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Short answer: Resident Evil 5 comes first, following Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as they investigate a bioweapons market and confront a plot involving Uroboros and Albert Wesker. Resident Evil 6 follows four years later, linking several character campaigns amid attacks across multiple regions. As of October 4, 2026, Capcom has announced a 2027 remake of Resident Evil Veronica, but the official sources cited here do not announce remakes of RE5 or RE6.
Where Resident Evil 5 and 6 fit in the timeline
Capcom’s official chronology places Resident Evil 5 in March 2009 and Resident Evil 6 in June 2013, a four-year gap. Capcom also describes RE6 as taking place after RE5. You can follow the main story in release order: play RE5 before RE6.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil 5 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 6 - Xbox One | $27.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 5 (PS4) | $21.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil 5 - Xbox One Standard Edition | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
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Capcom Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition PlayStation 5 Game | $46.44 | Buy on Amazon |
Both games take place in a world where bioterrorism has spread beyond the earlier Umbrella conflict. RE5 centers on one investigation that grows into a larger confrontation; RE6 broadens the scope to connected crises and several protagonists.
Resident Evil 5 story recap
Chris and Sheva investigate Kijuju
In RE5, Chris Redfield travels to the Kijuju Autonomous Zone in Africa to follow a lead on a bio-weapons black market. Sheva Alomar joins him. Their investigation reveals a wider scheme involving the Uroboros virus and brings Chris back into conflict with Albert Wesker.
#1 Best Overall
- Mercenaries mode features 8 playable characters each with different costumes and loadouts to choose from
- Chris Redfield and new playable character Sheva Alomar are tasked with investigating the epidemic
- Two player local and online coop
- All previously released DLC including costumes, game modes, figures and bonus story scenarios
Why Wesker matters to the series
Wesker is central to the conflict that links RE5 to the earlier games. RE5 brings Chris and Wesker’s long-running rivalry to its resolution: Capcom’s character archive says Wesker’s fate is sealed by Chris in this game. The consequences of Wesker’s past actions, however, remain relevant to the series afterward.
Resident Evil 6 story recap
A global crisis told through connected campaigns
Set in June 2013, RE6 follows bioterrorist attacks across Eastern Europe, North America, and China. Rather than telling the story through one lead character, it connects several campaigns as their protagonists work to uncover the truth behind the attacks.
Rank #2
- Starting with four distinct, yet interwoven story threads, for either solo or co-op play, both offline and online, not only does Resident Evil 6 deliver both different perspectives and gameplay styles
- Ada Wong, Resident Evil's very own femme fatale, dives into a thrilling campaign of intrigue and infiltration, featuring unique missions, gameplay and weapons. Ada is available from the start
- The most expansive Resident Evil game to date- Experience the horror through four distinct yet intertwined campaigns
- Solo or co-op - Resident Evil 6 delivers both single and two player co-op gameplay either offline or online
- Includes all the available DLC content from Resident Evil 6: Siege Mode, Predator Mode, Survivor Mode, Onslaught Mode, The Mercenaries maps, ResidentEvil.net costumes
- Leon S. Kennedy and Helena Harper: Their story is one of the threads in the wider crisis.
- Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans: Chris returns, now as part of a different campaign from his RE5 investigation.
- Jake Muller and Sherry Birkin: Jake is identified by Capcom as Wesker’s son, giving the game a direct family link to RE5’s central adversary.
- Ada Wong: Ada has a principal role, including a separate campaign documented in Capcom’s official RE6 manual.
The campaigns are interconnected, but they are distinct character perspectives, not one uninterrupted account from a single protagonist. Capcom’s official summaries establish the broad attacks, cast, and connections; they do not provide a complete scene-by-scene account of every campaign or ending.
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| Story element | Resident Evil 5 | Resident Evil 6 |
|---|---|---|
| When it happens | March 2009, according to Capcom’s official chronology. | June 2013, according to Capcom’s official chronology. |
| Story shape | Chris and Sheva investigate a bio-weapons market in Kijuju. | Several linked campaigns unfold amid attacks in multiple world regions. |
| Continuity role | Resolves Chris’s conflict with Wesker. | Carries the bioterror setting forward; Jake’s identity connects him to Wesker. |
| Main characters | Chris Redfield, Sheva Alomar, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker. | Leon Kennedy, Helena Harper, Chris Redfield, Piers Nivans, Jake Muller, Sherry Birkin, and Ada Wong. |
For the clearest narrative handoff, notice the contrast: RE5 closes a major personal conflict for Chris, while RE6 shifts to a larger ensemble and a wider set of attacks. Jake’s parentage is the most direct character connection between the games after Wesker’s story ends.
Rank #3
- Adventure horror game from Capcom
Do you need to play RE5 before RE6?
No, but playing RE5 first gives useful context for Chris’s history with Wesker and for why Jake’s identity matters. RE6 introduces its own campaigns and cast, so a newcomer can follow its broad bioterror premise without having played every earlier game. If you have limited time and want the continuity most relevant to these two stories, play RE5 first and then RE6.
Which game should you play for which kind of story?
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A focused partnership and one central investigation | RE5 | Its story centers on Chris and Sheva’s mission in Kijuju. |
| Several protagonists and a wider crisis | RE6 | Its interconnected campaigns follow multiple character pairings and Ada. |
| The end of Chris and Wesker’s conflict | RE5 | Capcom identifies this game as the conclusion of Wesker’s arc. |
| A continuation of the series’ bioterror setting | RE6 | Its story links attacks across three broad world regions. |
Both games support solo play and cooperative play, though the exact mode and platform details depend on the edition. Capcom describes RE5 as solo or co-op; its Switch announcement says RE6 can be played solo or with a co-op partner in each story.
Rank #4
- Mercenaries mode features 8 playable characters each with different costumes and loadouts to choose from
- Chris Redfield and new playable character Sheva Alomar are tasked with investigating the epidemic
- Two player local and online coop
- All previously released DLC including costumes, game modes, figures and bonus story scenarios
Are Resident Evil 5 or 6 remakes confirmed?
Not in the cited official announcements. Capcom announced on June 8, 2026 that Resident Evil Veronica is scheduled for release as a remake in 2027. That announcement is not confirmation of an RE5 or RE6 remake, and no release date for either game is established by the official sources cited here. Treat speculation about their remake prospects as speculation, not a Capcom release plan.
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Playing the original games
If you want to catch up using the originals, check the listing for your platform, territory, and edition before buying. Capcom’s 2019 North American and Latin American Switch Triple Pack announcement says RE4 is on the cartridge while RE5 and RE6 are supplied as digital download codes; it also describes prior content and added gyro and motion controls for the Switch versions. Bundle contents and availability can vary by territory and over time.
Best Value
- Intense horror experience with dark narrative
- Improved images and refined game mechanics included
- Players take on the role of Leon S Kennedy
- Mission to save the president's daughter from danger
- Challenging environments and strategic combat scenarios await
PlayStation’s US store lists a PS4 version of RE5 with single-player and co-op, and includes DLC such as Lost in Nightmares and Desperate Escape. Those details apply to that listing and should not be assumed for every platform or edition.
Quick Recap
Official sources
- Capcom Resident Evil Portal: Looking back on the Resident Evil universe — chronology and story summaries.
- Capcom USA: Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 for Nintendo Switch are out now! — game synopses, co-op, and Switch Triple Pack details.
- Capcom: Resident Evil 6 Will Launch on November 22, 2012 in Japan — historical release information and dated sales figures.
- PlayStation Store US: Resident Evil 5 – PS4 Games — US PS4 listing and edition details.
- Capcom: Resident Evil Veronica to Launch in 2027! — the announced remake and schedule.
- Capcom Resident Evil 6 Official Web Manual: Ada’s Campaign with Co-op — Ada campaign information.
- Capcom Resident Evil Portal: Jake Muller — character profile.
- Capcom Resident Evil Portal: Albert Wesker (RE5) — character archive.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
