Resident Evil order to play: where to start in 2026

Resident Evil started in 1996 and has grown into one of the biggest horror series in gaming, with more than 213 million copies sold worldwide as of June 2026, according to Wikipedia. The good news: you do not need homework to start. Every main game is built so new players can jump in.

Key takeaways

• The mainline games by release: RE (1996), RE2 (1998), RE3 Nemesis (1999), RE4 (2005), RE5 (2009), RE6 (2012), RE7 (2017), Village (2021) and Requiem (2026).
• RE1, RE2, RE3 and RE4 all have modern remakes, which are the easiest way in.
• Code: Veronica (2000) is not numbered, and its remake, Resident Evil Veronica, is due in 2027.
• Requiem is playable on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2 and GeForce NOW.

Release order: the full list

Story order

If you want to follow the story chronologically, Wikipedia's plot summaries put the games in this order: Zero (a prequel), RE1, RE2 and RE3, Code: Veronica, RE4, RE5, Revelations 2, RE6, RE7, Village and then Requiem. Capcom's own text says Requiem is set decades after Raccoon City.

An easy path for newcomers

This is our suggestion, not an official one. Start with a modern remake, because they play like current games and keep the best of the originals.

1. RE2 remake – a tight, scary police-station story. It is the best sampler of the series' survival horror.
2. RE3 remake – shorter and faster, with a relentless pursuer.
3. RE4 remake – more action and a huge hit. The Gold Edition adds the Separate Ways campaign.
4. RE7, then Village – these two are a connected story from the first-person era.
5. Requiem – the newest game. Capcom does not state whether it works as a standalone entry, so check it with our beginner guide.

What is coming next

Capcom announced Resident Evil Veronica, a remake of Code: Veronica, on June 5, 2026. It is planned for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and Steam in 2027, with no exact date yet. The RE2, RE3 and RE4 remakes also launch natively on Switch 2 on October 16, 2026 (see our remakes comparison).

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Where to watch before you buy

If you are unsure whether the series is for you, watch a few streams first. The live wall on our Resident Evil hub shows what is on Twitch and Kick right now. Remember these are adult-rated games.