Resident Evil is chock full of remakes, spin-offs, non-canon entries, overlapping games, and numberless sequels, so chronology can get a little confusing. It's been fairly straightforward with Biohazard and Village, but delve any further back, and you might find it a tad confusing.
The series has nine numbered entries but there are a few other titles and expansions that are just as worth playing. If you're looking to uncover more of Umbrella's mysterious origins or just the history of the iconic cast, then here is the chronological order of the main Resident Evil story.
Updated March 25, 2023 by Dominic Allen: With the Resident Evil 4 Remake right around the corner and quite a few missing games, this list definitely needed an overhaul. Previously this only included the main titles, but now the spin-offs are also included — spin-offs that are canon anyway. This means no RE Gaiden or Operation Raccoon City. Survivor 2 also isn't in because that's just a dream, like Mario 2. Certain games like Umbrella Chronicles have multiple canon scenarios that are all worth having their own entry. It's time to take another look at the complicated and convoluted timeline of the Resident Evil series.
22 Resident Evil 0
The series kickstarts with a prequel that shows just what the Bravo Team of S.T.A.R.S. were up to before the events of the first game. You step into the shoes of wrongfully convicted Billy Coen and the youngest S.T.A.R.S. member, Rebecca Chambers.
This is the first entry into what would become known as the Mansion Incident that occurred in the Arklay Mountains just outside of Raccoon City. It has you playing both Billy and Rebecca interchangeably in a duel-protagonist system.
21 Beginnings
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is one of the most important spin-offs in the series due to its important story additions. While the retellings of RE0, RE1, and RE3 aren't canon, the sub-scenarios and final scenario are. In RE0, the subplot involving Wesker gets abruptly abandoned halfway through. Beginnings picks up from that and details what Wesker did after leaving Birkin behind.
The first part is unlocked right after beating the RE0 section, and the second part is unlocked by beating Beginnings 1 with at least an A rank. Wesker cleans up the Umbrella Training Facility and meets Sergei, who will become one of his main enemies for the next five years.
20 Resident Evil
While Bravo Team underwent hell to get to the Arklay Mansion, Alpha had it easy. At least, in comparison. Sure, they lost some people, but they quickly found themselves in the comfort and safety of the mansion. What could go wrong?
The first Resident Evil lets you play the campaign with either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield. The two have slight differences but it's tough to say which of these is 'canon' as no future game confirms it. Either Jill or Chris ends up trapped in a cell for most of the story. It's up to you to decide who that is. Playing Chris does mean that you get to see Rebecca again, however.
19 Rebirth
Everyone thought Wesker died in the Mansion Incident, but that's far from the case. In Rebirth from Umbrella Chronicles, Wesker returns from his cold death and tests his new abilities for the first time. Rebirth unlocks after simply beating the RE1 section, and no A ranks are required.
He loves it, but a monster thought dead in RE1 returns to hunt Wesker as he tries to escape the mansion in time. After this, Wesker is a completely new entity devoid of his humanity.
18 Resident Evil: Outbreak
The complete canonicity of Resident Evil: Outbreak is still unknown. Out of the ten scenarios in the two Outbreak titles, some of them are definitely canon, while others can't fit into the timeline at all. At the very least, Kevin, David, Mark, Alyssa, Cindy, Yoko, Jim, and George all existed in the universe, as they have been mentioned in future games.
Most notably, Alyssa in Resident Evil 7. While these games are stuck to old hardware, you should definitely try them out, as there some of the most underrated horror games ever. Plus, the soundtracks are absolutely phenomenal.
17 Resident Evil 3A (Up To Jill's Infection)
Not too long after the accursed Mansion Incident, Raccoon City had a city-wide outbreak. This is where chronology gets a touch tricky — 3 and 2 overlap, but there's a way to manage it if you're a stickler for playing in order.
In 3, you play as Jill again, but there's another character in the mix. Carlos, a new character, has his own segments when Jill is occupied. The game opens with the outbreak's beginnings, meaning it takes place before 2. However, there is a time skip once Jill gets infected — at that point, switch over.
16 Resident Evil 2
With the outbreak already rampant, rookie first-day police officer Leon Kennedy strolls into town and bumps into Chris Redfield's sister who has arrived at the city in search of her brother.
The two realize the city is under siege by hordes of zombies and set out on their respective goals — Leon helping Ada Wong and Claire helping Sherry Berkin all while she searches for Chris. The first game might not have a canonical campaign but 2 does. If you want to experience it, the order is Claire first and Leon second.
15 Resident Evil 3B (Hospital Onwards)
Once you've wrapped up 2 and, if you're so inclined, the optional Fourth Survivor mode, it's time to delve back into 3, starting with the hospital segment that has you in the shoes of Carlos.
From this point on, there are only two remaining areas, the hospital and NEST 2. The latter is home to a couple of Nemesis boss fights, so be sure that you're well-stocked to take him on. The lead characters escape just in the nick of time, but there is one other person who just barely survived Raccoon's destruction.
14 Death's Door
The last time Ada was visually seen in RE2 was falling down a large shaft. She didn't die but was badly hurt. In Death's Door from Umbrella Chronicles, you can easily tell this by the fact that you start with caution level health.
Going through the city in its last moments, Ada obtains her famous hookshot. She very well could be the last survivor to depart from Raccoon City as she escapes via an Umbrella helicopter, just in time before the city gets leveled.
13 Resident Evil: Survivor
Taking place a month later, Resident Evil: Survivor centers on Ark Thompson. A friend of Leon, he investigates Umbrella's activities on Sheena Island and ends up getting amnesia. You'll fight many enemies from the earlier titles, plus a few unique ones, as you play this awkward first-person shooter.
This entry might seem non-canonical due to its insignificance, but Sheena Island is mentioned at the beginning of RE0. Survivor is, in fact, canon. If you can, play the European or Japanese version, as you can actually use a light gun.
12 Resident Evil - Code: Veronica
3 starts and ends the Raccoon City incident but doesn't quite continue Claire's story. She helps young Sherry escape but never does find her brother. A letter indicates that he has gone to Europe, however, and that sparks Code Veronica.
It isn't a numbered entry, being called Code Veronica, but many consider it the untitled fourth game, a sequel to 3 in everything but name. It sees the two siblings reunite after Claire continues her search, although it is a bit later on in the game.
11 Operation Javier
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles doesn't have as much juicy lore as its predecessor. No sub-scenarios this time around, only a retelling of RE2, Code: Veronica, and the new story Operation Javier. You play as Leon or Krauser as you venture into South America to take down the titular antagonist.
The story here is much deeper than it might seem, and what also complicates matters is the multiple endings and hidden Krauser levels. Despite Darkside Chronicles's shaky cam style, this campaign is a great lead-in for Resident Evil 4 and even gets mentioned in the remake.
10 Resident Evil: Dead Aim
The first home console Resident Evil to take place on a boat is Resident Evil: Dead Aim. Gaiden on the Game Boy Color previously had the setting, but that entry isn't canon. Technically the fourth survivor title, you play as Bruce McGivern as he explores the wildly named Spencer Rain ship.
Unlike the first Survivor, the events of Dead Aim aren't mentioned in any other game. Dead Aim was intended as a canon entry at release, although many in the RE community have since questioned that. Regardless, this game is canon until proven overwise by Capcom or another Resident Evil game. The atmosphere is surprisingly quite decent, and the villain is much more interesting this time than any of the other Survivor games.
9 Umbrella's End
Here comes the main event of the Umbrella Chronicles. Umbrella's End is exactly what's in the title. Jill and Chris enter Umbrella's final base in the snowy regions of Russia. At the same time, Wesker invades the building intent to kill Sergei once and for all and obtain Umbrella's precious data.
After all, is said and done, Umbrella is destroyed, but not by the party you may think. Filled with completely new environments, a distinct setting, and a few nice references, Umbrella's End is at least required to watch due to its importance in the Resident Evil storyline.
8 Resident Evil 4 / Separate Ways
With Claire helming her own pseudo-sequel alongside her brother Chris, it was only natural that Leon would also get his day, that being in the beloved and iconic Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 4 tells the story of Leon being sent to rescue the president's daughter from a cult, starting the Las Plagas saga. It also features the return of Ada Wong who has her own separate campaign. It outlines what she was up to when Leon was mowing down villagers and ringing church bells. To avoid spoilers, you're best playing 4 and then Separate Ways.
7 Resident Evil: Revelations
The Revelations entries aren't vital to the story but expand upon it, delving into what our favourite characters were up to in the interim. Taking place on the Queen Zenobia cruiseliner, you primarily take control of Jill Valentine. Along the way, you'll play as other characters, some of whom are never seen in the series again.
Leading nicely into Resident Evil 5, Revelations details what Jill and Chris were doing after the events of 4, nicely setting up their respective arcs.
6 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 4 began the transition of the series from survival horror to action, but it still clung to its roots in style which is where Resident Evil 5 differs, dropping most of the horror aspects in favour of shoot-em-up co-op.
Five years after Resident Evil 4, Chris and his new partner, Sheva Alomar, venture into Kijuju, Africa, to stop Ricardo Irving from selling a bioweapon on the black market. The entire series has been leading to this game, and when the credits roll, it feels like the series could have ended here.
5 Resident Evil: Revelations 2
While Code Veronica ties up the story that began when Claire debuted in 2, that wasn't her last day in the Resident Evil series as she re-appeared once more in Revelations 2.
This game tells the story of Claire and Moira Burton, daughter of S.T.A.R.S. member Barry Burton, as they begin to work for a biohazard prevention agency dubbed TerraSave. The villain in this game is very important storywise and was actually mentioned first in Resident Evil 5's DLC. You got to love the build-up in a series like this.
4 Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 has four campaigns that all interlink. If you want to know what Leon, Sherry, Ada, and Chris were up to, you must venture through this long, action-packed shooter. You battle Neo Umbrella, Derek Simmons, and many other antagonists along the way. Each of these characters who have appeared in prior games re-surface with new partners as 6 is an experience best had in co-op.
The new characters are actually pretty awesome and have tons of charisma. Piers Nivans is a character who first appeared in a Resident Evil manga titled The Marhawa Desire. One of them is even Wesker's son, and it's fitting that he teams up with Sherry. The children of two of the most important centerpieces in the Mansion Incident and Raccoon City Outbreak have to work together to survive this ordeal.
3 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
After 6 stagnated the series, Capcom took their time and came back in style, returning to its roots with a full-blown survival horror title.
You play as Ethan Winters who has ventured to a remote plantation in Louisiana after receiving a message from his missing wife, Mia. When he arrives, all hell breaks loose as he discovers a family that has been torn apart by the Mould. For the most part, RE7 is a self-contained story, and you could start with this game if you want to.