Resident Evil in the 90s: Originals, Editions and Where to Start
Capcom's original Resident Evil trilogy came with enough re-releases and edition names that it's worth untangling before you go looking for a copy.
Original trilogy
- Resident Evil (March 1996 Japan, April 1996 North America)
- Resident Evil 2 (January 1998)
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (September 1999 Japan, November 1999 North America)
Play the original Resident Evil: Director's Cut
An original PS1 copy of Resident Evil: Director's Cut (1997), discussed above.
Check price on Amazon →Edition naming
The original Resident Evil was followed by Resident Evil: Director's Cut (1997), adding an "Arrange Mode" with remixed item and enemy placement, and then a Director's Cut: Dual Shock Edition (1998) adding vibration and analog stick support plus a different soundtrack. These are the same core game with added modes and hardware support, not sequels.
Survival systems
All three games share the same core survival-horror systems: limited inventory space, item-management puzzles, and deliberately scarce ammunition, meaning avoiding fights was frequently a better strategy than engaging every enemy.
Remakes vs. originals
Capcom's 2002 GameCube remake of the first Resident Evil rebuilt the game substantially, and later remakes of Resident Evil 2 (2019) and 3 (2020) are further still from the originals discussed here, both mechanically and in presentation. If you want the 1996 to 1999 games specifically, look for the original releases or the Director's Cut editions above, not the later remakes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Resident Evil: Director's Cut a sequel to the original?
No. It's the same 1996 game with an added "Arrange Mode" that remixes item and enemy placement, released in 1997, not a new story or sequel.
How many original Resident Evil games came out in the 90s?
Three: Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil 2 (1998), and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999).
Is the Resident Evil remake the same as the original 1996 game?
No. Capcom's 2002 GameCube remake substantially rebuilt the game, and it's a different production from the original PS1 release and its Director's Cut editions.
Sourcing and corrections
Release dates and edition details for Resident Evil, Director's Cut, Dual Shock Edition, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis were checked via web search against sources including Wikipedia and MobyGames in September 2026.