Resident Evil: Survival Unit Tries to Get Mobile Right
A mobile Resident Evil game might not be what most fans were asking for, but Survival Unit is trying to meet players halfway, with actual strategy gameplay, base building, and familiar characters like Leon and Jill.
It is not a mainline entry, and it will not release on console, but it might still be worth checking out.
A Spin-Off With Legacy
There are plenty of zombie survival games on mobile, but this is not just another generic one with a Resident Evil logo slapped on. Capcom, Aniplex, and JOYCITY are working together on something that tries to bring back the survival feel of the older games, even if the genre is totally different now.
Strategy and Survival, Not Just Gacha Spam
Survival Unit is a real-time strategy game where you build up your base, send teams of three characters into zombie-infested maps, and try to stay alive with smart positioning, traps, and skills. You play as a new protagonist who wakes up in a shady Umbrella lab and slowly uncovers what is going on.
Puzzles, exploration, and even the RE4 merchant return in some form. Combat is tactical, not tap-spam. The gameplay loop includes:
- Base management with resource crafting and upgrades
- 3-character squads with synergy-based skills
- Classic RE elements like puzzles, traps, and limited ammo
- A customizable mansion acting as your hub
It Is Set in a Parallel Timeline (So, Not Canon)
The story takes place during the same time as Resident Evil 2 and 3, but in a completely different timeline. That means Capcom can do their own thing here without touching canon, which might be a good thing for a spin-off like this.
You will still see familiar locations like R.P.D., and returning characters include:
- Leon, Claire, Jill, Carlos, Marvin, and more
- A mysterious new creature designed by Yoshitaka Amano (yes, that Amano)
There Is Gacha, But There Is Also Some Hype
It is free-to-play and probably has gacha mechanics for characters and gear. That is the part that has some fans worried, especially since JOYCITY is known for resource-management mobile games. But Capcom is closely supervising, and one thing that has fans intrigued is the team behind it. Shinji Hashimoto (Kingdom Hearts) is producing the project, and legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy) has designed a creepy new monster called “Mortem” just for the game.
Some of the things getting positive attention:
- Custom mansion hub inspired by the Spencer Mansion
- RE4-style merchant shows up in some form
- Original soundtrack with RE2-style ambient tension
- Mortem, a creepy shadow-like monster designed to feel “elegant and terrifying”
Release Date and Where to Sign Up
Resident Evil: Survival Unit is supposed to launch sometime in late 2025 on iOS and Android. You can pre-register now on the App Store and Google Play, or check the official site for updates.
As mentioned, there is no full gameplay trailer yet, but you can watch the announcement video here:
We will keep an eye on this one, especially once real gameplay footage is out. For now, it is at least trying something different, and that is more than most mobile spin-offs.
Looking for more? Browse our main gaming news hub or check out what is next for the series in 2025.
