The video game industry is home to plenty of franchises that have remained popular for several decades, but only a few have as many must-play entries asResident Evil. A pioneer of the survival horror genre, the firstResident Evilwas released in 1996. Within a decade, Capcom had released a total of 14 individualResident Evilgames.
Now, almost 30 years after its debut,theResident Evilfranchisehas a total of 30 entries under its belt, encompassing 10 mainline entries and 20 spinoffs or remakes. Naturally, it’s quite difficult for a newcomer to jump into the franchise nowadays, especially given how the earlier entries in theResident Evilseries have become a little dated in terms of gameplay and graphics. But for those ready to take the plunge, there are a few different ways to tackle theResident Evilgames.
The Best Way to Play Through The Resident Evil Franchise
Release Order
The most obvious order to tackle theResident Evilseries is in release order. This means that players begin with that very first 1996 entry, and play every game in the order that it came out until they reach2021’sResident Evil Village. That order is as follows:
If newcomers want to experience absolutely everything theResident Evilvideo game franchise has to offer, then they can play the spinoffs and remakes (titles not in bold) that come in between the mainline entries. It should be noted, however, that many of these spinoffs are difficult to play on modern systems and by official means, and only a handful are considered truly must-play experiences.
In playing through the series in release order, newcomers will get to experience the natural evolutions that come between each entry, both in terms of gameplay and story. This is probably the most authentic way to play through theResident Evilseries, though it might not necessarily be the best.
Chronological Order
For those who want to go all-in onResident Evil’s overarching narrative, playing through the games in chronological order might be the way to go. In playing through the series in the following order, newcomers will have a much wider understanding of the ongoing story and character dynamics:
The chronological order isn’t too dissimilar to the release order, but it does trim the fat quite a bit when it comes to the series' spinoffs. While there are notable story additions inspinoffs likeResident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, they have little impact on the series' overarching narrative. Many spinoffs also retell the events of the mainline entries.
Remakes First
While it might be considered blasphemy by some die-hardResident Evilfans, the best way to play the series for the first time might be to start with the recent remakes. Put simply, therecentResident Evilremakesfeature modern gameplay mechanics and visuals, making them much more approachable than entries that released in the late 1990s. Once invested in the series, new fans are then much more likely to be willing to put up with tank controls and dated graphics to see where the franchise began.
