Resident Evil 9: Overview of series so far
Resident Evil has been scaring players for nearly 30 years, and Capcom recently unveiled the latest instalment in the series – Resident Evil Requiem.
The announcement at last week’s Summer Games Fest introduced us to FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, who is tasked with investigating several mysterious deaths at an isolated hotel.
It all looks very exciting, but 30 years is a long time, and things can easily get lost in translation.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of what’s happened in the Resident Evil (RE) series so far to bring you up to speed.
The series can be divided into three eras – the ‘original trilogy’, the ‘action era’, and the ‘first-person era’.
The first six games and their many spin-offs have an overarching plot: trying to survive zombie outbreaks and take down the nefarious Umbrella Corporation, which created viruses that cause horrific mutations to those infected.
The ‘original trilogy’ is set in the midwestern American town of Raccoon City, which becomes ravaged by a zombie outbreak unleashed from Umbrella’s secret research facilities.
It also introduces iconic characters who appear throughout the rest of the franchise – Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield are the heroes of RE1, while Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield take up that role in RE2.
Supporting characters include alluring spy Ada Wong and villainous double agent Albert Wesker.
The second era gradually shifts its focus away from horror and towards more action-oriented gameplay. Think explosions and shooting sequences rather than tension and dread.
While RE4 stands out as one of the most acclaimed in the series, its two sequels weren’t received quite as well.
This prompted another shift in direction, which leads us into the ‘first-person era’.
It includes, unsurprisingly, a first-person perspective and a more visceral horror experience. Players take control of a brand-new character, everyman Ethan Winters, during his efforts to save his family from the evil forces unleashed upon them.
From the trailers released so far, RE9 seems to be a mix of the original and most recent eras. It will allow players to choose between first- and third-person perspectives, for a start.
We also visit to Raccoon City for the first time in a mainline game since 1999.
Another link to the past is that Grace is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a character from the relatively obscure 2004 multiplayer spin-off Resident Evil: Outbreak.
There seems to be more emphasis on puzzles and less on fighting monsters, which suggests an end to the series’ action elements.
Capcom is set to release more information about Resident Evil Requiem next week, so the future of the series looks scarily good.
It’s scheduled to be released on February 27, 2026.