Resident Evil, known as Biohazard in Japan, is a survival horror franchise created and published by Capcom. The series began with the original Resident Evil in 1996. Its early games established a format built around exploration, limited resources, weapons, puzzles, locked rooms, and escapes from outbreaks involving zombies and other bio-organic weapons.
Capcom has expanded the series through numbered releases, remakes, spin-offs, and stories focused on recurring characters including Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Ada Wong. The settings and threats change from game to game, but biological experiments, outbreak response, and survival remain recurring foundations.
Different entries have changed how those ideas play. The early games used fixed camera angles and carefully managed supplies. Resident Evil 4 shifted toward an over-the-shoulder action format. Resident Evil 7 biohazard used a first-person view and a smaller horror setting, while Resident Evil Village expanded that approach with larger areas and more combat. Modern remakes rebuild earlier stories with current controls, visuals, and level design.
The franchise also extends beyond games through live-action films, animated productions, novels, merchandise, and theme-park collaborations. Capcom reported that the game series passed 100 million units shipped in 2020 and later exceeded 170 million units in its 2025 integrated report. The official Resident Evil Portal organizes the series timeline and background, while Capcom's corporate materials document releases, sales milestones, and expansion into other media.