

Resident Evil from the 1996 original through the remakes and Requiem—release dates, story chronology, Raccoon City overlaps, and when to play each DLC.

Updated June 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When each game was released. Remakes are separate rows — same story as the originals, different purchase. Pick a classic or modern path below; you don't need both.

  • Modern path → RE2 Remake → RE3 Remake → RE4 Remake → RE7 → Village → Requiem
  • Classic path → RE1 → RE2 → RE3 → CODE Veronica → RE4 → RE5 → RE6 (or skip to RE7)
  • RE2 Remake: Leon first run, then Claire second — the usual recommended order
  • Story DLC (Separate Ways, Not a Hero, etc.)—after each game's main story; see FAQ
Story order tips

When events happened in the story, from July 1998 through the 2030s. RE2 and RE3 overlap in one week — play RE2 then RE3; you don't swap mid-game.

  • Optional: RE0 (July 1998 prequel) before the mansion—skip if you want
  • Raccoon City: RE2 then RE3—same week, normal play order
  • Revelations 1 & 2 are optional side stories—marked Optional on Story order
  • Village (2021) → Requiem (2026, Leon & Grace) → Shadows of Rose DLC (~2037) closes the Winters arc

When each game was released. Tap a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

  1. Resident Evil

    Resident Evil

    PlayStationSurvival horrorClassic

    The original Spencer Mansion survival horror — fixed cameras, limited saves, and the birth of modern RE.

    Overview
    The original established the modern survival horror template: scarce ammo, inventory puzzles, and dual protagonists (Jill and Chris) with different routes.
    In-game setting
    Story July 24, 1998: Bravo Team went missing the night before; Alpha Team (Jill, Chris, Barry, Wesker) is sent to find them and enters the Spencer Mansion. Introduces Umbrella, zombies, and the Tyrant.
    Should you play it?
    Dated controls today — many newcomers start with RE2 Remake or RE7 instead, then return for lore context.
    Release date
    Japan (Bio Hazard) March 1996 on PlayStation; US Resident Evil March 30, 1996.
  2. Resident Evil 2

    Resident Evil 2

    PlayStationSurvival horrorClassic

    Raccoon City on the brink — Leon and Claire arrive as the outbreak spirals.

    Overview
    Two character campaigns (Leon / Claire) that intersect, plus the A/B scenario structure that rewards a second playthrough.
    In-game setting
    Story September 1998: Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield reach Raccoon City during the T-virus outbreak. The RPD, sewers, and lab set the urban horror tone.
    Should you play it?
    Still a strong classic entry point if you tolerate tank controls — or play the 2019 remake for modern pacing.
    Release date
    US launch January 21, 1998 (PlayStation). Later ported to PC, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and GameCube.
  3. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

    Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

    PlayStationSurvival horrorAction

    Jill's escape from Raccoon City — Nemesis pursues you through the final days of the city.

    Overview
    More action-forward than RE2 with Nemesis as a recurring stalker enemy and timed escape sequences.
    In-game setting
    Story September 1998 (parallel to RE2): Jill Valentine tries to flee Raccoon City before the sterilization bombing. Carlos Oliveira and UBCS appear.
    Should you play it?
    Best after RE2 in both release and story order. The 2020 remake is shorter but looks modern.
    Release date
    US launch September 22, 1999 (PlayStation).
  4. Resident Evil CODE: Veronica

    Resident Evil CODE: Veronica

    DreamcastSurvival horrorSpin-off numbered

    Claire and Chris on Rockfort Island — first fully 3D environments in the series.

    Overview
    Moved to free-roaming 3D locales instead of pre-rendered backgrounds. Wesker takes a more visible antagonist role.
    In-game setting
    Story late 1998: Claire searches for Chris after Raccoon City; Chris later confronts Alexia Ashford. Bridges classic RE to the later Wesker arc.
    Should you play it?
    Important for Chris/Claire/Wesker continuity. Play after RE2 and RE3 in story order.
    Release date
    US Dreamcast launch February 29, 2000. Later released as CODE: Veronica X on PS2 and GameCube with extra scenes.
  5. Resident Evil Zero

    Resident Evil Zero

    GameCubeSurvival horrorPrequel

    Rebecca and Billy the day before the mansion — optional prequel, set July 1998.

    Overview
    Two-character item-passing puzzles without storage boxes — a design experiment between classic RE and RE4.
    In-game setting
    Story July 23, 1998: Rebecca meets Billy on the Ecliptic Express en route to the Spencer Mansion outbreak.
    Should you play it?
    Optional lore — play before RE1 in story order only if you want Rebecca's backstory; skip for a lean playthrough.
    Release date
    US GameCube launch November 12, 2002. HD remaster on modern platforms.
  6. Resident Evil 4

    Resident Evil 4

    GameCubeAction horrorClassic

    Leon in rural Spain — the pivot from fixed-camera horror to over-the-shoulder action.

    Overview
    Over-the-shoulder aiming, context-sensitive melee, and chapter-based pacing influenced a decade of action games.
    In-game setting
    Story 2004: Leon Kennedy rescues Ashley Graham from Los Illuminados cult. Las Plagas parasites replace zombies as the main threat.
    Should you play it?
    Often called the best entry for action fans. Story stands alone — no need to have played 1–3 first.
    Release date
    US GameCube launch January 11, 2005. Later ports to PS2, PC, and many platforms; 2023 remake on modern consoles.
  7. Resident Evil 5

    Resident Evil 5

    PS3Xbox 360PCCo-opAction

    Chris and Sheva in Africa — co-op action with Wesker's endgame plot.

    Overview
    Built around two-player co-op cover shooting. Sunlight-heavy levels break the dark mansion tradition.
    In-game setting
    Story 2009: Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar investigate a bioweapons market in Kijuju. Wesker's Uroboros plan drives the finale.
    Should you play it?
    Play after RE4 and CODE Veronica if you care about Chris and Wesker. Divisive but key to the main saga.
    Release date
    US launch March 13, 2009 (PS3, Xbox 360).
  8. Resident Evil Revelations
    Optional

    Resident Evil Revelations

    3DSPCPS3Xbox 360Side storyOptional

    Jill and Chris on the Queen Zenobia — set between RE4 and RE5 in story time.

    Overview
    Episodic ship horror with co-op Raid Mode; T-Abyss virus plot bridges Las Plagas era to RE5.
    In-game setting
    Story circa 2005: BSAA investigates a ghost ship tied to bioweapon trafficking before Kijuju.
    Should you play it?
    Optional for main-saga fans — skip unless you want Jill/Chris between RE4 and RE5.
    Release date
    Debut on Nintendo 3DS January 26, 2012; later HD ports.
  9. Resident Evil 6

    Resident Evil 6

    PS3Xbox 360PCCo-opAction

    Four intersecting campaigns — most polarizing mainline entry; Neo-Umbrella plot after Wesker's death in RE5.

    Overview
    Four playable campaigns (Leon, Chris, Jake, Ada) with shared outbreak events across the globe.
    In-game setting
    Story 2012–2013: Tall Oaks, Lanshiang, and Edonia outbreaks tie Leon, Chris, Jake Muller, and Ada Wong together. C-virus replaces Uroboros.
    Should you play it?
    Skip if you only want the highlights — but it links RE5 to the later B.S.A.A. status quo before RE7.
    Release date
    US launch October 2, 2012.
  10. Resident Evil Revelations 2
    Optional

    Resident Evil Revelations 2

    PCPS3PS4XboxSide storyOptional

    Claire and Barry on an island prison — set before RE6 in story time.

    Overview
    Weekly episodic release on console; dual campaigns (Claire/Moira, Barry/Natalia) plus Raid Mode.
    In-game setting
    Story 2011: Claire is kidnapped to a penal colony; Barry's search reveals Alex Wesker's experiments.
    Should you play it?
    Strong character focus for Claire and Barry — optional but loved by lore fans; play after RE5 if you include side stories.
    Release date
    US launch February 24, 2015.
  11. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

    Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

    PCPS4Xbox OneFirst-personHorror reboot

    Ethan Winters in Louisiana — first-person horror that soft-reboots the tone while staying canon.

    Overview
    First-person exploration, Baker family horror, and optional PSVR support brought the series back to slow dread.
    In-game setting
    Story 2017: Ethan searches for Mia at the Baker plantation. Eveline and the Connections bioweapon ring link to Village.
    Should you play it?
    Best modern entry point. No prior games required — Village is the direct sequel.
    Release date
    US launch January 24, 2017. RE Engine debut for mainline single-player.
  12. Resident Evil 2 Remake

    Resident Evil 2 Remake

    PCPS4Xbox OneRemakeRE Engine

    RE2 reimagined in over-the-shoulder RE Engine — same story beats, new layouts and Mr. X.

    Overview
    Balanced classic RPD nostalgia with modern gunplay. Mr. X stalks both campaigns as a dynamic threat.
    In-game setting
    Same September 1998 story as the 1998 game — Leon and Claire routes, adapted level design.
    Should you play it?
    Top recommendation for newcomers. Play Leon's campaign first, then Claire's — the usual canon route referenced in later games.
    Release date
    US launch January 25, 2019.
  13. Resident Evil 3 Remake

    Resident Evil 3 Remake

    PCPS4Xbox OneRemakeRE Engine

    Jill vs Nemesis reimagined — shorter than RE2 Remake but ties into Raccoon City week.

    Overview
    Nemesis as a relentless pursuer in RE Engine; includes Resident Evil Resistance multiplayer as a bundled mode.
    In-game setting
    Same September 1998 window as RE2 Remake — best played immediately after that game.
    Should you play it?
    Worth it after RE2 Remake for Raccoon City closure. Shorter and more action-heavy than RE2 Remake — not a 1:1 remake of the 1999 game.
    Release date
    US launch April 3, 2020.
  14. Resident Evil Village

    Resident Evil Village

    PCPS4PS5XboxFirst-personSequel

    Ethan's sequel — gothic European village, Lady Dimitrescu, and Chris's return.

    Overview
    Blends RE7's first-person horror with RE4-style village exploration and merchant systems.
    In-game setting
    Story February 2021 (three years after RE7): Ethan and Mia's life is shattered; Rose is taken. Chris Redfield's motives drive the twist.
    Should you play it?
    Play after RE7. RE4 Remake after Village is a popular route for action fans.
    Release date
    US launch May 7, 2021 (cross-gen).
  15. Resident Evil 4 Remake

    Resident Evil 4 Remake

    PCPS4PS5XboxRemakeRE Engine

    RE4 rebuilt from the ground up — same 2004 story with expanded lore and modern combat.

    Overview
    Longer campaign, reworked island section, and deeper Luis/Ada scenes while keeping the core RE4 structure.
    In-game setting
    Same 2004 in-universe mission as the 2005 original — Leon rescues Ashley from Los Illuminados.
    Should you play it?
    Works as a standalone action-horror blockbuster. Story fans should still know RE2/RE3 context for Leon.
    Release date
    US launch March 24, 2023.
  16. Resident Evil Requiem

    Resident Evil Requiem

    PCPS5Xbox Series X|SSwitch 2MainlineDual protagonist

    RE9 — Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy; Raccoon City ruins and the Wrenwood Hotel.

    Overview
    Dual protagonists with swappable first- and third-person perspectives on RE Engine — Grace's horror-first arc and Leon's action-heavy Raccoon City return.
    In-game setting
    Story October 2026 (~28 years after Raccoon City's destruction): FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft probes deaths tied to her mother's murder; DSO agent Leon Kennedy returns to the quarantined city ruins.
    Should you play it?
    Not a direct sequel to Ethan's story — play after RE7/Village if you want modern context. Shadows of Rose DLC (2037) still comes last on the calendar.
    Release date
    US launch February 27, 2026 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2).

FAQ

Remakes vs classics, Raccoon City order, and when DLC fits in.

Release order

Story order is when events happened in the universe—including overlaps like RE2 and RE3 in September 1998. Release order is what you buy and play, usually RE2 then RE3, not alternating mid-game. Use Release order and the paths above for playing; use Story order to follow the full plot.

RE2 Remake for Raccoon City, or RE7 for a standalone scare. Then Village; Requiem if you want the latest mainline (Leon + Grace). RE4 Remake anytime for action. See the FAQ on expansions after each game.

RE2 & RE3 in Raccoon City

DLC & extra stories

Optional stories & films

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.