Resident Evil

Resident Evil is one of the most important horror franchises in gaming, created by Capcom in 1996 and still going strong three decades later. The series helped define survival horror with a mix of puzzle solving, limited resources, and slow building tension built around engineered viruses and corporate experiments gone wrong. Across its many games, films, and spin-off projects, Resident Evil has grown into Capcom’s best selling franchise and one of the most recognizable names in horror entertainment. In 2026 the series hit its 30th anniversary, and it marked the occasion in the biggest way possible with a brand new mainline entry.

Origins and Early Survival Horror

The franchise began with the original Resident Evil on the PlayStation in 1996, set inside the Spencer Mansion and centered on the T-Virus outbreak created by the Umbrella Corporation. Fixed camera angles, tight corridors, and scarce ammunition created a sense of vulnerability that became the foundation of survival horror. These early games reintroduced zombies to mainstream pop culture and established the core themes of bioweapons, conspiracies, and catastrophic outbreaks that the series still runs on today.

Resident Evil Games in Order

The mainline Resident Evil series follows a clear release order. It started with Resident Evil in 1996, followed by Resident Evil 2 in 1998 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in 1999, the trilogy that built the Raccoon City saga. Resident Evil Code Veronica arrived in 2000, with Resident Evil Zero filling in the prequel events in 2002. Resident Evil 4 in 2005 changed everything with its over-the-shoulder action, and Resident Evil 5 in 2009 and Resident Evil 6 in 2012 leaned further into action and co-op. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in 2017 pulled the series back toward horror, Resident Evil Village continued that story in 2021, and Resident Evil Requiem became the ninth mainline entry in 2026.

Alongside the numbered games, Capcom has rebuilt several classics with full remakes. The original was remade in 2002, followed by the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019, the Resident Evil 3 remake in 2020, and the Resident Evil 4 remake in 2023. These remakes reintroduced the series to new players while keeping long-time fans invested, and they have become some of Capcom’s strongest sellers in their own right.

Evolution Across Generations

Resident Evil has never stayed in one lane. Resident Evil 4 shifted the series toward action with its over-the-shoulder camera, influencing an entire generation of shooters. Later, Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village brought the franchise back to its horror roots with a first-person perspective and a focus on atmosphere and dread. Resident Evil 7 introduced Ethan Winters as a new protagonist, a civilian whose story continued through Resident Evil Village. That willingness to reinvent the formula every few entries, while never losing the viral horror core, is the single biggest reason the series has stayed relevant for thirty years.

Resident Evil Requiem and the 30th Anniversary

Capcom marked the franchise’s 30th anniversary with Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth mainline entry, released on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Windows, and Nintendo Switch 2. Directed by Koshi Nakanishi, who also directed Resident Evil 7, Requiem takes the series back to the ruins of Raccoon City roughly thirty years after the city was wiped off the map. It introduces a new protagonist in Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst investigating a string of mysterious deaths connected to the original outbreak, with series mainstay Leon S. Kennedy returning as a second playable character. Grace’s sections lean into tense, resource-starved survival horror while Leon’s deliver the action-heavy combat the series is also known for, and both can be played in first or third person.

Requiem became the fastest-selling game in the entire franchise, a fitting way to carry Resident Evil into its fourth decade. The momentum did not stop there. At Summer Game Fest 2026, Capcom announced a full remake of Resident Evil Code Veronica, continuing the remake initiative that has revitalized the back catalog. You can read more about that reveal in my Summer Game Fest 2026 rundown.

Main Story and Recurring Characters

The overarching narrative centers on viral outbreaks caused by Umbrella and other groups experimenting with Bio-Organic Weapons. Recurring characters like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, and Albert Wesker appear across multiple entries, each dealing with new strains of engineered viruses and the fallout of global bioterrorism. While each major game stands on its own, the series maintains a connected timeline that spans decades and multiple continents, tying the cast together through recurring villains and the long shadow of the Raccoon City incident.

Resident Evil Timeline

The story begins with the Arklay Mountains incident in 1998, covered in Resident Evil 0 and the original Resident Evil. The outbreak spreads to Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, leading to the destruction of the city in a government missile strike. Later games expand the scale with outbreaks in Europe, Africa, and remote villages, showing how bioweapons evolve and how different organizations attempt to control or exploit them. Resident Evil Requiem returns to that ground zero decades later, pulling the timeline full circle back to where Raccoon City fell.

Impact and Legacy

Resident Evil has shaped survival horror for more than thirty years. Its influence can be seen in modern horror games, action titles, and film adaptations alike. The franchise has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, making it Capcom’s most successful property. Its willingness to reinvent itself, while staying rooted in viral horror and corporate conspiracy, has kept it relevant across multiple generations of players in a way very few series can claim.

Crossovers and Guest Appearances

Resident Evil has crossed into a wide range of other games and media over the years, creating a long list of cameos, collaborations, and special events. These crossovers usually highlight the series’ iconic characters, its viral monsters, or its signature survival horror style. They also show how influential the franchise has become across genres.

One of the most notable crossovers is the appearance of Chris Redfield in Fortnite, along with Jill Valentine, complete with themed items and locations inspired by the series. Dead by Daylight added a full Resident Evil chapter that includes Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, and Rebecca Chambers, along with Nemesis, Wesker, and the Licker as killers or special enemies. Monster Hunter World featured a Resident Evil event that let players unlock Leon and Claire skins, along with a zombie status effect that fit the tone of both franchises.

Resident Evil characters have also appeared in multiple fighting games. Chris, Jill, and Wesker have been part of the Marvel vs Capcom series, bringing their weapons and abilities into a completely different genre. Jill also appeared in the original PlayStation version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 as a special mode character. These crossovers highlight how easily Resident Evil characters adapt to new gameplay styles.

Outside of games, the franchise has crossed into films, animation, and theme park attractions. Universal Studios Japan has hosted Resident Evil themed haunted houses and interactive events, bringing the series’ atmosphere into real world spaces. Animated films like Degeneration, Damnation, and Vendetta connect directly to the game timeline, while the live action films created their own continuity that still helped push the brand into mainstream awareness.

Movies and Shows Connected to the Games

Resident Evil has a long history of film and television adaptations, but only a select group of them connect directly to the game universe. These projects expand the lore, fill in gaps between major entries, and follow familiar characters through new outbreaks and bioterror incidents. They keep the tone and continuity of the games intact, which makes them essential viewing for fans who want the full story.

The animated films are the most faithful to the game timeline. Resident Evil Degeneration follows Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield during an airport outbreak tied to the events of Resident Evil 4. Resident Evil Damnation focuses on Leon during a civil war where Bio-Organic Weapons are being deployed, setting up themes that carry into Resident Evil 6. Resident Evil Vendetta brings Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy, and Rebecca Chambers together to stop a new viral threat, bridging the gap between Resident Evil 6 and Resident Evil 7. These films keep the characters consistent with their game portrayals and expand the global scale of bioterrorism.

The animated series Resident Evil Infinite Darkness continues this approach. It takes place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, following Leon and Claire as they uncover political corruption tied to viral research. The show uses the same tone and character dynamics found in the games, making it feel like a natural extension of the main storyline.

The most ambitious of these shows was probably the Netflix series, simply titled Resident Evil. It took place in the future and followed a Wesker clone, his daughters, and brother clones working for Umbrella, which had become the most powerful corporation on the planet.

The canon connected films and shows give players a broader view of the Resident Evil world. They explore political fallout, global bioterror threats, and character relationships that the games only hint at. For fans who want the complete narrative, these animated entries are the closest the franchise has come to a unified cross media storyline.

Other Resident Evil Movies and Shows

Resident Evil has inspired a wide range of live action films and television shows that exist outside the game continuity. These adaptations reinterpret characters, settings, and storylines, creating their own versions of the Resident Evil universe. While they do not connect to the events of the games, they helped bring the franchise to a broader audience and introduced the brand to viewers who may never have played a single entry.

The longest running of these is the live action film series starring Milla Jovovich. Beginning in 2002, these movies follow Alice, an original character created for the films, as she battles Umbrella and various viral outbreaks. The series includes multiple sequels, each expanding its own continuity with both familiar and new characters, new mutations, and large-scale action sequences. These films are known for their fast pacing, heavy action, and loose reinterpretations of game elements.

Another non-canon project is Resident Evil Welcome to Raccoon City, a 2021 live action film that adapts elements of Resident Evil 1 and Resident Evil 2 into a single storyline. While it uses familiar characters like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, and Claire Redfield, it reimagines events, character dynamics, and the timeline. The film aims to capture the atmosphere of the early games, but it remains a separate continuity from the main series. A fresh live action Resident Evil reboot film is set to continue that big-screen presence with a theatrical release on September 18, 2026, launching yet another standalone take on the outbreak.

These adaptations show how flexible the Resident Evil brand can be. They experiment with tone, structure, and character focus, offering alternate takes on the franchise for viewers who prefer action-heavy storytelling or new interpretations of familiar names. Even though they do not connect to the game universe, they remain a significant part of Resident Evil’s presence.