The Resident Evil Iceberg Explained

The Resident Evil Iceberg

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re doing it. The Resident Evil Iceberg... I’m not equipped for this much lore. I’m a huge Resident Evil fan, but I had to REALLY do my research so I could report back to you guys, I hope I make you proud. If you don’t know the format, we’re gonna be running through some facts, lore and interesting tid bits on the Resident Evil series, and as we make our way down to the depth of the iceberg, the entries are gonna get more and more niche. If I missed anything (or more likely made a mistake), let me know in the comments below. Grab your scuba suits, we’re going under.

Level 1

1.5

“1.5” refers to the scrapped early version of "Resident Evil 2" that Capcom nearly finished before cancelling development. This prototype featured different characters, locations, and story elements. Leon Kennedy still appeared, but instead of Claire Redfield the second protagonist was a character named Elza Walker. The police station also looked drastically different. Capcom reportedly scrapped the game when it was about 60–70% complete because the team felt the gameplay just wasn’t fun enough. They had fully expected the original RE1 to kinda flop, so when it blew up and became the global sensation it was, their expectations got a lot higher for the sequel. The version fans know today was rebuilt from scratch, but the mysterious “Resident Evil 1.5” build still circulates online, almost completely playable.

Edward’s Handa

In the live action opening sequence of the original game, Alpha team member Joseph discovers a severed hand clutching a gun, one of the dead Bravo team members. Rebecca Chambers is the only surviving member of Bravo team, so the rest of the team didn’t get a lot of attention. With the prequel “Resident Evil 0”, and a closer look at Bravo team, the question came up, whose hand was it in the original game. With the original N64 prototype, and theorizing based on appearance, theories were made about it being Edward. Confirmation of this theory came in an entry in “Inside Bio-Hazard”, the 144-page guide book for the original Resident Evil, reading "Edward Dewey (Bravo Team): His right hand severed from the wrist was found in the Arklay Mountains. The rest of his remains are still uncovered, and the cause of death was deemed to be undeterminable."

Wesker is Alive

“Wesker is Alive” is the overarching title for a theory that’s been circulating since the end of RE5. Wesker’s death was fairly rock solid, he was hit with rocket launchers, and drowned in a volcano… But to Albert Wesker, that’s a light scratch. While Albert Wesker is canonically killed in Resident Evil 5 (2009), Umbrella Corps (which takes place after RE6) strongly implies he is still alive or at least heavily involved. The game features a mysterious, high-ranking handler with a familiar voice and knowledge of Wesker’s past, and notes mention failed attempts to analyze his DNA. On top of that, we now have the mysterious Zeno, who looks and behaves like the man himself, most likely due to the evolution of the T-Virus. With in-game notes implying the possibility of essentially uploading other people's memories into someone else through the T-Virus, there’s a lot in this theory to still unpack.

Dualshock Basement

The Director’s Cut re-release of "Resident Evil" is infamous for its bizarre replacement soundtrack. When Capcom updated the game for DualShock support, the original composer’s music was replaced by a different soundtrack. Most tracks went unnoticed, but the basement theme became legendary among fans for sounding strangely chaotic and almost comedic. Instead of the tense horror music expected from a survival horror game, the track features awkward horn sounds that many players describe as resembling off-key instruments. Gross.

Jill’s Diary

In "Resident Evil 3: Nemesis", if you manage to collect every file in the game in a particular order, you can unlock a file called “Jill’s Diary”. It reveals that Jill is experiencing nightmares and paranoia following the events of the Spencer Mansion incident. The diary humanizes Jill and shows the psychological toll the earlier events took on her. Rather than simply moving on after surviving the mansion, she’s trapped with the trauma of everything she witnessed. It unlocks a new side of Chris that mirrors his colder demeanor in the later games, showing that Chris may well have been affected the most.

Fixed Camera in 5

Veterans of the series will remember a time when survival horror meant wrestling with tank controls that felt like piloting a forklift in a haunted house, a design choice that defined early entries, and these tank controls took place in the beloved fixed-camera perspective. “Resident Evil 5” still sneaks in a nostalgic wink during the “Lost in Nightmares” DLC. If you repeatedly try to leave through the front door a little “?” appears and the camera suddenly snaps into a classic fixed perspective, briefly transforming the game into a PS1-era memory where you’re fighting the controls as much as the enemies. Ahh, to be back, GODDAMNIT WHY WON’T YOU RUN IN A STRAIGHT LINE CHRIS!? I HATE YOU!!

Biohazard

In Japan, the "Resident Evil" series has always been called "Biohazard". The name reflects the core premise of biological disasters caused by experimental viruses. When Capcom prepared to release the first game internationally, they discovered the title “Biohazard” was already trademarked in the United States. As a result, the developers chose the name “Resident Evil,” inspired by the game’s mansion setting and the sinister atmosphere inside it. Interestingly, the series later reunited the two titles with "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard", referencing both the Japanese and Western names simultaneously.

Level 2

Resident Evil PSP

“Resident Evil PSP” refers to "Resident Evil Portable", a planned PlayStation Portable entry announced by Capcom in 2009, not long after “Resident Evil 5” released. Very little concrete information was ever released, which made it one of those classic Resident Evil ghost projects: officially acknowledged, heavily speculated about, and then effectively swallowed by development limbo. Because so little was shown, fans ended up filling in the gaps themselves, imagining whether it would be a remake, a spin-off, or an original survival horror title built specifically for handheld play.

Sweet Home

Before "Resident Evil" existed, there was "Sweet Home", a 1989 Capcom horror game that heavily influenced the series’ DNA. The haunted mansion setting, limited inventory management, scattered notes and diaries, puzzle-solving, and oppressive horror atmosphere all have roots there. Tokuro Fujiwara, who worked on "Sweet Home", later helped shepherd the original "Resident Evil", and the connection is so strong that many fans view "Sweet Home" as the franchise’s spiritual ancestor. It is not part of the same canon, but its fingerprints are all over the formula. Play for an hour, you’ll see.

5 is Racist

We don’t blame you if you were white and obtuse back in 2009, we all were. But for much of the black community, this entry will not be new news, as it was a fairly substantial talking point upon release. This entry refers to the controversy surrounding early promotional material for "Resident Evil 5", especially after trailers showed Chris Redfield fighting infected enemies in an African setting. Some critics and players argued the imagery of a white protagonist mowing down Black villagers was racially uncomfortable or tone-deaf. There’s also the Marshlands segment, which involves a lot more questionable content. The final release pushed Chris as a helper, but this just opened them up to “white savior” stereotypes, so also a swing and a miss for old Capcom.

Arukas

Early in “Resident Evil 2”, players can spot a storefront called “Arukas”. Fans noticed that spelled backwards it reads “Sakura,” a likely nod to Sakura from Capcom’s "Street Fighter" universe. It is one of those tiny background jokes that most players miss on a first run, but once you know it is there, it becomes a fun example of Capcom sneaking little internal references into the ruined streets of Raccoon City. It’s a nice reminder that Capcom is just kind of a fun company, they don’t take themselves THAT seriously.

N64 Zero

“Resident Evil 2” has a beloved N64 port that actually plays and feels better than the PS1, with more detailed character animations. But there was also a planned "Resident Evil 0" for N64, and it wasn’t a port. Capcom actually developed the game for the N64 before shifting it to the GameCube, largely because the team struggled with cartridge storage limitations. The premise and core story ideas survived the transition, but the final GameCube release was reworked rather than simply ported over. That abandoned N64 build became a fascinating bit of franchise archaeology, especially once prototype footage was later released.

Drama Albums

The "Biohazard" drama albums are official Japanese audio dramas tied to the game series. They were radio-play style productions later released on CD, expanding the world of the games through side stories and character-focused material. Examples include "The Doomed Raccoon City" and "The Female Spy Ada Lives", the latter actually detailing how Ada survived her assumed death at the end of RE2, well before RE4, her conflicting feelings for Leon, and also her relationship with Albert Wesker. They are a strange but fascinating corner of Resident Evil history, because they show how the franchise was being expanded in Japan.

Richard is on The Cover

This one is more fan theory territory than hard confirmed fact, but it’s still worth talking about. The American PlayStation cover for "Resident Evil" was designed by Bill Sienkiewicz, and over the years some fans have argued that the man depicted resembles Richard Aiken of Bravo Team more than Chris Redfield. There is definitely discussion about it in the fandom, but I’m definitely not presenting it as Canon. PRETTY INTERESTING THOUGH!

Fixed Camera in 4

Capcom went through multiple discarded versions of “Resident Evil 4” before landing on the final over-the-shoulder format. One of the major changes in that process was moving away from the classic fixed-camera style of the older games. A demo featuring the also cut villain “Hook Man” shows just how this semi fixed cam perspective would have looked on the system.

Level 3

Leon and Ada Had Sex

Ever wondered how Leon has Ada’s phone number in RE6? This entry refers to a long-running fan rumor surrounding Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong’s relationship. Across games like "Resident Evil 2", "Resident Evil 4", and "Resident Evil 6", the two share clear romantic tension, but the games never explicitly confirm a physical relationship. Some expanded material and developer comments have hinted that their relationship is complicated and intimate, but the series deliberately keeps things ambiguous. Because of that ambiguity, the idea that Leon and Ada have slept together became one of the franchise’s most persistent pieces of fandom speculation.

RE1 Was First Person

Early development of "Resident Evil" experimented with a first-person perspective before the series settled on its iconic fixed-camera presentation. Capcom was initially inspired by "Sweet Home", and some early ideas reportedly included a more direct perspective for exploration. However, the developers ultimately chose cinematic fixed angles to increase tension and hide enemies off-screen.

GS2 is a Dream

"Resident Evil: Gun Survivor 2 – Code Veronica", is a light-gun shooter spin-off based on "Resident Evil: Code Veronica". After completing Arcade Mode, it is revealed that all of the events of the game are a dream that Claire is having AFTER Code Veronica, as she’s travelling home with Chris. This makes sense, as the game essentially retells and reimagines sections of "Code Veronica" through a surreal, arcade-style perspective. The confusion came from the developers stating it was canon, which it technically is, as a character is having the dream during canon events. Pretty sneaky.

Nintendo Deal

In the early 2000s, Capcom entered a major partnership with Nintendo to produce exclusive "Resident Evil" titles for the GameCube. This deal resulted in several releases, including the remake of "Resident Evil", "Resident Evil Zero", and initially "Resident Evil 4". At the time, it appeared the franchise would become closely tied to Nintendo hardware. However, Capcom eventually reversed course and released "Resident Evil 4" on other platforms as well, making the exclusivity period relatively short-lived.

Chris was Supposed to Die

During development of "Resident Evil 6", there were reportedly early story concepts where Chris Redfield would sacrifice himself near the end of the campaign. The idea would have served as a dramatic conclusion to Chris’s long war against bio-terrorism. Ultimately, the developers decided against killing the character, likely because of his importance to the franchise. Instead, the game explores Chris’s trauma and guilt after losing his squad, showing how deeply the fight against bio-weapons has affected him.

CV was RE3

Originally, "Resident Evil: Code Veronica" was intended to be the true third entry in the series, considering it does really truly feel like the natural story sequel from RE2. It continued the storyline of Claire Redfield searching for her brother Chris and significantly expanded the franchise’s lore. However, due to publishing arrangements with Sony, the numbered "Resident Evil 3" title had to remain on PlayStation hardware. As a result, the side project "Resident Evil: City of the Dead" received the numbered title "Resident Evil 3: Nemesis", while "Code Veronica" released separately on the Dreamcast. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. RE2 and 3 take place essentially side by side, 3 does fit the spin-off title much better than CV.

Hunk is a Redfield

“Redfield is Hunk” is a fan theory suggesting that the mysterious Umbrella operative HUNK might secretly be connected to the Redfield family. HUNK appears in "Resident Evil 2" as a masked special forces soldier sent to retrieve the G-virus. Because his identity is hidden and his combat skills are extremely advanced, some fans speculated about possible ties to existing characters. However, there is no official confirmation linking HUNK to Chris or Claire Redfield, making the theory purely speculative.

3.5

“3.5” refers to one of the early prototype versions of "Resident Evil 4" shown during development. In this version, Leon explored a gothic castle filled with ghost-like enemies and hallucination mechanics. The game leaned heavily into psychological horror, including strange supernatural imagery and shifting environments. Capcom eventually scrapped this direction because it strayed too far from the series’ biological horror roots.

BioHazard Dash

“BioHazard Dash” refers to an early internal concept for a direct sequel to "Resident Evil" during the late 1990s. Before "Resident Evil 2" took its final form, Capcom experimented with multiple ideas for continuing the story after the Spencer Mansion incident. One rumored concept involved a faster-paced continuation sometimes nicknamed “Biohazard Dash”. Dash was to return to what remained of the mansion. The game would have re-used existing environment assets from Resident Evil but modified to appear damaged. In the proposed setting, it would be around the year 2001 by which what remained of the mansion has been taken over by irregular mutants from the surrounding forest such as giant spiders and lizards.

Resident Evil Color

Capcom once attempted to port "Resident Evil" to the Game Boy Color. The project was surprisingly far along in development, featuring simplified versions of the mansion, characters, and enemies adapted for handheld hardware. However, Capcom ultimately cancelled the game before release because they felt the final product did not meet the quality expected of the series. Years later, the nearly complete prototype surfaced online, revealing how ambitious the attempt actually was.

Level 4

Creative Assembly RE7

Before "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" was released, Capcom experimented with several early development concepts while trying to reinvent the franchise. One rumor within development circles suggested that Western studios were consulted or pitched ideas for a more modern horror direction. Creative Assembly, the developers of "Alien: Isolation", pitched an idea that was ultimately rejected, with a theory online suggesting that perhaps Capcom stole some of the ideas pitched, and the similarities between RE7 and the later released “Alien: Isolation” are hard to ignore.

“DMC1 Was RE4”

One of the most famous pieces of Resident Evil development history is that "Devil May Cry" originally began as a prototype for "Resident Evil 4". Director Hideki Kamiya was tasked with reinventing the series, and his prototype evolved into a fast-paced action game starring a stylish new protagonist. As development continued, the project drifted further from survival horror and into supernatural action territory. Capcom ultimately spun it off into a new franchise entirely, releasing it in 2001 as "Devil May Cry" rather than a Resident Evil entry.

“Yume de Owarasenai”

"Yume de Owarasenai," which translates roughly to “I Won’t Let This End as a Dream,” is the Japanese ending theme song for "Resident Evil" on the Sega Saturn. Performed by Fumitaka Fuchigami, the song plays during the credits of the Japanese version of the game. Western releases instead featured a different ending theme that didn’t feature lyrics.

“Steve’s Hair”

Steve Burnside’s hair in "Resident Evil: Code Veronica" became an unexpectedly famous topic among fans because of how unusual it looks in the original game. The bright orange, almost gravity-defying hairstyle stood out even in the late-90s Dreamcast era of exaggerated character design. Some players joked that the hair looked glued onto the model or permanently wind-swept. The PS2 port changed the hair, though the official reason why has never been released.

“Leon Was Hungover for His First Day”

A small piece of backstory revealed in "Resident Evil 2" explains why Leon Kennedy arrives late to his first day as a police officer in Raccoon City. According to official character files, Leon had recently broken up with his girlfriend and ended up drinking heavily the night before he was supposed to report to work. Because of this, he overslept and missed his scheduled arrival time at the Raccoon City Police Department. Ironically, that delay likely saved his life. By the time Leon reaches the city, the outbreak is already underway, meaning he avoids being trapped inside the station when the infection first spreads.

“Jake Is a Continuity Error”

Jake Muller, introduced in "Resident Evil 6", is revealed to be the son of Albert Wesker. While the twist adds a new connection to the series’ main villain, some fans have pointed out that it raises timeline questions. Jake is in his early twenties during the events of "Resident Evil 6", meaning he would have been born long before Wesker gained his superhuman abilities. Because Wesker’s earlier appearances never mention a child, some players consider Jake’s existence a retroactive addition that slightly conflicts with established lore.

Japanese Dub

This one’s a little strange, especially for a Japanese game, but Japan’s version of Resident Evil doesn’t have any Japanese audio. It was actually recorded, but director Shinji Mikami scrapped it because he didn’t like how it sounded... Racist. The English voice tracks were used for both Japan and North America. The good thing is that this gave Japanese players a perfect excuse to practice their English by repeating terribly translated English dialogue.

10% Immunity

Throughout Resident Evil lore, it’s implied that a small portion of the population has a natural resistance to certain virus strains. Some Umbrella research documents suggest that the majority of infected individuals immediately mutate or die, while a small minority show unusual resistance or compatibility. This small piece of lore that was released on the official BioHazard website, explains how your playable characters in the “Resident Evil” games manage to survive bites and scratches unchanged.

Executor Virus

I wasn’t going to include this, as the Executor Virus (otherwise known as the Cameron Virus) was introduced in non-canon 3D animated short film “BioHazard 4D-Executor”. But with the in-game lore of the recent “Resident Evil Requiem", the Executor Virus has become more canonically linked. The Executor Virus was a mutagenic virus engineered by Umbrella virologist, Dr. Cameron. Those infected with the Cameron Virus gain the ability to transfer their intelligence and minds into the bodies of those they come into physical contact with. As well, Cameron Virus infected are capable of mutating various parts of their bodies, such as growing tentacles to defend themselves.

BioHazard The Stage

Surprisingly, Resident Evil has even inspired stage productions. One notable example is “Biohazard: The Stage”, a Japanese theatrical performance based on the video game series. The production features live actors portraying characters from the Resident Evil universe while dealing with a new outbreak scenario. Although it exists outside the main canon, it demonstrates how widely the franchise has expanded beyond games into other forms of media.

Level 5

Trevor’s Diary

The Trevor Diaries appear in the "Resident Evil" remake, but were also intended in the original and later cut (with their entire transcript appearing in promotional material for the Saturn release). They are a series of tragic notes written by architect George Trevor. Trevor designed the Spencer Mansion for Oswell Spencer, unknowingly building secret passages and traps that Umbrella intended to use for experimentation. When Trevor began to suspect something was wrong, Spencer invited him to the mansion, and then imprisoned him there. The diary entries describe Trevor slowly starving while searching for his missing family. They are some of the most disturbing pieces of environmental storytelling in the entire series. He’s also the father of the disturbing in-game remake character Lisa Trevor.

Golgotha and Zeiram

Golgotha and Zeiram are the same for boss types that were originally rejected during RE2’s development. Golgotha: Originally designed as a final boss for Resident Evil 1.5, it was intended to be a transformed William Birkin fought outside an escape train. Zeiram: A monster design from the rejected Biohazard Dash, which influenced the development of the Golgotha design.

The Merchant is Ganado

In "Resident Evil 4", the mysterious Merchant who sells weapons to Leon appears strangely unaffected by the Las Plagas parasite controlling the villagers. Many fans believe the Merchant is actually a Ganado who retained his independence, explaining his glowing eyes and knowledge of the local infection. The games never directly confirm this, but his appearance and dialogue strongly suggest he is connected to the infected population while somehow remaining neutral.

Chris is Gay

There is a long-running fan interpretation surrounding Chris Redfield. Because Chris has never been shown with a clear romantic relationship in the mainline games, some fans speculate about his sexuality. The theory gained traction particularly during the era of "Resident Evil 5" and "Resident Evil 6", where Chris’s closest emotional bonds were with his female teammates rather than romantic partners. However, Capcom has never officially confirmed any specific orientation for the character.

Haunting Ground

"Haunting Ground" actually began development as one of the early prototypes for "Resident Evil 4". During development, Capcom experimented with several wildly different versions of the game. One of these prototypes featured a young woman trapped in a castle with a large dog companion and a pursuer enemy. That concept eventually evolved into its own game released in 2005 as "Haunting Ground", while "Resident Evil 4" continued development in a completely different direction. You may also notice that the model for Fiona Belli was repurposed for Jill Valentine in RE5.

Billy is Nemesis

This is a fan theory connecting Billy Coen from "Resident Evil Zero" to the Nemesis project from "Resident Evil 3: Nemesis". The theory suggests Umbrella might have captured Billy after the events of "Resident Evil Zero" and used him as a test subject for the Nemesis parasite. The idea largely comes from Billy disappearing from the storyline after Zero. However, there is no official evidence supporting this theory, and it remains pure speculation among fans.

Lucia Rosso is The Dead Girl

Lucia Rosso appears in "Resident Evil: Dead Aim", and some fans believe she may be connected to the mysterious dead girl seen earlier in the story’s opening events. The theory suggests that Lucia’s background and motivations might tie into the tragedy that triggers the outbreak aboard the cruise ship. However, the game never explicitly confirms this connection, leaving the interpretation open-ended.

Human Unit Never Killed

The name HUNK is actually an abbreviation for Human Unit Never Killed. He earned this title because literally, nothing can come close to taking him down. Chainsaw ladies can’t. Crowds of zombies can’t. Even William Birkin can’t. Throughout the lore of the game, test subjects are often referred to as “units”, giving weight to the constant theories that HUNK is not a regular human.

Nikolai and Mikhail Were Brothers

Some fans have speculated that Nikolai Zinoviev and Mikhail Victor from "Resident Evil 3: Nemesis" may have been related. Both characters are former Soviet soldiers working with the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service. Their shared background and nationality sparked theories that they might have been brothers or at least connected through military history. It was later confirmed that during early development, they were intended to be related.

Resident Evil 2 on the Saturn

"Resident Evil 2" was released on many platforms, including PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and PC, and as it turns out, there were early plans for a Sega Saturn version as well. Capcom ultimately cancelled the Saturn port during development, with technical limitations being the ultimate reason. At the time, the Saturn hardware was already declining in popularity compared to the PlayStation, which also made the port less commercially viable.

Ashfords Were Nazis

The Ashford family, central to "Resident Evil: Code Veronica", were part of Umbrella’s aristocratic founding families. Some fans have compared their ideology of genetic superiority and aristocratic lineage to fascist or Nazi ideology. The Ashfords pursued experiments designed to create a superior human lineage, particularly through Alexia and Alfred Ashford’s research. While the games never explicitly state Nazi affiliations, the themes of eugenics and genetic perfection strongly echo similar historical ideas.

Level 6

The Hunt for The RE1 Actors

The original live-action intro for "Resident Evil" featured real actors portraying the S.T.A.R.S. team, filmed specifically for the game’s opening cinematic. For years, the identities of several performers were unknown, sparking a strange internet investigation among fans. Communities began searching old casting records, modeling portfolios, and interviews to identify the actors behind Chris, Jill, and the other team members. Some performers have since been identified, while others remain uncertain. The search itself became a niche part of Resident Evil fandom history.

Claire and Leon Were in Outbreak

Data discovered within "Resident Evil Outbreak" suggests that Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield may have originally been planned as playable characters. While they never appear in the final game, traces of their inclusion reportedly remain within the game’s files and early promotional material. Since "Outbreak" focuses on ordinary civilians trying to survive the Raccoon City disaster, the developers likely removed the established protagonists to keep the focus on new characters experiencing the outbreak from a different perspective.

Rebecca Was Going to Die in 0

According to developers, early, unused story concepts for Resident Evil Zero originally allowed for either Rebecca or her partner, Billy Coen, to die. This was changed to keep her alive for the established Resident Evil canon. This decision potentially has led fans to wonder, had they killed off Rebecca, how would this have affected the narrative? Would it have been set after RE1? Was Rebecca from RE1 somebody else stealing her identity? Who knows?

Revelations 2 was DLC for Resident Evil 6

Some fans believe "Resident Evil Revelations 2" may have originated as downloadable content or a side expansion concept for "Resident Evil 6". The episodic structure of the game and its reused design elements led to speculation that the project began as a smaller spin-off before becoming a full standalone title. While Capcom has never officially confirmed this origin, the theory persists because of how closely the game’s timeline and assets align with the era of "Resident Evil 6".

RE7 is an RE1 remake

A popular interpretation among fans is that "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" functions as a thematic remake of "Resident Evil". Both games feature a small group of characters trapped in a large, mysterious house filled with hidden passages and biological horrors. The Baker estate mirrors many of the design principles of the Spencer Mansion, including puzzle-focused exploration and backtracking, and while "Resident Evil 7" is not literally a remake, many fans see it as a deliberate return to the structure and atmosphere of the original game.

Plaga are Parasites

The parasites featured in "Resident Evil 4", known as Las Plagas, are described in the game as ancient organisms discovered beneath a Spanish castle. Some fans have speculated that the parasites might have extraterrestrial origins because of their unusual biology and long dormancy underground. However, the official lore describes them as ancient terrestrial parasites rather than alien lifeforms. The alien theory remains a fringe interpretation among parts of the fan community.

Hunter Vagina

One of the more bizarre pieces of fan discussion centers around the Hunter enemies introduced in "Resident Evil". Some players noticed unusual anatomical details in the creature models and textures, which led to internet jokes and theories about strange design choices. While these interpretations are mostly humorous fan observations rather than intended lore, they became a strange and memorable part of Resident Evil internet culture.

Resident Evil 0.5

“0.5” refers to an early conceptual idea for a game that would bridge the gap between "Resident Evil Zero" and "Resident Evil". The project was rumored to explore events immediately following the train incident and leading into the Spencer Mansion outbreak. Although the concept never materialized as an official release, it occasionally appears in discussions about scrapped Resident Evil projects and timeline gaps. A fan game took the title and was released in 2022.

Romero Script

Legendary zombie filmmaker George A. Romero was once hired to write and direct a live-action commercial for "Resident Evil 2". Capcom was reportedly impressed enough to consider him for a full movie adaptation. Romero wrote a screenplay based closely on the events of "Resident Evil", but the project was ultimately rejected in favor of the later film adaptation. His script has since circulated online and is widely considered a fascinating “what could have been” moment for the franchise.

Makoba Village

“Resident Evil” as a series, features lots of stories outside of the games. Through written media, audio dramas, and shorts, the world is expanded heavily, but one of the more interesting stories comes from the audio drama “The Tragedy of Makoba Village”. In the summer of 1998, twenty-four adults from a remote mountain village near Raccoon Forest followed Reverend Harvey Simmons into the wilderness to perform a religious ceremony. During the ritual they encountered a mutated snake and drank its blood, unknowingly infecting themselves with the t-Virus. Over the following weeks the villagers developed symptoms of Cannibal Disease. At first they experienced brief violent outbursts, but by mid-July the condition escalated into murders and cannibalistic attacks. Many villagers interpreted the snake as a divine gift from Saint Havohej and believed the violence was part of shedding their mortal forms. Because victims often regained brief moments of sanity, the remaining villagers hesitated to kill the infected and instead focused on burying the dead. The village chief proposed executing the infected in the church crypt, but Simmons opposed the idea. As the situation worsened, S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine arrived after investigating a truck crash connected to the village. When she was attacked, the chief ordered her imprisoned and destroyed the bridge to isolate the community. Chaos followed as zombies overran the settlement and survivors fled to the church. Simmons eventually descended into madness himself, murdering several villagers before mutating further. Valentine escaped with Simmons’ children, Toby and Lorraine, and reported the outbreak. Umbrella and the U.S. Army quickly quarantined and sterilized the village.