The Best Resident Evil Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Resident Evil 4 revolutionized the series with action-packed gameplay and smarter foes, becoming one of the most popular entries.
• Resident Evil 2 Remake combined third-person action with RE2’s atmosphere, providing fans with new horrors to face.
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard refreshed the series with a first-person view, offering a quieter, slower experience packed with creepy terror.

Since the original Resident Evil‘s release in 1996, the series has become one of Capcom’s premier titles. Mega Man, Street Fighter, Dead Rising, and the like have had their lulls, but the survival horror series has continued to shock and entertain its fanbase over its near-30-year run.

The series’ gameplay has evolved over the years, from the still cameras of the original series to the more action-based style of Resident Evil 4–6, to the first-person fear introduced in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. It tested players’ nerves with its zombies, BOWs, mutants, and other monstrosities, and tested their brains with its puzzles. But some of their games have been better than others, with these being the best of the bunch.

Updated on December 6th, 2024, by David Heath: The Resident Evil has gone through a lot of ups and downs in its history. Right now, it’s been on an upswing after the mainline series shifted into first-person horror, and the remakes remastered third-person horror from RE2 Remake onward. But it wasn’t that long ago that Resident Evil 6 felt like the series’ nadir into over-the-top action and ridiculous plot turns, and before that, the original Resident Evil 4 spruced up the old static camera approach with an over-the-shoulder approach.

Still, the series has its underrated games and unsung heroes, with games that passed by the wayside due to their format, and games that are a little polarizing, to say the least. So, this list has been updated with a few extra games that might’ve passed some people’s notice, but still have their supporters.

16 Resident Evil 0

A Bold but Mixed Attempt to Revamp the Formula

Resident Evil 0 is low on this list, though some would argue it should be higher, or kept off of it completely. Many call it a nice callback to the classic static camera formula of the original games, with a unique gameplay style where the player can zap between STARS medic Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen, controlling one or the other at their leisure while the game’s AI handles the other character. They could also drop items wherever they liked and pick them up later instead of using a storage box.

This sometimes worked against the game, as the AI wasn’t all that sharp on the uptake, and the new item-dropping mechanic was less convenient than the old storage box. The story strains credulity, even by the series’ standards, and it’s one of the more difficult games in the series. Yet there are as many people who love its odd quirks as there are people who detest them. If players love the way the old school games played then, like RE0 or loathe it, this game will challenge them.

15 Resident Evil

RE1 Started the Series Decades Ago, and It Shows

The original Resident Evil on the PS1 is a hard game to go back to as its beginnings are very humble. Director and creator Shinji Mikami felt it was outdated back in 2001, leading to its remake, and it’s not any fresher in 2024. The controls are stiffer than in the sequels, it lacks many of the quality-of-life features later games would offer, and the story loses much of its impact thanks to the cheesy voice acting. On the other hand, it did add to the game’s charm, making Barry Burton a fan favorite purely down to his line delivery (“I have THIS!”).

Even so, RE1 wasn’t made to compete against its sequels or the subsequent decades’ worth of survival horror games. It was made to offer a new experience over proto-survival horror games like Dr Hauzer or Capcom’s own Sweet Home RPG series. It was a genuinely spine-tingling experience as the dogs, crows, Hunters and more were relentless in their assault, and players didn’t always have enough herbs to save themselves, or ink ribbons to save the game. As such, it’ll always be appreciated for being the starting point for 28+ years of undead terror.

14 Resident Evil CODE: Veronica

The Trickiest Entry in the Classic RE Games

Resident Evil CODE: Veronica was one of the last of the classic formula games, where the Redfield siblings Claire and Chris investigate a viral outbreak in the Southern Ocean, going from Alfred Ashford’s Rockfort Island prison to Umbrella’s Antarctic facility, which reveals the truth behind Ashford, his sister Alexia, and the not-so-late ex-leader of STARS Albert Wesker.

When it was released, the game received widespread praise. Yet each re-release has seen its stock fall with each generation. Aside from age, it could be because of its difficulty, as it’s generally considered to be the hardest of the classic games. Then it’s also infamous for Alfred Ashford’s Psycho-inspired plot twist, and Claire’s less-than-helpful ally, Steve Burnside. Nonetheless, it’s a popular game for classic RE fans and one they’d like to see get freshened up with a remake someday.

13 Resident Evil: Revelations

Handheld Survival Horror in 3D

Just before RE6 shook up the foundations, 3DS owners managed to get an RE game of their own in Resident Evil: Revelations. It was essentially RE4/5 gameplay in portable form, though given the 3DS only had one control stick and fewer buttons than a joypad, it had a few compromises. Instead of focusing on fast-paced action and combat, it went back to the series’ roots by emphasizing survival, as Jill and co-investigate a cruise ship as they search for Chris Redfield and his partner Jessica Sherawat.

Players could still pull off RE4/5-style moves, like stunning foes to pull off melee moves and use a variety of firearms that switch them between third and first-person views. But they only had so much ammo and health pickups to work with, and they could only carry 3 firearms at once. It also introduced the Raid Mode, where players took on missions with specific loadouts for XP and points. Though it’s since been improved on by its sequel, it was a solid title people got into.

12 Resident Evil 5

It Tried to Double the Fun But Introduced Co-Op Woes

Resident Evil 5 was the biggest-selling game in the series until RE7 and RE2 Remake came along. Considering it was the immediate sequel to the almighty RE4, it had an eager audience waiting with bated breath to play it. The final result saw Chris Redfield join forces with Sheva Alomar to shut down a parasitic outbreak in West Africa and confront Albert Wesker one more time. It continued the action-packed gameplay style of RE4 but with new co-op functions.

Chris and Sheva could solve puzzles together, trade ammo and items with each other, and heal each other. With another human, it worked out fine and made the main campaign, DLC, and Mercenaries mode a blast to play. However, single players had less fun as the AI wasn’t as sharp on the uptake. It could make getting through the game as problematic as its portrayal of Africans (suggesting tribes are mentally regressed is an iffy point). It’s still a fun time. It’s just better with friends.

11 Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Capcom Nails Co-Op in Action Gameplay’s Swansong

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was released in 4 episodes before being bundled all together. Set between RE5 and RE6, Claire Redfield and Barry Burton work together to save Barry’s daughter when they’re abducted and stranded on an island in the Baltic Sea. It stuck to the action-based RE5-style gameplay while spicing things up with a few stealth sections, cooperative gameplay, and Raid Mode – a series of missions based on RE5, RE6, and Revelations 1 that players can complete with one of 15 playable characters.

It didn’t get the greatest response at the time of its release, given its gameplay was showing its age at the time of its release. Yet it managed to pull off the co-op gameplay better than its big console brethren, with smarter AI, and the ability to switch between characters for puzzles and actions. It also offered more variety between the shooters, who got more of the action, and the melee-based ones, who were better suited to stealth. It’s an underrated title that offers more than its cover suggests.

10 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

RE2 For Fans of Jill Valentine

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis wasn’t meant to be a full-on sequel. It was going to be a side story showing what Jill Valentine was doing in Raccoon City while RE2 was going on. But Capcom needed a new game, and calling it Resident Evil 3 was going to appeal to fans more than calling it Resident Evil: Jill’s Bogus Journey or any other title. It led to Shinji Mikami’s own sequel project being renamed Resident Evil 4, which took a long time to be finished.

The game sees Jill try to escape the city, and seek a cure for her infection while avoiding Nemesis, the most famous of the Tyrant variants. It’s essentially more RE2, which worked out well for it back in the day. However, it also means it doesn’t offer much to stand out on its own. The game is just a slightly improved RE2 with Jill Valentine instead of Claire and Leon. That’s enough for Jill fans, as is the now-iconic Nemesis Tyrant, though others might find it to be more of the same.

9 Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Gets Silly Again

Some survival horror aficionados don’t get many spine-tingling chills from the RE series because they can’t resist getting bombastic. Silent Hill arguably outdid them in horror by being more subtle. Sure, SH2 may have had a giant, pyramid-headed thing chasing the player around, but it also had a gradually unfolding mystery that revealed the protagonist, James Sunderland, had a heart as dark as anything its cursed town could bring up.

Resident Evil Village had Ethan Winters head to Europe to fight off a magnet man, a corpse bride puppet, werewolves, and a giant vampire dominatrix in order to put his baby daughter back together again. For horror fans weaned on SH or more serious games, RE8 must’ve felt more like a step back to RE4‘s action movie wackiness than sticking to RE7’s creepy terror. Though it’s hard not to enjoy its action-packed gameplay or colorful characters, with Lady Dimitrescu becoming a particularly popular villain (albeit for pretty apparent reasons).

8 Resident Evil 3 Remake

Fewer Frills, More Thrills

The Resident Evil 2 Remake was a success, so it was only fair that the sequel would be redone as Resident Evil 3 Remake. It tweaked the story a bit, with some interesting lore easter eggs for avid fans to track down (e.g. why the Nemesis is smart enough to use a rocket launcher). Jill’s chic casual wear also got some redesigns, much to some odd people’s consternation. Otherwise, much like the original RE3, it was basically more of RE2R with Jill instead of Leon and Claire.

It also has less content than its precursor, with fewer mini-objectives to carry out. Oddly, it has fewer locations and enemies to fight off than the PS1 original. RE3R focuses more on action, making up for the enemy count by combining some old foes into newer threats (e.g. the Drain Deimos gains the old Brain Sucker’s moves). It also builds more on the character interactions, as Jill gets to express herself more, Carlos shows more of his personality, and both can come across more doomed survivors that (ironically) make Raccoon City feel more alive.

7 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The Series Gets Refreshed with a First-Person View of the Cajun Chainsaw Massacre

History often repeats itself. When the series fell stagnant in the early 2000s, Resident Evil 4 gave the series a shot in the arm. But its own action-based gameplay eventually led to another slump after Resident Evil 6. To right the series’ course, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard went back to basics, as Ethan Winters heads down to Louisiana to find his missing wife, Mia, only to come face to face with the Baker family.

The game drew comparisons to the canceled horror game P.T/Silent Hills with its first-person view and gameplay. But Capcom had started work on the game before P.T. got up and running. It’s a quieter, slower experience that picks up the pace for the third act when players learn how the Bakers are connected with the wider RE universe. It was a bold new step for the series that, while not as expansive as RE4‘s, has kept it in rude health since.

6 Resident Evil 4 VR

Relive the Nightmare in Virtual Reality

With RE7 taking a first-person perspective, it perhaps wasn’t a surprise it got ported to VR machines. It technically made its debut as a VR demo called Kitchen, which was previewed back at E3 2016. However, it still required players to use a pad as it didn’t have motion controls, which limited its interactivity a bit compared to its follow-ups. RE2R and 3R received mods that could enable players to use them with a VR setup, but the entry that pleased fans the most was Resident Evil 4 VR.

It still used the old graphics, set pieces, and story (bar a few voice lines), but its controls made it feel more immersive. Players could now wield guns, grab objects, and lob objects with gestures, really making players feel like they were stuck in the wild surrounded by Ganados. The only issue was that it was exclusive to Meta Quest headsets and some people aren’t fond of its tech or the company’s business practices; though, with their ease of use and (comparatively) cheap prices, they’re convenient for experiencing RE4‘s horrors up close and personal.

5 Resident Evil 2

A Vast Improvement Over Its Predecessor

The original RE1 may have started the series off, but it’s since become more famous for its ‘unique’ voice acting and live-action cutscenes than scares. When fans do go back to the old games, they’re more likely to aim for its sequel, Resident Evil 2. It sees Claire Redfield and rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy try to escape Raccoon City as its citizens are turned into zombies and end up uncovering a conspiracy in the process.

It was an improvement on its predecessor in practically every way, with bigger levels, more puzzles, better graphics, and more monsters like the notorious Licker and Mr. X. The story was more in-depth and dramatic, introducing fan favorites like Ada Wong and Sherry Birkin, and told with more cinematic presentation. The game may be over 25 years old, but it holds up well, even next to its slicker remake.

4 Resident Evil (2002)

Arguably the Pinnacle of RE’s Original Gameplay

It’s funny listening to the original RE1‘s dialogue, though the game still has genuine scares behind it. Many moments were genuinely shocking, whether it was introducing zombies, the dogs crashing through the windows, and the Hunter lopping off Rebecca’s head if Chris’ players couldn’t save her. Even so, creator Shinji Mikami felt it hadn’t aged well by 2001, and wanted to remake it into something closer to his original vision for the game.

On top of the graphical, audio, and acting improvements, it added new wrinkles to test more modern players with. They could kill a zombie or two, but if they weren’t able to burn the bodies, they’d come back as the faster, more lethal Crimson Heads. It also added Lisa Trevor, an equivalent to Mr. X, Nemesis, etc., who gave players both a terror to fear and a tragic figure to pity. It led to the Resident Evil Remake becoming the definitive way to play the first game.

3 Resident Evil 2 Remake

Its Improvements Made It Worth the Wait

Fans were left waiting 20 years for the original Resident Evil 2 to get remade. Then, once it was, it became so popular it opened the floodgates for more remakes to hit the store shelves. But while RE1 R stuck to replicating the original game with better graphics and new gameplay elements, Resident Evil 2 Remake went for an experience that combined the third-person action of RE4-6 with more of RE2‘s horrific atmosphere.

Leon and Claire now had to look around corners, into dark shadows, and through smoke to make sure there weren’t any zombies lurking within them. Or something worse. Its realistic graphics, improved setpieces, and acting made it a more fearsome experience, giving fans of the original RE2 new horrors to contend with, and new scenarios to go through via the ‘Ghost Survivors’ mode. Whether a new fan or old, RE2R is a must-play game.

2 Resident Evil 4 Remake

It Managed to Remake the Wheel With Great Success

Considering the first RE4 has been ported to essentially every generation of consoles since the Gamecube, fans wondered if it really needed a remake. It never went away, and it was still fun to play. Compared to overlooked entries like REC:V, remaking RE4 seemed pointless. Yet the Resident Evil 4 Remake managed to impress fans and critics alike, including some of the more skeptical ones.

It helped that it didn’t aim to replicate RE4 1 to 1. Instead, it altered everything in the game to aid its new story. Leon’s past with Krauser now has more narrative meat, the Salazar boss fight has been changed completely, and Ada Wong’s ‘Separate Ways’ campaign has new levels and unique bosses instead of using the original’s asset-cobbling. RE4R stands on its own as a fun, survival horror experience in its own right.

1 Resident Evil 4

One of the Hardest RE Games to Make Became The Most Popular in the Series

Before Resident Evil 4 came out, the series was rather stagnant. After 8 years, the traditional fixed-camera style was showing its age. It didn’t help that RE4 itself had a tortured development, where it had so many revisions that two of them became completely different games in Devil May Cry and Haunting Ground. In the end, Shinji Mikami powered through with a new design and a simple story: Leon tries to save the president’s daughter, Ashley Graham, from evil parasite-infected cultists in Spain.

Its action-heavy gameplay, with its over-the-shoulder gunplay, context-sensitive strikes, and smarter foes made it an exciting experience that couldn’t be contained by its Gamecube exclusivity status. It would end up becoming one of the most ported games of all time and, though it was more survival than horror, RE4 had an impact that only the original game could rival. Gears of War, Metal Gear Solid 4, Dead Space, Mass Effect, and even less-noticeable games like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Bioshock would’ve looked different without it.