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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Games & Tech

Resident Evil

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

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Resident Evil is a survival horror franchise created by Capcom that began in 1996. The series follows viral outbreaks and bio-organic weapons, with multiple protagonists across games, films, and TV.

Overview

The franchise debuted with Resident Evil in 1996, establishing survival horror staples like resource management and zombie outbreaks. It quickly became one of the best-known series in the genre, expanding into sequels, spin-offs, and remakes.

Gameplay and style

Early games emphasised survival horror with limited resources and puzzle solving. Later entries incorporated more action and shooter elements, while remakes modernised visuals and mechanics while retelling the same core events.

Story and adaptations

The series centres on bioterrorism and the Umbrella Corporation, with overlapping storylines across multiple protagonists. It has been adapted into live-action films, CGI animated films, and television projects, each generally in separate continuities from the games.

In short

  • Began in 1996 and became a landmark survival horror series.
  • Stories centre on bioterrorism, viruses, and the Umbrella Corporation.
  • Multiple protagonists share the lead across the franchise.
  • Adaptations include films and TV in separate continuities.
Canadian angle

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.

Quick questions

What order should I play Resident Evil games?
A common starting point is release order: 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.
Who is the main character in Resident Evil?
There is no single main character. The series uses multiple protagonists, especially Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and later Ethan Winters.

Sources

  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.