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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Entertainment • Video Games

Resident Evil

Resident Evil is a survival horror video game franchise created by Capcom that began with the 1996 game Resident Evil.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Resident Evil is a survival horror video game franchise created by Capcom that began with the 1996 game Resident Evil. The series follows outbreaks of bio-organic weapons, viruses, and related conspiracies, with recurring characters such as Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Albert Wesker. It has expanded into sequels, spin-offs, remakes, films, television, and animated features.

History

Resident Evil debuted in 1996 as a horror game developed and published by Capcom. It established many of the series’ recurring elements, including resource management, zombie outbreaks, and corporate conspiracy themes.

Gameplay and style

The franchise is known for survival horror gameplay, though later entries also incorporated action and shooter elements. Remakes of earlier games modernised visuals and mechanics while retelling the same core events.

Story and setting

The series is set in a fictional world shaped by outbreaks caused by viruses and bio-organic weapons. Its continuity spans multiple protagonists and overlapping storylines across different time periods.

Adaptations

Resident Evil has been adapted into live-action film series, CGI animated films, and television projects. These adaptations generally present separate continuities rather than a single shared canon with the games.

Key facts

  • The franchise began with Resident Evil in 1996 and became one of the best-known survival horror series.
  • Its stories centre on bioterrorism, viral outbreaks, and the Umbrella Corporation and related groups.
  • The series includes mainline entries, spin-offs, remakes, and reimaginings of earlier games.
  • Several different characters share protagonist duties across the franchise rather than a single lead.
  • Resident Evil has also been adapted into live-action films, animated films, and television productions.
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Canadian context

Resident Evil has a large Canadian fan base and has been widely available on major consoles and PC in Canada. Canadian entertainment coverage often discusses the franchise’s games, remakes, and film adaptations as part of mainstream horror and gaming culture.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I play Resident Evil games?
A common starting point is release order for the clearest story and gameplay progression: Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Code: Veronica, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Revelations, Resident Evil 6, Revelations 2, Resident Evil 7, and Village.
Are the Resident Evil movies canon?
The live-action films are generally treated as a separate continuity from the games, not canon to the main game storyline. The animated films also follow their own continuity within the franchise.
Who is the main character in Resident Evil?
There is no single main character across the whole franchise. The series uses multiple protagonists, especially Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and later Ethan Winters.
Is Resident Evil based on a true story?
No. Resident Evil is a fictional franchise built around invented viruses, corporations, and bioweapons, with no basis in a true story.
How many Resident Evil games are there?
The exact count depends on whether you include remakes and spin-offs. Coverage of the franchise commonly refers to 10 core entries plus additional spin-offs such as Revelations, while broader counts are higher.

References

  1. IGN — https://www.ign.com/articles/resident-evil-games-in-order
    Supports: General game order and identification of core entries and spin-offs.
  2. Tubbz — https://tubbz.com/a/blog/resident-evil-timeline-explained-every-game-in-order
    Supports: Chronological timeline overview of the games and film series order.
  3. TheGamer — https://www.thegamer.com/every-resident-evil-game-chronological-order/
    Supports: Chronological ordering and series scope across mainline and spin-off games.
  4. Game Informer — https://www.gameinformer.com/2016/03/07/the-history-of-resident-evil
    Supports: Franchise history, genre identity, and Capcom ownership.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil
    Supports: Broad franchise overview, main characters, and adaptations.