Resident Evil Dives Into Strategic Survival Horror with Resident Evil Survival Unit

This article is presented in partnership with JOYCITY

Survival horror goes mobile with the release of Resident Evil Survival Unit, a new strategy game co-developed by Aniplex Inc. and JOYCITY Corporation for iOS and Android devices. Based on Capcom’s iconic video game franchise, Resident Evil Survival Unit is a love letter to the game series and mythos, bringing in some familiar faces to get in on the intense fun, while telling its own original tale that both longtime and new Resident Evil fans will love.

The game has players wake up in a mysterious hospital as the latest test subject for the sinister Umbrella Corporation. As the player searches for other survivors to ally themselves with against the hordes of undead and other ghastly monsters, they can also improve upon their impromptu defenses while getting to the bottom of what Umbrella has been up to with their gruesome experiments.

Resident Evil has often expanded upon expectations regarding survival horror games, with Resident Evil Survival Unit revolving around base building and tactical battles as core elements of its gameplay. Like other Resident Evil games, exploration, puzzle-solving, and character development and weapon upgrades are important factors in Resident Evil Survival Unit. And as players build and train their team to take on Umbrella’s monstrosities and other enemies, fans will be thrilled to see who they can team up with to become the ultimate zombie-slaying squad.

Resident Evil mainstays Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Jill Valentine are among the most famous franchise heroes who can be recruited, trained, and deployed as part of the player’s squad. These characters are joined by more deep-cut figures that are sure to have hardcore Resident Evil fans happily surprised by their inclusion, immediately recognizable from their classic appearances and with their own signature traits to contribute to the team. This mix of characters clearly underscores that Resident Evil Survival Unit is made by Resident Evil fans, for Resident Evil fans.

And then, of course, there is the matter of the gameplay, which provides players with an engrossing new way to experience Resident Evil and more than just a title developed for mobile platforms. With characters each possessing a variety of traits that fall into distinct classes, players must be strategic in how they train and deploy their team into defensive positions to take on waves of enemies to increase their chances of survival. As a base of operations, players convert an abandoned mansion, restoring and repurposing the building while carefully managing resources to both effectively establish a strong defensive base and better equip the team.

While Resident Evil Survival Unit offers an in-depth single-player experience, like so many fan-favorite Resident Evil games, it also provides competitive real-time online multiplayer for those looking to put their team to the ultimate test. There are a variety of tactical battle game modes for players to try out, meticulously plotting hero formation and field deployment as they make alliances and clash in strategy arena settings to see whose survivor squad will emerge triumphant.

Since its announcement in July 2025, Resident Evil Survival Unit has fueled widespread excitement from fans worldwide who have responded in kind. By the time the game’s November 18 launch date was officially announced, over 2 million players had pre-registered for it on the App Store and Google Play in preparation for its release. Positive buzz has only grown since then, with players eager for a completely fresh take on the classic trappings and characters from Resident Evil through a new title optimized for mobile platforms.

In addition to its beloved survival horror source material, Resident Evil Survival Unit boasts the creative contributions of celebrated Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, known for his work on classic franchises like Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D. For Resident Evil Survivor Unit, Amano served as a guest designer, creating the original creature Mortem, who symbolizes the terrors of the unknown in this parallel Resident Evil universe. So much of the fear from Resident Evil is derived from the unknowable and Amano channels those primal sensibilities in creating Survival Unit’s original monster.

With an all-new strategy mobile game experience that celebrates the storied legacy of Resident Evil while delivering gripping tactical battle gameplay, Resident Evil Survival Unit is the most hyped mobile game release of 2025. Capcom, Aniplex Inc., and JOYCITY have come together to bring a varied and immersive mobile title that lets players explore a parallel universe take on Resident Evil, complete with its most beloved characters ready to join the fight for survival against hordes of monsters. Intuitive, accessible, and endlessly rewarding to play, Resident Evil Survival Unit proves that there are plenty of innovative directions and experiences to be had from the biggest franchise in the survival horror genre.

Resident Evil Survival Unit will be released Nov. 18 for iOS and Android devices through the App Store and Google Play.