Biohazard (1996) Japan , Sega Saturn (1997)
In 1998, members of the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team are dispatched to the Arklay Mountains near Raccoon City to investigate a series of grisly murders. Upon arrival, their helicopter is shot down, forcing them to take refuge in a nearby mansion. Inside, they discover that the mansion is infested with zombies and other monstrous creatures, the result of a bioweapon experiment gone awry. Players control either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine as they navigate the mansion’s labyrinthine corridors, solve puzzles, and battle mutated creatures to uncover the truth behind the outbreak
Developed and published by Capcom, Resident Evil is credited with popularizing the “survival horror” genre. Its fixed camera angles, limited ammunition, and emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving set it apart from other action games of the time. The game’s atmospheric tension and cinematic presentation were groundbreaking, influencing countless titles that followed.
When people talk about Resident Evil (1996) as the “OG” of survival horror, it isn’t just nostalgia speaking it’s a matter of definition and Historical Facts. The very term “survival horror” was coined as a marketing phrase for the original Resident Evil. Capcom wanted to capture the sense of fear, tension, and resource management that made their game unique, and in doing so they unintentionally gave birth to a genre label that would shape decades of gaming. Because of this, Resident Evil isn’t just a pioneering title; it’s the measuring stick against which every other survival horror game is compared.
But what truly set Resident Evil apart wasn’t only its limited resources, labyrinthine puzzles, or grotesque monsters it was its use of cinematic storytelling in a way players had never seen before. The game opened with a full live-action cinematic intro, something that instantly gave it a movie-like atmosphere and framed the experience like a horror film. This fusion of film language with interactive gameplay created a sense of immersion that was groundbreaking in 1996. While earlier titles like Alone in the Dark and Sweet Home laid essential groundwork, Resident Evil was the first to bring those ideas together under a clear identity, both in marketing and execution. a year later was ported to the Sega Saturn with exclusive content.
That’s why the series continues to be the benchmark: not only did it define survival horror as a concept, it made the term itself inseparable from the experience of fear, story, and cinematic immersion in gaming.
- Developer: Capcom
- Platforms: PlayStation, Sega Saturn (1997), PC
- Purchase: GOG