Where to Start · Resident Evil
Where to Start with Resident Evil
Resident Evil is Capcom's survival horror franchise running since 1996 — the series that defined the genre, killed it with action excess, and then revived itself twice with two of the most acclaimed entries in its history. The series spans over 25 years and has reinvented itself multiple times: fixed camera tank controls (RE1-3), over-the-shoulder action (RE4), first-person horror (RE7), and modern remakes that rebuild the classics from scratch. Each reinvention brought a different audience.
The good news is that most entries are accessible standalone — you do not need to play every game to enjoy any one of them.
If you only play one Resident Evil game
Play Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019). It is the best entry point in the franchise — Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield arriving in Raccoon City during the zombie outbreak, the Raccoon City Police Department as a puzzle box you slowly unlock, and Mr. X stalking you through the halls. The remake completely rebuilds the 1998 original with modern over-the-shoulder gameplay while preserving everything that made it iconic. It is terrifying, brilliantly paced, and approximately 8 hours for a first playthrough. If you want one game that captures what Resident Evil is, RE2 Remake is it.
Resident Evil 4 — the pivot that changed everything
Resident Evil 4 (2005) is one of the most influential games ever made — it abandoned fixed cameras and tank controls for an over-the-shoulder perspective that every third-person shooter since has borrowed from. Leon Kennedy in rural Spain fighting a cult instead of zombies. The merchant. Ashley. The attache case inventory. RE4 is available as the RE4 Remake (2023) which is an excellent modern rebuild, or as the original which holds up remarkably well. Either version is a valid entry point with no prior RE knowledge required.
Resident Evil 7 — the modern horror reset
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) is the other candidate for best modern entry point — first-person perspective, a Louisiana plantation, a deranged family, and a return to genuine horror after the action excess of RE5 and RE6. RE7 requires no prior knowledge of the series and is the most terrifying game in the franchise. It also launched PSVR support and remains one of the best VR experiences available. Play it in the dark with headphones.
The classic era remakes
Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019), Resident Evil 3 Remake (2020), and Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023) are all available on PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC and are the recommended ways to experience those stories today. The original RE1 was remade as Resident Evil REmake (2002) on GameCube — available on modern platforms and considered the definitive version of the original. The remakes are not replacements for the originals but they are better entry points for modern audiences.
No full backlog required — treat each era as its own doorway. Thread games in order only when you want payoffs — otherwise pick the tone (RPD dread, Spanish camp, Louisiana found footage, Village gothic) and commit.
The story connections
RE1-3 follow the fall of Raccoon City across three games. RE2 and RE3 overlap in timeline — both set during the same outbreak. RE4 jumps forward six years. RE5, RE6, and RE8 continue the Wesker and Umbrella storylines. RE7 is largely standalone but connects to RE8 through Ethan Winters. For newcomers the cleanest path is RE2 Remake → RE3 Remake → RE4 Remake → RE7 → RE8: Village.
What platforms you need
RE2 Remake, RE3 Remake, RE4 Remake, RE7, RE8 — all on PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC. RE REmake (original RE1) — PS4/Switch/PC. The RE Origins Collection bundles RE0 and REmake. The Resident Evil Triple Pack on Switch is a good portable option.
What to skip
Resident Evil 5 and RE6 are the low points — RE5 is playable in co-op but a significant departure from horror, RE6 is bloated and unfocused. Neither is recommended as an entry point. RE0 (prequel to RE1) is for series completionists only. The live action films are entirely separate from the games.