Resident Evil Games in Order: Release, Timeline and DLC

For a first Resident Evil story run, start with Resident Evil, then Resident Evil 2 and 3. Want a shorter introduction? Resident Evil 7 → Village follows Ethan across two games. RE0 comes first in the timeline, but that does not make it compulsory homework: choose a starting route below, then use the release list or chronology when you want the wider picture.

Which Resident Evil game should you play first?

A longer, release-based story route

The longer route starts with the Mansion Incident before its prequel, and introduces Claire and Leon before their later adventures.

1. Resident Evil — the 1996 original or the 2002 remake, also available as HD Remaster
2. Resident Evil 2 — the 1998 original or the 2019 remake
3. Resident Evil 3 — Nemesis (1999) or the 2020 remake
4. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica, or Code: Veronica X
5. Resident Evil 0
6. Resident Evil 4 — the 2005 original or the 2023 remake
7. Resident Evil 5
8. Resident Evil Revelations
9. Resident Evil 6
10. Resident Evil Revelations 2
11. Resident Evil 7 biohazard
12. Resident Evil Village
13. Resident Evil Requiem

You can leave the two Revelations games for later if you want a shorter route. Keep Code: Veronica for Claire and Chris’s continuing story; its unnumbered title does not make it a multiplayer extra.

Resident Evil games in release order

The table gives the first release year for these story games and their full remakes. It does not add a new row for every HD remaster, port, Gold Edition, bonus mode or DLC episode. For Revelations 2, 2015 is the year its episodic release began.

The table records release history; the first-run list suggests a play order. The list lets you substitute a remake in the original story’s position, while the table records each remake’s actual release year.

Resident Evil games in chronological order

Follow this order for the main incidents, leaving flashbacks, epilogues and DLC chapters with their respective games. Requiem returns to present-day Raccoon City, rather than revisiting the 1998 incident; its broad setting is listed without assigning an exact calendar year.

Capcom’s Resident Evil history separates game chronology from release dates and from the live-action films. The story dates above describe the games, not a combined order for every adaptation.

Should Resident Evil 2 or 3 come first?

For a first playthrough, finish Resident Evil 2 and then play Resident Evil 3. That keeps the original release sequence and avoids interrupting either campaign. For a timeline chart, place them together: RE3 starts earlier, but it is not simply an entire prequel that finishes before RE2 begins.

Should you start with Resident Evil 0?

Start with 0 if your specific aim is to follow the earliest main incident first. Start with Resident Evil if you want the series’ first story before learning its prehistory. The number zero describes where the prequel fits, not a prerequisite imposed on every new player.

Where the remakes and remasters belong

You do not need to play both versions of every story to use the routes above. Choose one for the main run, then return to the other if you want to compare how that story was adapted. “Same story position” does not mean every scene, location or character detail is identical.

Where do Outbreak, Chronicles and DLC fit?

Outbreak and Outbreak File 2 show other people caught in Raccoon City in September 1998. They are optional additions alongside the RE2–RE3 period, not numbered sequels to insert after Village.

The Darkside Chronicles and The Umbrella Chronicles combine retellings with additional story material. Capcom gives them broad story ranges of 1998–2002 and 1998–2003 respectively. Treating either compilation as one entirely new incident between two numbered games would hide that overlap. Use them after the earlier stories if you want those additional perspectives.

The tables focus on the story games and remakes listed above, not every side game, competitive multiplayer release, mobile title or film. Gold editions bundle a game with extra content; they do not add another numbered entry to the story order.

Story DLC for RE4, RE7 and Village

Finish the relevant base campaign first, then use the order below. This is a spoiler-conscious viewing/play sequence, not a claim that every DLC scene happens afterward.

For the exact bundle contents, compare RE4 Gold, RE7 Gold or Village Gold. Banned Footage challenges and the Mercenaries modes are not additional numbered games.

Requiem is released; Veronica is upcoming

Resident Evil Requiem launched on February 27, 2026, and belongs at the end of the release-based route. It stars Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy, bringing the story back to the legacy of Raccoon City.

Do you need the older games before Requiem?

No. In PlayStation’s interview with director Koshi Nakanishi, he explains that Requiem was designed for complete newcomers, with Grace providing a new character to follow. He describes Leon returning to present-day Raccoon City after his earlier adventures, rather than the game retelling his first visit.

For Leon’s earlier Raccoon City background, play Resident Evil 2. Choose the longer series route only if you want that broader history before Requiem.

Capcom has announced Resident Evil Veronica for 2027 as a remake of Code: Veronica. As of September 9, 2026, that is an upcoming release, not another completed game in the list. Code: Veronica and Code: Veronica X remain the existing versions named in this guide’s story route; do not confuse either with the new remake announcement.