Resident Evil spin-off timeline

Release order

1. 

   2000Optional

   Resident Evil Survivor

   PS1Light gunOn-railsOptional

   Resident Evil Survivor (2000) is a light-gun / first-person oddity set after Raccoon City—Ark Thompson on Sheena Island with tank controls that aged poorly.

   Overview

   Early Capcom attempt at on-rails RE shooting outside the main survival-horror camera. Resident Evil Survivor (2000) is a light-gun / first-person oddity set after Raccoon City—Ark Thompson on Sheena Island with tank controls that aged poorly.

   In-game setting

   Sheena Island outbreak after Raccoon City. Tone neighbor to later rail shooters, not to RE2 Remake. Resident Evil Survivor (2000) is a light-gun / first-person oddity set after Raccoon City—Ark Thompson on Sheena Island with tank controls that aged poorly.

   Should you play it?

   Curiosity and completists only—skip on any modern horror path. Main saga stays on the Resident Evil timeline.

   Release date

   US March 30, 2000 on PlayStation (GunCon support on some regions).

2. 

   2002Optional

   Resident Evil Gaiden

   GBCHandheldOptional

   Resident Evil Gaiden (2002) is a Game Boy Color side story with top-down exploration—Leon and Barry on a cruise ship, often treated as soft-canon at best.

   Overview

   Handheld RE experiment with simplified combat and shipboard mystery. Resident Evil Gaiden (2002) is a Game Boy Color side story with top-down exploration—Leon and Barry on a cruise ship, often treated as soft-canon at best.

   In-game setting

   Cruise-ship B.O.W. incident parallel to late-90s RE chronology debates. Resident Evil Gaiden (2002) is a Game Boy Color side story with top-down exploration—Leon and Barry on a cruise ship, often treated as soft-canon at best.

   Should you play it?

   Skip unless collecting every SKU; not required for Remake-era storytelling. Skip Resident Evil Gaiden on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US June 3, 2002 on Game Boy Color. Platforms: GBC.

3. 

   2003Optional

   Resident Evil Dead Aim

   PS2Light gunThird-personOptional

   Resident Evil Dead Aim (2003) mixes third-person movement with first-person shooting—Bruce McGivern and Fong Ling versus a cruise-ship / island bio-terror plot.

   Overview

   Hybrid camera shooter bridging Survivor’s gunplay and PS2 action RE. Resident Evil Dead Aim (2003) mixes third-person movement with first-person shooting—Bruce McGivern and Fong Ling versus a cruise-ship / island bio-terror plot.

   In-game setting

   Spencer Rain incident—side agents, not Leon/Jill campaign continuity. Resident Evil Dead Aim (2003) mixes third-person movement with first-person shooting—Bruce McGivern and Fong Ling versus a cruise-ship / island bio-terror plot.

   Should you play it?

   Optional deep cut after you finish mainline through RE4-era curiosity; skip for Remake-first players. Skip Resident Evil Dead Aim on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US June 17, 2003 on PlayStation 2. Platforms: PS2.

4. 

   2004Optional

   Resident Evil Outbreak

   PS2Co-opRaccoon CityOptional

   Resident Evil Outbreak (2004) is online/offline co-op scenarios during the Raccoon City outbreak—civilians scraping through scenarios the main games only imply.

   Overview

   Scenario-based co-op with status ailments and NPC AI partners when offline. Resident Evil Outbreak (2004) is online/offline co-op scenarios during the Raccoon City outbreak—civilians scraping through scenarios the main games only imply.

   In-game setting

   Same Raccoon City week as RE2/RE3—civilian vignettes, not a replacement for those campaigns. Resident Evil Outbreak (2004) is online/offline co-op scenarios during the Raccoon City outbreak—civilians scraping through scenarios the main games only imply.

   Should you play it?

   Play for RC atmosphere and co-op nostalgia; servers are long dead—offline AI only. Not required before RE2/3 Remakes.

   Release date

   US March 30, 2004 on PlayStation 2. Platforms: PS2.

5. 

   2005Optional

   Resident Evil Outbreak File #2

   PS2Co-opRaccoon CityOptional

   Outbreak File #2 (2005) adds more Raccoon City co-op scenarios and characters—still the same doomed-city playground as File #1.

   Overview

   Second scenario pack with new maps and playable civilians. Outbreak File #2 (2005) adds more Raccoon City co-op scenarios and characters—still the same doomed-city playground as File #1.

   In-game setting

   Additional RC civilian scenarios—same outbreak window as File #1. Outbreak File #2 (2005) adds more Raccoon City co-op scenarios and characters—still the same doomed-city playground as File #1.

   Should you play it?

   Only after Outbreak if you loved the co-op loop; otherwise one Outbreak is enough curiosity. Skip Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US April 26, 2005 on PlayStation 2. Platforms: PS2.

6. 

   2007Optional

   Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

   WiiPS3Rail shooterRecapOptional

   The Umbrella Chronicles (2007) is a Wii rail shooter retelling Umbrella’s fall—on-rails campaigns that recap mainline beats with archive files.

   Overview

   On-rails shooting plus file lore bridging RE0 through Umbrella’s collapse. The Umbrella Chronicles (2007) is a Wii rail shooter retelling Umbrella’s fall—on-rails campaigns that recap mainline beats with archive files.

   In-game setting

   Recap rail stages across early RE chronology—treat as highlight reel, not primary canon text. The Umbrella Chronicles (2007) is a Wii rail shooter retelling Umbrella’s fall—on-rails campaigns that recap mainline beats with archive files.

   Should you play it?

   Useful as a lore dessert after mainline; skip if you dislike rail shooters. Does not replace playing Remakes. Skip Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US November 13, 2007 on Wii; later PS3 digital in some regions.

7. 

   2009Optional

   Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

   WiiPS3Rail shooterRecapOptional

   The Darkside Chronicles (2009) continues the rail format with “Operation Javier,” Code: Veronica highlights, and an RE2 partner campaign.

   Overview

   Co-op rail shooting with expanded Leon/Krauser backstory material. The Darkside Chronicles (2009) continues the rail format with “Operation Javier,” Code: Veronica highlights, and an RE2 partner campaign.

   In-game setting

   Javier mission plus rail retellings—supplemental, not a Remake substitute. The Darkside Chronicles (2009) continues the rail format with “Operation Javier,” Code: Veronica highlights, and an RE2 partner campaign.

   Should you play it?

   Optional after Umbrella Chronicles; lore-interesting for Krauser before RE4 discussions. Skip Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US November 17, 2009 on Wii. Platforms: Wii, PS3.Platforms: Wii, PS3.

8. 

   2012Optional

   Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

   PS3Xbox 360PCCo-op shooterAlternateOptional

   Operation Raccoon City (2012) is a squad shooter alternate take on the RC outbreak—Umbrella security ops that contradict mainline beats on purpose.

   Overview

   Class-based co-op FPS/TPS set during Raccoon City with multiplayer modes. Operation Raccoon City (2012) is a squad shooter alternate take on the RC outbreak—Umbrella security ops that contradict mainline beats on purpose.

   In-game setting

   Alternate Raccoon City week—do not slot into Remake story order as required. Operation Raccoon City (2012) is a squad shooter alternate take on the RC outbreak—Umbrella security ops that contradict mainline beats on purpose.

   Should you play it?

   Skip for canon; play only if you want messy co-op chaos. Capcom treats it as a parallel yarn. Skip Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US March 20, 2012 on PS3/Xbox 360/PC. Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC.

9. 

   2016Optional

   Umbrella Corps

   PS4PCMultiplayerOptional

   Umbrella Corps (2016) is a small-scale competitive multiplayer experiment with one-shot mechanics and short sessions—widely panned, thin single-player.

   Overview

   Asymmetric-ish competitive matches in RE-flavored arenas. Umbrella Corps (2016) is a small-scale competitive multiplayer experiment with one-shot mechanics and short sessions—widely panned, thin single-player.

   In-game setting

   Umbrella Corps (2016) is a small-scale competitive multiplayer experiment with one-shot mechanics and short sessions—widely panned, thin single-player. No campaign continuity worth tracking—FAQ multiplayer lane.

   Should you play it?

   Skip for story and for most multiplayer curiosity—historical footnote only. Skip Umbrella Corps on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

   Release date

   US June 21, 2016 on PS4/PC. Platforms: PS4, PC.Platforms: PS4, PC.

10. 

    2020Optional

    Resident Evil Resistance

    PS4Xbox OnePCMultiplayerAsymmetricOptional

    Resident Evil Resistance (2020) shipped with RE3 Remake—4v1 asymmetric multiplayer with masters vs survivors, separate from the Remake campaign.

    Overview

    Asymmetric horror multiplayer bundled beside RE3 Remake. Resident Evil Resistance (2020) shipped with RE3 Remake—4v1 asymmetric multiplayer with masters vs survivors, separate from the Remake campaign.

    In-game setting

    Resident Evil Resistance (2020) shipped with RE3 Remake—4v1 asymmetric multiplayer with masters vs survivors, separate from the Remake campaign. Multiplayer-only—no substitute for RE3 Remake’s campaign.

    Should you play it?

    Optional multiplayer; not part of Leon/Jill story checklists. Main Remake order stays on the Resident Evil timeline.

    Release date

    US April 3, 2020 alongside Resident Evil 3 Remake platforms.

11. 

    2022Optional

    Resident Evil Re:Verse

    PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox SeriesPCMultiplayerOptional

    Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022) is a 6-player PvP mashup that came free with Village Gold Editions—character roster chaos, not campaign canon.

    Overview

    Costume-fighter style PvP in RE maps with transforming threat rounds. Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022) is a 6-player PvP mashup that came free with Village Gold Editions—character roster chaos, not campaign canon.

    In-game setting

    Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022) is a 6-player PvP mashup that came free with Village Gold Editions—character roster chaos, not campaign canon. PvP novelty—keep it off any story Essentials path.

    Should you play it?

    Skip unless you specifically want that multiplayer mode; servers/population vary by year. Skip Resident Evil Re:Verse on a first Essentials run unless you specifically want this side chapter.

    Release date

    Wide release October 28, 2022 after delayed launch windows.