Resident Evil: Full video game order, which to play & which are best

Resident Evil is one of the most iconic video game franchises in the world, but new fans might not know which games to play, what order to play them, or which are the best.

The Resident Evil series is one defined by highs and lows. Four of its mainline installments can reasonably be called the greatest game of all time. Several more titles from the series have won major game of the year awards. Everything else ranges from solid to some of the worst games of their era.

With all this in mind, and many of these games being remade multiple times over, how should the series be approached? Here’s a breakdown of all the games in the Resident Evil series, the full release order, and which ones you should play.

All Resident Evil games and release order

As of 2025, there are 30 different Resident Evil games, with the series appearing on almost every platform imaginable.

While the series was originally a PlayStation exclusive, it quickly branched out, with the first three titles being released across a slew of platforms. Following Resident Evil – Code: Veronica’s launch on the Dreamcast, Capcom began releasing an abundance of spin-offs, enhanced ports, remakes, and more.

Here is every Resident Evil game ever made, and their initial release year and platform (bolded titles denote mainline installments in the series):

Following the release of Resident Evil 4, the critical reception to Resident Evil games began to decline. This was part of a down period for Capcom, where it released numerous games that were unsuccessful both among fans and at retail. The most egregious example of this were multiplayer-focused titles such as Umbrella Corp and Operation Raccoon City, and Resident Evil 6 receiving average or below-average reviews.

Capcom began heavily restructuring its operations in 2010, shutting down several subsidiaries and canceling a slew of games. This ultimately resulted in an upswing in the quality of Capcom’s games. Starting with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, most games in the Resident Evil franchise have been legitimate contenders for game of the year awards. These titles jump-started a wave of AAA horror games and likely played a role in remakes of Silent Hill 2 and Dead Space getting greenlit.

Which Resident Evil games are worth playing?

Most of the mainline Resident Evil games and a number of spin-offs are worth playing.

All but one of the numbered Resident Evil games, including Resident Evil Zero, garnered generally strong and are held in high regard. Not all of them are regarded as timeless masterpieces and tank controls have not aged well, but each game has a lot to offer. The various Resident Evil remakes are all exceptional games, with most of them being game of the year candidates.

The key exception to this is Resident Evil 6, but the game is still an important chapter for anyone that is interested in Resident Evil’s story.

Among the spin-offs, most of them ought to be skipped. The only true exceptions are the Outbreak and Revelations games. Outbreak is an adventurous multiplayer take on the original formula that is still enjoyable even in single-player mode. The Revelations games are competently made action shooters that offer a lighter and quicker experience than their sister titles.

What are the best Resident Evil games?

The original Resident Evil 4 for the Nintendo GameCube is widely regarded as the best Resident Evil game ever, and is commonly held among the best video games ever. Here are the top-rated Resident Evil games, according to review aggregators:

1. Resident Evil 4
2. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
3. Resident Evil 4 (remake)
4. Resident Evil (remake)
5. Resident Evil 2 (remake)
6. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
7. Resident Evil
8. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
9. Resident Evil Zero
10. Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 4 has a review average of roughly 90% to 95%, depending on the review aggregator. Though the title marked a pivot away from horror and towards action, it was still broadly praised for its innovative gameplay and strong UX features.

The game helped popularize over-the-shoulder camera angles in shooters and quick-time events in action games. It wasn’t just gameplay mechanics that Resident Evil 4 pioneered, either, as it also offered a blueprint for improved checkpoints and auto-saves in console gaming. The result was a wildly popular game that has been re-released on almost every major platform since its initial release.

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica actually boasts comparable review scores to Resident Evil 4. The game expanded on the established Resident Evil formula by having multiple playable characters, FMV cutscenes, and improved camera angles. While the game was lauded at the time, its reputation hasn’t held up as well over time. The game is still generally well-liked by longtime fans, but Resident Evil 4 left a much larger footprint that cements it as the best game in the franchise.

Do I need to play the Resident Evil games in order?

Resident Evil games can generally be played individually, without having played previous games.

The Resident Evil franchise actually has one of the longest-running stories in gaming, with a clear throughline from the original game to Resident Evil 8. This most notably includes the presence of Chris Redfield, and ties into the long-running series of Resident Evil animated movies. That said, for the most part, the games can be played in basically any order.

Ultimately, all games boil down to the main character being isolated amid a zombie apocalypse. Past events might get referenced, but they’re ultimately of little consequence. The only story that really matters in each game is the main character fighting to survive.

The only real exceptions to this are Resident Evil – Code: Veronica and Resident Evil 6. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica puts more narrative emphasis on the reunion of Chris and Claire Redfield. Resident Evil 6 is generally more narrative-heavy, with a long list of characters from previous games appearing. While the narrative is already wacky, it becomes downright confusing without any context.