Short answer: Resident Evil 5 comes first, in March 2009, and follows Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as they investigate a bioweapons market in Africa. Resident Evil 6 takes place in June 2013 and links several character campaigns around bioterror attacks across multiple regions. One important qualification: Capcom has announced a 2027 remake of Resident Evil Veronica, but its cited announcement does not confirm remakes of Resident Evil 5 or 6.
Where Resident Evil 5 and 6 fit in the timeline
Capcom’s series timeline places Resident Evil 5 in March 2009 and Resident Evil 6 in June 2013. That gives the games a little over four years of in-universe separation. Capcom also describes RE6 as taking place after RE5.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil 5 (PS4) | $21.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 6 - Xbox One | $27.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Capcom Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition PlayStation 5 Game | $46.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4) | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 6 | $28.63 | Buy on Amazon |
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Both games take place in a world where bioterrorism has spread beyond the collapse of Umbrella. RE5 follows one central investigation; RE6 expands to several linked stories unfolding amid attacks in different parts of the world.
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Resident Evil 5 story recap
Chris and Sheva investigate Kijuju
Chris Redfield travels to the Kijuju Autonomous Zone in Africa to follow a lead on a black market in biological weapons. Sheva Alomar, a local agent, joins him. Their investigation brings them into contact with the Uroboros virus and a larger bioterror plot. Capcom’s timeline identifies Chris, Sheva, Jill Valentine and Albert Wesker among the story’s central figures.
#1 Best Overall
- Adventure horror game from Capcom
Wesker’s conflict with Chris reaches its conclusion
The investigation brings Chris back into direct conflict with Albert Wesker, an adversary whose history with Chris stretches across earlier games. RE5 ends that long-running confrontation: Capcom’s Wesker character archive says his fate is sealed by Chris in RE5. The consequences of Wesker’s past actions, however, remain relevant to the series after his story ends.
Resident Evil 6 story recap
Several campaigns share a global crisis
Set in June 2013, RE6 opens up the scale of the series. Bioterrorist attacks strike Eastern Europe, North America and China, and several groups work to uncover what is behind them. Rather than presenting a single uninterrupted viewpoint, the game connects separate character stories.
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 tied to the attacks in North America.
- Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans: Their campaign follows another strand of the international crisis.
- Jake Muller and Sherry Birkin: Their story adds a direct link to RE5’s central adversary: Capcom identifies Jake as Wesker’s son in its Jake Muller profile.
- Ada Wong: Ada is a principal character in RE6 and has her own campaign, as confirmed by the official RE6 web manual.
Capcom’s timeline also names Helena, Piers and Sherry among the cast. The campaigns connect through the shared attacks and the search for their cause, but they are distinct character perspectives rather than one continuous account.
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| Point of comparison | Resident Evil 5 | Resident Evil 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Story scale | Chris and Sheva investigate a bioweapons market in Kijuju and uncover the Uroboros plot. | Several character campaigns follow linked attacks across Eastern Europe, North America and China. |
| Continuity role | Brings Chris’s conflict with Wesker to a close. | Carries the series’ wider bioterror setting forward; Jake’s lineage connects the story to Wesker. |
| Story structure | Centered on Chris and Sheva’s partnership. | Ensemble story told through multiple campaigns, including Leon and Helena, Chris and Piers, Jake and Sherry, and Ada. |
| Play options noted by Capcom | Playable solo or in co-op. | Each story can be played solo or with a co-op partner. |
In practical terms, RE5 supplies the key Chris–Wesker context for RE6, while RE6’s ensemble structure introduces more protagonists and follows the bioterror crisis across a broader map. Jake’s parentage is the clearest direct character link between the games.
Rank #3
- 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
Are Resident Evil 5 and 6 being remade?
As of October 4, 2026, Capcom’s cited remake announcement is for Resident Evil Veronica, scheduled to launch in 2027. The announcement does not confirm remakes of RE5 or RE6, and it provides no release dates for either game. Treat claims that those two remakes are planned as speculation unless Capcom announces them directly. See Capcom’s June 8, 2026 announcement for the Veronica remake.
Which original should you play first?
If you want the story in order, play RE5 before RE6. RE5 gives you the Chris–Wesker resolution; RE6 then builds on the larger bioterror setting and makes Jake’s connection to Wesker part of its cast’s backstory. You can follow RE6’s broad premise without having played every earlier entry, but RE5 makes those continuity links easier to place.
Rank #4
- Initially set to be released as weekly episodes featuring hours of terrifying gameplay and dramatic cliffhangers
- Fan favourite character Claire Redfield returns to the horrors that haunted her in the past, alongside Moira Burton
- Set in what appears to be an abandoned detention facility on a remote island, horror awaits around every corner
- The Afflicted enemies are a genuine threat to your survival, able to move quickly and attack with basic weapons
- Players switch between the two characters to overcome the nightmares in single-player mode or offline co-op
The games also suit different preferences. RE5 is the more focused choice if you want a two-person partnership; RE6 is structured around multiple playable character stories. Capcom describes RE5 as solo or co-op and says each RE6 story can be played solo or with a co-op partner. For optional platform-specific context, the US PlayStation Store listing for RE5 identifies its PS4 version and included DLC; that content information applies to that listing, not necessarily to other editions.
What to check if you want to play the originals
Availability and included content depend on platform, territory and edition. Capcom’s 2019 North American and Latin American Nintendo Switch Triple Pack announcement says RE4 is on the cartridge, while RE5 and RE6 are provided as digital download codes. Capcom also noted that the Switch versions include prior content and added gyro and motion controls. Check the current listing for your region and platform before buying; bundle contents and availability can change.
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Best Value
- 1 Game Disc Only
- Xbox-360 Platform
- Resident Evil 6 Game Disc 1
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