If you’ve ever heard a game described as a “survival horror”, you have Resident Evil to thank. Way back in 1996, Capcom introduced PlayStation players to a maze-like mansion populated by flesh-munching zombies, window-shattering zombie dogs and a menagerie of killer Bio Organic Weapons, or B.O.W.s.
Resident Evil smartly blended action, exploration and resource management while taking every opportunity to terrify the player and birthed an entirely new genre in the process.
It was an instant phenomenon, and has since spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, including successful forays into cinema, comics and animation.
The best place to start playing Resident Evil depends on what you're looking for...
If you’d like to experience survival horror as millions of PlayStation players did for the first time, the HD remaster of the first Resident Evil is a wise choice. Its fixed camera perspectives, limited resources and environmental puzzles are all hallmarks of the series’ early years.
For something that adheres to the franchise’s roots but with modern visuals and gameplay courtesy of Capcom’s incredible RE Engine, go for the remake of Resident Evil 2. It’s a stunning overhaul of an undisputed classic, and with a free PS5 patch, there's never been a better time to face your fear.
Picking up where Resident Evil 2 Remake left off, this action-packed reimagining breathes terrifying new life into a PS1 classic. Pursued relentlessly by one of video game's most horrific foes - Nemesis - Resident Evil 3's pulse-pounding horror is the perfect way to prep for Resident Evil 4. With a free PS5 patch for existing owners, there's never been a better way to experience Resident Evil's terrifying third act.
To experience Resident Evil’s terrifying new era of survival horror, dare to take on Resident Evil VII Biohazard or Resident Evil Village. As new protagonist Ethan Winters, you’ll feel the fear from a first-person perspective.
A corporation engulfed in secrets that brought Racoon City to its knees.
Find out what happened to the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team and discover the truth behind the mansion incident - the catalyst for the entire storyline of the Resident Evil series.
Chris Redfield leads the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team through a horror-filled mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City as they search for the missing Bravo team.
Follow Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they fight their way through Raccoon City after a mysterious viral outbreak.
Discover the strange origin of the viral outbreak in Raccoon City while being relentlessly chased by the Nemesis T-Type.
Claire and Chris Redfield’s nightmare continues as they fight to survive Umbrella’s deadly facilities.
Resident Evil goes global, as our heroes combat B.O.W.s around the world.
Experience the genre-defying classic as you've never seen it before. Step into the boots of Leon Kennedy as you attempt to retrieve the President's daughter from a horrifying Spanish cult.
Ten years after surviving the mansion incident, Chris Redfield returns to eliminate a new biological threat in an undisclosed African country.
The truth about the Raccoon City incident is almost out. Featuring both Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy for the first time, Resident Evil 6 documents four intertwining stories on a global scale.
The scares ramp up as the series shifts to an immersive first-person perspective.
Follow Ethan Winters in his search for his missing wife in the Louisiana bayou and escape the clutches of the deranged Baker family. This game is also playable on PlayStation VR.
Take on the village and its residents as Ethan Winters. You’ll once again feel the fear and action from a first-person perspective.
Offshoot games that expand the world of Resident Evil with new stories and scenarios.
Set between the events of Resident Evil 4 and 5, join Jill Valentine in a search for her old partner, Chris Redfield, aboard a luxury cruise-liner ghostship in the Mediterranean Sea.
Taking place between the Resident Evil 5 and 6 stories, escape imprisonment on a remote island as Claire Redfield and Barry Burton.
Hello PlayStation fans! I’m Tsuyoshi Kanda, Producer of Resident Evil Village. Today, I wanted to share more information with you about the Winters’ Expansion DLC and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition, which includes both the base game and Winters’ Expansion. First, I’d like to kick things off with the new Story DLC, “Shadows of Rose”. […]
We kicked off 2022 revealing the design of the PlayStation VR2, complete with its sleek headset and innovative PS VR2 Sense controllers. Following that, we shared more details on the user experience of PS VR2, like the illuminating see-through view and the customizable play area. A stylish design and new features are excellent, but playing […]
The iconic trench-coat sporting antagonist Albert Wesker, feared (and respected) by Resident Evil players worldwide. The dexterous and enigmatic Ada Wong, whose survival skills make her a valuable ally – provided interests remain aligned. The S.T.A.R.S. Field Medic Rebecca Chambers, whose medical brilliance keeps teammates alive and inspired. Every character comes with 3 unique perks, […]
In 1996, the survival horror genre was established with the release of the first Resident Evil for PlayStation, and the series has brought chills and thrills to every generation of consoles since. Earlier this year, we announced that Resident Evil 7 (2017), Resident Evil 2 (2019), and Resident Evil 3 (2020) are making their way […]
Resident Evil Village, the latest in the critically acclaimed survival horror series, launched in 2021 and has already sold over 6 million copies worldwide. The blend of a wide variety of unique characters, such as Lady Dimitrescu, an action-oriented game system, and the story of Ethan Winters who embarks on a journey to search for […]
We’re only a few weeks away from the return of Capcom’s survival horror series. Launching May 7 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Resident Evil Village thrusts RE 7’s everyman protagonist Ethan Winters into a new, horrifying scenario. Torn from a blissful family life by events beyond his control, the once settled husband and father […]
Happy Resident Evil 2 launch day everyone. Whether it’s your first time in Raccoon City or a return visit to Arklay County, there are plenty of surprises in store in Capcom’s superlative PS4 remake of its 1998 classic.
Just revealed at the Resident Evil panel at San Diego Comic-Con, we have a bunch of new information on Resident Evil 2 straight from the game’s producer, Yoshiaki Hirabayashi!
Our faithful readers can tell you that Fridays mean you have a 1-in-4 chance of a flash sale. Well today’s your lucky Friday. PlayStation Stores Deals Under $10 Flash Sale starts right now! So fluff up those couch cushions and saddle up for a weekend in. Save on more than 200 titles, including Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, Resident Evil 4, and Overcooked: Gourmet Edition. When those thumbs need a break, we’ve got 150+ movies to choose from as well. Scoop up Kong: Skull Island, Fist Fight, Creed and more – all for under 10 bucks.
There is no right answer here. The shapeshifting nature of the series means there’s no such thing as a ‘definitive’ Resident Evil game. It also depends on what you're looking for in your first Resident Evil experience. Check our recommendations above on where to start.
The horror aspect is incredibly important to Resident Evil’s appeal, but there’s so much more to its enduring success.
Each new Resident Evil game introduces memorable new heroes and monstrous new villains. It brings back favorites in surprising and inventive ways and adds more depth to a world that has continued to twist, turn and evolve over the decades.
If you really want to know everything about the world of Resident Evil, sure, but while there’s definitely a connective narrative tissue between each game, they all tell complete stories in isolation.
You can always bank on Resident Evil games to help you play catch-up, be that with introductory recaps, environmental storytelling, in-game notes and diaries, or good old expositional dialogue.
Resident Evil games present a stiff challenge without ever feeling unfair. Survival requires skillful and strategic use of your weapons, which sometimes means knowing when not to use them.
There are plenty of times when firing away is unavoidable, but as you start to learn how to weave through enemies and discover shortcuts, you’ll be able to conserve ammo for when it really matters.
Zombies really are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to danger. Resident Evil has a nasty habit of throwing increasingly deadly and disgusting creatures at you, such as the Hunters with their elongated limbs and reptilian hides, and the Lickers with skinless bodies and exposed brains.
There’s also a host of human villains who are usually responsible for the grotesque creatures you encounter and are, more often than not, hiding a horrifying secret of their own.
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Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer, intrepid explorers, unearth long-buried secrets and embark upon high-stakes action in Naughty Dog’s acclaimed adventure series.
Steeped in survival horror and packed with action, this thrilling series has been a fixture on PlayStation since the beginning and continues to evolve.
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First Appearance: Resident Evil
A captain in the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). Ever since his life-changing experience at Spencer Mansion in 1998, Chris has made it his mission to destroy B.O.W.s and fight bioterrorism.
First Appearance: Resident Evil
A co-founder and Special Operations Agent of the BSAA, Jill works with her close friend and fellow Spencer Mansion survivor Chris in the war against bioterrorism. Affectionately known as the “Master of Unlocking”.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 2
Since surviving his disastrous first day on the job at Raccoon City Police Department, Leon has established himself as an anti-B.O.W. and counter-bioterrorism expert for the US government.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 2
Chris’ sister is a member of NGO TerraSave, a human rights agency that provides aid to victims of bioterrorism. She was trained in combat by her brother, which proved useful when she arrived in Raccoon City at the height of the t-Virus outbreak.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Ethan was a normal guy with zero combat experience until his search for his missing wife Mia led him to the Baker Ranch in Louisiana. Now infected with Mold, a fungal bioweapon that grants him enhanced restorative power, he is kept under the protection of the BSAA.
First Appearance: Resident Evil
An all-time great gaming villain. Albert Wesker was one of the key Umbrella researchers behind the t-Virus, the virus that turned Raccoon City’s residents into the undead. He also has superhuman powers and a serious God complex.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 2
A former colleague of Wesker at Umbrella, William Birkin is ruthless in his pursuit of scientific progress. He is the creator of ‘Golgotha’ AKA the G-virus, and responsible for the spread of t-Virus across Raccoon City that wiped out the town’s population.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 4
Saddler is a bio-weapons researcher who posed as the leader of the Los Iluminados cult in order to fool the castellan of a small Spanish village. Through this, he gained access to Las Plagas, mind-controlling parasites that he planned to use for world domination.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 7: biohazard
The father in the once relatively normal American family, Jack and his family underwent a highly disturbing transformation. Now a deranged, cannibalistic killer, he and his family are responsible for a number of kidnappings and are thought by some to be ghosts.
First Appearance: Resident Evil Village
The towering mistress of Castle Dimitrescu resides in an unnamed East European country with her three daughters. Her age is a mystery and is said to drink the blood of those who wander too close to her castle.
First Appearance: Resident Evil
Although they seem dead, Resident Evil’s zombies are very much alive. Scientifically mutated, these zombies have a range of horrifying symptoms that transform them into shambling, ravenous mutants.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 2
Certain zombies can mutate further, and this is the horrific result. Lickers are skinless creatures that crawl on all-fours, using their claws to scale walls and their oversized tongues as weapons. Although blind, they have enhanced hearing to compensate.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 3
Also known as ‘Pursuer’, Nemesis is the product of a Tyrant B.O.W. fused with a mind-controlling parasite, which grants it intelligence and self-awareness. It relentlessly pursues its targets, and boasts regenerative powers that render it almost unstoppable.
First Appearance: Resident Evil 4
One of Osmund Saddler’s many victims, this ‘Ganado’ (a villager infected with Las Plagas) wears a burlap sack and wields a chainsaw, which he will gladly use to decapitate intruders. The host’s body can withstand a huge amount of punishment.
First Appearance: Resident Evil Village
These ferocious werewolf-like creatures that appear in the latest Resident Evil game have made the village their nest. They nimbly stalk the villagers with sharp teeth and claws.
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