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The Resident Evil remakes fit into the franchise’s existing story chronology: Resident Evil 0 and the Mansion Incident happen in July 1998, the Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 2 remakes overlap during the September outbreak, and Resident Evil 4 follows in autumn 2004. These are in-universe dates, not the games’ release years.
Where the remakes fit in the Resident Evil timeline
Capcom’s official chronology places the remake stories within the franchise timeline. The dates below refer to when events happen in the story, not when each game was released.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil Triple Pack - Nintendo Switch | $38.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - Nintendo Switch | $37.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection (PS4) | $22.05 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| In-universe date | Game or event | How it fits |
|---|---|---|
| July 23, 1998 | Resident Evil 0 | The Ecliptic Express Incident takes place the night before the first game’s Mansion Incident. |
| July 24, 1998 | Resident Evil / Resident Evil (2002 remake) | The Mansion Incident is the first game’s central event. Capcom’s chronology image depicts the 2002 remake, but the story remains set in 1998. |
| September 28, 1998 onward | Resident Evil 3 remake | Jill Valentine’s story begins a day before the events of the Resident Evil 2 remake and continues through Raccoon City’s final days. |
| September 29, 1998 | Resident Evil 2 remake | Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield arrive in Raccoon City amid the outbreak, while events in Resident Evil 3 are continuing. |
| December 1998 | Resident Evil Code: Veronica | Claire and Chris’s story continues after the Raccoon City events. |
| Autumn 2004 | Resident Evil 4 remake | Leon’s rescue mission takes place six years after the Raccoon City Incident. |
Capcom’s official Resident Evil chronology supplies these broad placements. It does not provide a scene-by-scene synchronization of the overlapping Raccoon City stories.
Why Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 overlap
The two remakes are not separate, consecutive incidents. Resident Evil 3 opens on September 28, 1998, before Resident Evil 2 begins on September 29; its story then carries on into the city’s last days. Capcom’s Resident Evil Portal summarizes the relationship this way: “The story starts one day before RE2: Remake and ends during the final days of Raccoon City.”
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- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series.
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release.
- Fan-favorite Resident Evil characters - Rookie S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers and wanted criminal Billy Coen combine skills and buddy up to survive the undead and infected nightmares that await them.
- All original difficulty levels plus new Very Easy Mode for novice players
For a timeline, show the opening of Resident Evil 3 first, then show Resident Evil 2 alongside the continuing events of Resident Evil 3. That conveys the overlap without suggesting that every scene can be precisely lined up from Capcom’s summary.
Remake story dates are not release dates
A remake’s release year does not move its story forward in time. The original Resident Evil 2 was released in 1998, and the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis followed in September 1999; Capcom places both remakes’ stories in the 1998 Raccoon City outbreak. The original Resident Evil remake was released in 2002, but it depicts the July 1998 Mansion Incident. Capcom’s 2023 feature on Leon Kennedy and the remakes likewise places the Resident Evil 4 remake in 2004 and identifies the 2005 game as its original.
Rank #2
- Play anywhere: play Resident Evil Triple Pack on the go using the Nintendo Switch system's handheld or at home in tabletop mode.
- Two-player local and online co-op: experience Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 locally or online with a friend.
- Game enhancements: includes a variety of game improvements for both Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6.
- Includes map packs, special costumes, plus the game modes from Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6.
What order should you play the games in?
If you want the story in broad chronological order through the remakes, play Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil (the original or 2002 remake), then begin Resident Evil 3 before Resident Evil 2. The last two overlap, so this is a useful orientation rather than a claim that one complete game happens strictly before the other. Continue with Code: Veronica and then Resident Evil 4.
If you prefer release order, or want to compare an original with its remake, keep that separate from story order: the games’ release dates and their characters’ in-universe dates answer different questions. Capcom identifies the games as remakes and places their stories in its chronology; its published material does not establish a comprehensive rule for the canon status of every change between an original and remake.
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- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind the horrors in the Resident Evil mansion, as well as what led up to them, in these titles which mark the beginning of the Resident Evil timeline.
- Relive the classic horror in either its original settings or modified to modern-day standards
- Play as Albert Wesker in Resident Evil 0 - After completing the main campaign, players will be able to take control of the fan-favorite series antagonist, complete with his Uroboros powers from Resident Evil 5, to wreak havoc in the all new Wesker Mode
- Play Anywhere: Play Resident Evil Origins Collection on the go using the Nintendo Switch system's handheld or tabletop mode
How the later main games continue the timeline
For a wider view beyond the remake-era stories, Capcom dates the later installments as follows. These entries extend the chronology; they are not needed to understand how the remakes fit around Raccoon City.
| In-universe year | Game |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Resident Evil 5 |
| 2011 | Resident Evil Revelations 2 |
| 2013 | Resident Evil 6 |
| 2017 | Resident Evil 7 |
| 2021 | Resident Evil Village |
These dates and placements come from Capcom’s timeline. The company’s game lineup also lists the relevant franchise titles.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Rank #4
- Return to the series' origins
- Enhanced visuals
- remastered sound effects
- Wesker mode
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.
