Quick verdict: Start with Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019) or RE: Requiem (2026) if you're new — but after that, play the series in release order, not timeline order. The franchise's best era is its newest: the horror revival (RE7 → Village → Requiem) restored what the action years (RE5–RE6) lost.
Key facts: 11 mainline entries from 1996 to 2026 · Requiem (RE9) launched February 27, 2026 and is the best-reviewed RE in 20 years · remakes of 1–4 are all excellent modern entry points · the 2023 RE4 Remake and the 2026 Requiem are the two games that best represent what the series is now.
Resident Evil: The Quick Answers
Release order (the way the series actually shipped)
Chronological (in-universe) order — for the story
| # | Game | Year | Era | Notorious for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resident Evil | 1996 | Classic fixed-cam | Started survival horror |
| 2 | Resident Evil 2 | 1998 | Classic | The Raccoon City breakout |
| 3 | Resident Evil 3 | 1999 | Classic | Nemesis, the stalker |
| 4 | Code: Veronica | 2000 | Classic | The hidden gem |
| 5 | Resident Evil 4 | 2005 | Action era | Revolutionary over-the-shoulder |
| 6 | Resident Evil 5 | 2009 | Action era | Co-op, blockbuster scale |
| 7 | Resident Evil 6 | 2012 | Action era | The notorious lowest point |
| 8 | Resident Evil 7 | 2017 | Horror revival | Back to horror roots |
| 9 | RE8 Village | 2021 | Horror revival | One of the best sequels |
| 10 | RE: Requiem (RE9) | 2026 | New era | Best-reviewed RE in 20 years |
| — | RE1 Remaster | 2002 | Remake | Gold standard of remakes |
| — | RE2 Remake | 2019 | Remake | 90+ Metacritic modern classic |
| — | RE3 Remake | 2020 | Remake | Short but solid |
| — | RE4 Remake | 2023 | Remake | Sold 10M+; the best RE4 |
If story continuity is what you want, play this order instead:
0 → 1 → 2 / 3 (Raccoon City) → Code: Veronica → 4 → Revelations → 5 → Revelations 2 → 6 → 7 → Village → Requiem (2029 in-universe)
The two most important things this order teaches you: Raccoon City is the origin of everything the Umbrella conspiracy touches, and Leon S. Kennedy carries the series' connective tissue from RE2 all the way to Requiem.
Part 1: Release Order — The Four Eras
I've played every mainline Resident Evil, most of them at launch. The honest way to explain this franchise is by era, because each era plays like a different series.
The Classic Fixed-Camera Era (1996–2000)
The games that invented the genre. Fixed cameras, ink ribbons, limited saves, and puzzles that made you feel smarter than you were. RE1 (1996) and RE2 (1998) are historically sacred; RE2 is the one that made the franchise a global phenomenon. Code: Veronica (2000) is the cult favorite — a proper "if you only play one classic" pick, now playable in modern ports.
Play these if: you want to see where everything started. Otherwise, the remakes below do the same stories with better controls.
The Action Era (2005–2012)
RE4 (2005) reinvented the franchise as an action game and is one of the most influential games ever made. RE5 (2009) went co-op and blockbuster. RE6 (2012) went too far — four campaigns, ridiculous action, and the lowest critical reputation in the series. This is the era fans are most divided on.
Play RE4 Remake (2023) instead of the original unless you want the historical artifact — the remake improves combat while keeping every iconic moment.
The Horror Revival (2017–2021)
RE7 (2017) took the series back into a haunted house, and Resident Evil hasn't looked back. Village (2021) is RE8 — first-person again, but broader: gothic village, Lady Dimitrescu's castle, and a surprisingly emotional finale. This era is the modern Resident Evil identity.
The New Era (2026)
Requiem (RE9) launched February 27, 2026, and beat the rest of the modern era at its own game — 89–93 Metacritic, ~7M copies sold, and a structure that brings back Raccoon City with Grace Ashcroft and Leon. Director Kōshi Nakanishi (RE7) returned for this one. It's under RE4 Remake and RE2 Remake in my personal ranking, but it's incredibly close.
Part 2: The Ranked List (Worst to Best)
Opinionated, obviously, but this is my honest ranking after finding the whole series in 2026.
| Rank | Game | Metacritic (approx.) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Resident Evil 6 | 63–67 | Overblown, unfocused, too much of everything |
| 9 | Resident Evil 5 | 80 | Good with a friend, thin alone |
| 8 | Code: Veronica | 80 | Great, but pacing issues |
| 7 | Resident Evil (1996) | 75–80 | Historic, dated controls |
| 6 | Resident Evil 3 Remake | 79 | Trimmed classic, still solid |
| 5 | Resident Evil | 77 (as remaster) | The first, better than its age suggests |
| 4 | Resident Evil 4 Remake | 93 | Best of the classics, modernized |
| 3 | Resident Evil: Village | 84–85 | The most polished horror sequel |
| 2 | Resident Evil 2 Remake | 91 | Nearly perfect survival horror |
| 1 | RE: Requiem | 89–93 | The best-reviewed RE in 20 years |
Wait — I hear some fans yelling about Code: Veronica at #7. That's the point of a real ranking: it's contentious, and I'll stand by it.
How to Start Resident Evil in 2026
If you have time for one game: RE2 Remake. It's the perfect blend of old-school dread and modern design.
If you want the current series: start with RE: Requiem — it works with basically no baggage and shows you the franchise at its peak. 2023-era RE4 Remake is the second-best modern entry.
The full-biggest-bang path: RE2 Remake → RE4 Remake → Village → Requiem. That's roughly 80 hours of the best the series has, and it's the fastest route to Requiem's emotional payoff.
Remakes vs Originals in 2026
The remakes are not replacements — they're the modern way to experience the classics. An original fixed-camera RE (1996–2000) and its 2019–2023 remake play so differently that they're almost different games. Play both if you love the series. If you only want one, play the remakes — every title that got a remake has a clearly better modern version.
The Spin-offs Actually Worth Your Time
| Original | Remake | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| RE1 (1996) | RE1 Remake (2002) | Keep the original for nostalgia |
| RE2 (1998) | RE2 Remake (2019) | Remake is essential |
| RE3 (1999) | RE3 Remake (2020) | Remake is good, shorter |
| RE4 (2005) | RE4 Remake (2023) | Remake is definitive |
Two stand above the glut: Revelations 1 (2012) — the best handheld-era RE, huge value — and Revelations 2 (2015), which has some of the best side stories in the franchise. Skip: Outbreak (ancient online tech), Resistance (dead servers), Re:Verse (dead).
The New Era: Requiem Explained
Requiem is the ninth mainline Resident Evil — the "9" is hidden in the title's lettering, in classic Capcom fashion. It's a peak-form survival horror with Grace Ashcroft and Leon back in a haunted Raccoon City, set explicitly in 2029 in the timeline. It has three endings (Hope / Destruction / Meanwhile, Elpis) — Hope is the "canon" one that sets up the DLC "Leon Must Die Forever" (May 8, 2026).
- Review: Our (praiseful) review
- Tips: Requiem beginner's tips
- Specs: Can my PC run it?
- Endings: Every ending explained
FAQ
Do I need to play all Resident Evil games?
No. The modern times start with RE7 — everything before RE7 is more about great games than required story. If you want the essential: RE2 Remake + RE: Requiem, then go backwards to the classics you're curious about.
Where does Requiem fit in the timeline?
Requiem is set in 2029 in-universe, after Village (2021). It's the very last story beat currently released. The full chronological thread: 0 → 1 → 2/3 → CV → 4 → Rev 1 → 5 → Rev 2 → 6 → 7 → Village → RE: Requiem.
Is Village required before Requiem?
It helps a lot — Village set up the current cast of the post-Ethan era, and Requiem continues those threads (Leon's whole arc closes around it). It's not mandatory, but you'll enjoy more with it.
Which Resident Evil is best for newcomers in 2026?
RE2 Remake as an overall pick. If you prefer modern-present-edge, Requiem itself. Both are accessible, not terrifyingly hard, and genuinely great games.
Why do fans get mad at the RE6 ranking?
RE6 is a game journalistic consensus heavily rips — it's action, it's a four-campaign commitment, and it marked the moment the series abandoned horror. People who are half-fond of it like its co-op chaos. I see that argument — but at #8 on a series ranked for quality, it's still a top-tier game when measured against most other co-op action titles.
Related Reading
- Resident Evil Requiem Review: Is RE9 Worth It in 2026? — the review that started the new era
- Resident Evil Requiem System Requirements — can your rig run it
- Every Requiem Ending Explained (Full Spoilers) — what Hope / Destruction / Nowt actually mean
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