Resident Evil: What Order Should New Players Play The Series (Including Village)
Perhaps the most celebrated survival horror video game series of all time, Resident Evil is a landmark lineage of games that pushes players to their limits as they fight to outlast undead horrors, all while keeping track of their ever-dwindling supplies and navigating labyrinthian locations.
With the eighth—technically the twelfth—mainline release slated to debut in May of 2021, newcomers to the series may be wondering where to start. Playing through the games based on release order or story chronology may seem a bit intimidating, so we've instead ordered them from most to least vital in terms of the overarching RE experience.
12 Resident Evil 7
While Resident Evil purists would argue against playing the seventh—technically the eleventh—installment first given the unusual first-person perspective and relatively disconnected narrative, Resident Evil 7 acts as a perfect introduction to the mayhem that is the RE universe.
Seemingly taking inspiration from combat-devoid horror titles like Outlast or Silent Hills P.T., Resident Evil 7 is a slow boil that first presents a dark and twisted narrative and slowly introduces survival horror elements and firearm-oriented combat throughout the prologue. It also eschews all of the craziness of the established series lore, only referencing it in the subsequent DLC release Not A Hero. All in all, RE 7 acts as a perfect introduction to the series for modern gamers.
11 Resident Evil 8: Village
While it may be a bit too early to declare Resident Evil Village as one of the series' most important games, it seems primed to pick up right where Resident Evil 7 left off, making it the ideal title to play after completing Capcom's 2017 effort.
While the narrative will be intertwined with the events of RE 7 to some degree, it also maintains the first-person perspective of the proceeding title, and the game's combat and mechanic seem to be extremely similar. Village will also introduce players to things like merchants and grid-based storage systems, which are prevalent in some of the most acclaimed RE games.
10 Resident Evil 2 Remake
It may sound like borderline heresy to some fans, but we'd recommend skipping the original Resident Evil 2 entirely in favor of the excellent 2019 remake. Though it indirectly continues the story established in the first game, the mechanics and combat present in the remake will feel familiar to those who've already played RE 7 and RE Village.
The major difference here is that RE 2 Remake opts for a third-person perspective, something that was originally introduced to the series in RE 2. Plus, it features two iconic series villains in the form of Mr. X and William Birkin.
9 Resident Evil 4
Often considered to be the best game in the entire series, Resident Evil 4—the sixth mainline game to be released in the series—is a highwater mark for not only horror gaming, but gaming as a whole.
Featuring a story that's equal parts campy fun and genuinely fear-inducing, an expansive setting with all sorts of secrets to discover, and some seriously exemplary shooting mechanics, Resident Evil 4 is a must-play for everyone, and those playing it after some of the more modern RE titles will be able to dive right in without issue.
8 Resident Evil Remake
While some old-school gamers may be inclined to check out the PS1 original, its wonky presentation and clunky controls make it difficult to approach these days. Instead, we'd recommend the 2002 remake, which was re-released on the eighth-gen consoles in 2014.
A slower-paced, more methodical entry in the series, RE Remake emphasizes inventory management and puzzle-solving over combat. However, it remains a harrowing experience on higher difficulties, and players may well get a kick out of testing their mettle with this classic after experiencing the series' latter entries.
7 Resident Evil 0
At this point, we've more-or-less exhausted all of the must-play titles in the Resident Evil release library. That said, interested parties may want to dive into 2002's Resident Evil 0. A prequel to the original game which stars Rebecca Chambers and a new character named Billy Coen, 0 experimented with the classic RE formula by placing players in control of two characters at once.
Hardcore series fans may enjoy what RE 0 brings to the table, but it's not altogether that necessary, and the limited inventory space afforded to players can make it excessively grueling to grind through.
6 Resident Evil Revelations
An oft-forgotten entry in the Resident Evil lineage, Revelations began life as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive in 2012 before migrating to seventh-gen platforms a year later. It may come across as a bit underwhelming when compared to some of the more celebrated games in the series, but Revelations was a welcomed return to form in relation to the disaster that was RE 6.
Sporting a wild narrative that features several fan-favorite Resident Evil characters, Revelations' action-oriented focus feels reminiscent of RE 4 and 5, though it forgoes horror entirely in certain combat-intensive sequences.
5 Resident Evil Revelations 2
Originally released episodically, Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a story told in five parts which tells the tale of Barry Burton, re-introduced for the first time since the original game, searching for his hitherto unknown daughter, Moira.
Each episode features two acts: one with Claire Redfield and Moira fighting to escape from an island, and one with Barry returning to the scene months later to piece together what happened. Famous for its co-op gameplay, Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a quality game for those looking to bring a friend along for the ride.
4 Resident Evil 3 Remake
Highly-anticipated following the critically-acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake, 2020's Resident Evil 3 was a disappointment to many fans. While RE2R was a faithful recreation of the classic survival horror game, RE3R cut quite a few corners, playing like a very stripped-down version of the original.
That said, it's still an entertaining entry in the series, though it's far too short and action-oriented. However, it focuses almost entirely on fan-favorite character Jill Valentine and features Nemesis, one of the series' most iconic villains.
3 Resident Evil 5
The incredibly-hyped sequel to Resident Evil 4, the series' fifth installment was, to many, a bit of a letdown. Though a competent title, the focus on co-op and action setpieces muddled the game's survival horror aspects, and, more than a decade on, it feels very much like a product of its time.
Still, Resident Evil 5 and its two DLC releases remain entertaining for those who have friends willing to brave the horrors of Uroboros, and its weighty plot-points will enthrall dedicated RE fans.
2 Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Originally intended to be a Sega Dreamcast exclusive, Code Veronica was the series' first major non-PlayStation release. That said, though it has its fans, the game seriously jumps the shark, introducing wild plot elements and reviving thought-to-be-dead characters in what culminates in an experience that feels akin to watching a very off-the-rails anime series.
What's more, Code Veronica is likely the most difficult of the Resident Evil games; it's relatively unforgiving in terms of saving progress, and unprepared gamers can ruin their playthroughs if they aren't savvy enough with their item management. This one is only for serious fans.
1 Resident Evil 6
The black sheep of the series, 2012's Resident Evil 6 did away with the series' signature horror elements almost entirely in favor of an action-packed, Call of Duty-esque experience. Far from the barebones experience of the original title, RE 6 feels like a Michael Bay movie desperate to wow audiences.
Still, with four campaigns and ambitious multiplayer and co-op offerings, it wouldn't be fair to dismiss RE 6 entirely. With four separate campaigns, it feels like a greatest hits compilation of RE games, though we would imagine that most fans would opt to pass on this one.
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