25 Years Of Resident Evil

Resident Evil is 25 years old today, and to celebrate its undying life, here are 25 reasons to love the iconic survival horror franchise.

25 years ago today, Resident Evil clawed its way into the gaming medium, paving way for the survival-horror genre as we know it. Originally launching on the first PlayStation back in 1996, Resident Evil has since spawned 28 games, including critically acclaimed sequels like Resident Evil 4 and its renowned remakes.

Throughout its undying life, Resident Evil has introduced us to an iconic cast of characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and, of course, the ever-charming Barry Burton. Since the franchise’s dawn, it reinvented itself and the horror genre, revolutionizing from fixed camera angles and tank controls, to an over-the-shoulder perspective in Resident Evil 4 that influenced games like Gears of War and Batman: Arkham Asylum.

To celebrate Resident Evil’s 25th anniversary, we’ve created a list of 25 reasons to love its undying place in games. From its masterfully orchestrated horror, like Mr. X’s first appearance or Jack Baker bursting through a wall in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, to the more quirky, like its Japanese musical Biohazard: Voice of Gaia, and its, at times, very silly dialogue. 

There’s a lot to love, and thankfully there’ll be more to love in the future with the release of Resident Evil: Village and the already fan-favorite lady Alcina Dimitrescu.