Resident Evil is a survival horror game developed and published by Capcom, released for the PlayStation in March 1996. Players control S.T.A.R.S. operatives Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield as they investigate a zombie-infested mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City. With its fixed camera angles, inventory management, and pervasive dread, it defined the survival horror genre and launched one of gaming’s most enduring franchises.
Resident Evil was directed by Shinji Mikami and released on 22 March 1996 in Japan, arriving in North America and Europe later that year. Set in the Arklay Mountains near Raccoon City, the game follows a Special Tactics and Rescue Squad (S.T.A.R.S.) Alpha Team sent to investigate the disappearance of their colleagues — and the rash of gruesome murders connected to the Spencer Mansion. Players choose between Jill Valentine, who carries more items and has a lockpick, or Chris Redfield, who is more durable but starts with less inventory space.
Resident Evil built its tension on scarcity. Ammunition was limited, inventory slots were few, and enemies — even when downed — could revive as faster, deadlier Crimson Heads if not burned. Pre-rendered backgrounds with fixed camera angles created a cinematic unease; blind corners and narrow corridors became sources of genuine dread. The game used ink ribbons as a save mechanic, turning the act of saving into a resource decision. Puzzles were embedded throughout the mansion: crests slotted into doorways, chemical formulas scrawled on walls, key items hidden in seemingly unrelated rooms. The mansion itself was a character, its layout slowly unlocking as players mastered it.
Resident Evil was a critical and commercial success on release, selling over 2.75 million copies on PlayStation alone. It coined the phrase “survival horror” on its box art, crystallised the genre’s conventions, and established a franchise that has sold over 150 million units across sequels, remakes, films, and spin-offs. Its influence on pacing, atmosphere, and resource management is visible across decades of horror games. A celebrated GameCube remake by Mikami followed in 2002, widely considered one of the finest remakes in the medium. The original remains a landmark: the game that proved horror could be a genre unto itself in interactive entertainment.