The 9 Best Video Game References in ‘Resident Evil’

Resident Evil (2026) may not be a direct adaptation of any one game, but it clearly embraces the franchise's love for gameplay mechanics. Bryan (Austin Abrams) in the film, on his mission to transport a crucial medical device to a central location in Raccoon City, encounters numerous items and situations reminiscent of the games. Here are nine of the best Resident Evil game references in Zach Cregger's new film.

Upon reaching a farmhouse, Bryan upgrades his weapon collection with a shotgun. He spends an extended period searching drawers with handles for ammo, discovering a large green box of shells branded "Heavy Field" with a large brown bear on the front. This box mirrors the early Resident Evil games and their remakes, particularly Resident Evil 2 and 4.

Collectibles are a staple in Resident Evil games, with players finding story-based items like goodbye notes, bloody handprints, or tape recorders with final messages of infected victims. Cregger cleverly incorporates this gameplay element in the third act of Resident Evil, where Bryan records a voice message for his pregnant girlfriend. This moment reveals that the film is essentially the story leading up to and following the creation of a collectible, rather than focusing on a main character from the universe.

One of the most influential jump scares in video game history originated in Resident Evil's very first game, where zombie dogs burst through a hallway, intensifying the music and audio. Cregger includes this moment in his film when an infected dog bursts through a barn's wall after Bryan leaps from a top window. This scene solidifies in the audience what gamers already know: beware of dogs.