A squad-based shooter that reimagined a classic Resident Evil setting as a hypothetical scenario.

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2012, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City shifted the franchise into a paramilitary, squad-based shooter. Developed by Slant Six Games and Capcom, the title offered a non-canon perspective on the Raccoon City outbreak, pitting Umbrella Security Service contractors against U.S. Special Ops in a chaotic, zombie-infested urban warzone.

The game functions as a third-person shooter set during the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3. Players control one of twelve characters, split evenly between the Umbrella Security Service (USS) and U.S. Special Ops. Each character belongs to one of six classes—Assault, Recon, Surveillance, Field Scientist, Demolitions, or Medic—which dictate their specific skills. The gameplay emphasizes squad-based mechanics, including a four-player co-operative mode where teams compete to complete objectives while navigating a city overrun by zombies, Lickers, Hunters, and Cerberuses.

Narratively, the game explores a hypothetical timeline where the USS is tasked with destroying evidence of Umbrella’s involvement in the T-virus outbreak. The story features iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, but allows for divergent endings depending on player choices, such as whether to execute or spare key survivors. The project originated during the development of Lost Planet 2, with producer Masachika Kawata overseeing the integration of new bio-organic weapons into the familiar Resident Evil setting.

Critical reception was notably polarized. While some reviewers found the multiplayer experience to be a fun, hardcore romp, others criticized the game for poor AI, technical glitches, and a perceived lack of polish compared to mainline entries. Despite the harsh reviews, the game was a commercial success for Capcom, shipping 2 million units by May 2012 and reaching 2.1 million units sold by June 2012. It remains a distinct, if controversial, experiment in the franchise's history.

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