14. Resident Evil Zero
The idea behindResident Evil Zerowas a fun one: a prequel that sets up the events behind the very first game of the series.
Unfortunately, the story ofResident Evil Zeroisn’t as interesting as the tale that follows, and it’s crucially missing the sense of scale that was established in later games.
What results is a dull, slow game that doesn’t come close to delivering the action-centric horror of better entries.
13. Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Most of the titles in theResident Evilfranchise offer something different for fans to sink their teeth into. Unfortunately,Resident Evil: Revelations 2gives players too much of the same old.
While the story is different from its predecessorResident Evil: Revelations, this sequel doesn’t change much when it comes to gameplay mechanics or narrative pacing. What results is a predictable, boring game that feels like it should’ve been a straight-to-DVD movie instead.
12. Resident Evil 6
Speaking of video games that wish they were movies,Resident Evil 6takes the cinematic approach and cranks it up to the extreme.
The sense of being overwhelmed by the horrors and unending dread of the zombie apocalypse? That just wasn’t there in this title, making it the weakest of the mainlineResident Evilgames.
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11. Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelationsintroduced some fun changes to the gameplay mechanics of the series, turning it more into a third-person shooter game than previous entries.
The fact that it also filled in the story gaps for fan-favorite Jill Valentine between the events ofResident Evil 4andResident Evil 5helped make this unusualResident Evilgame one of the most loved by long-time fans.
10. Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000,Resident Evil: Code Veronicasuffered from having to transition to a new console while attempting to expand the enviroments into truly 3D worlds (as opposed to the fixed camera angles of previous games in the series).
The result is an uneven title that misses more than it hits, and feels unwieldy and over-ambitious most of the time. But if you can get past the technical hiccups, there’s a decent game hidden in there.
9. Resident Evil 5
I’m conflicted aboutResident Evil 5because it really isn’t a bad game overall—it just isn’t a good horror game.
There’s action, there’s conflict, there’s some tight shooting mechanics, which are all great. But it goes too heavy on all of that at the expense of what makesResident Evilgreat. This would have been a well-received title if it didn’t have theResident Evilname on the box.
8. Resident Evil 3 Remake
Most of the time I don’t like to list remakes as separate from their originals, butResident Evil 3 Remakeis so different fromResident Evil 3: Nemesisthat I’m going to make an exception.
While the game was a graphical upgrade, it failed to provide the overwhelming sense of dread and fear from the original. Sequences felt forced and scripted rather than natural, and there was a heavy emphasis on action rather than fear.
7. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
While later games would steer further into the action genre,Resident Evil 3: Nemesiswas the best at blending the two.
The pursuer mechanic—where the titular Nemesis was constantly waiting for its chance to pounce—was polished and fun, adding to the overwhelming tension and dread players feel throughout.
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6. Resident Evil 8: Village
For many,Resident Evil 8: Villageis the quintessentialResident Evilexperience, complete with frightening enemies mixed with a cast of characters that stuck with the player long after they finished playing.
The fact that it introduced the remarkably popular Lady Dimitrescu to the series also helped it to become an instant classic, as the antagonist of the game quickly became an internet icon.
5. Resident Evil
Here’s the game that started it all:Resident Evil. It introduced many of the aspects that would make the series so memorable and enduring: the spooky setting, the interesting puzzles, the convoluted but engaging plot.
All of it was different from other horror games of its time, and it was great fun even if its graphics left a lot to be desired. The 2002 remake was even better, but it wouldn’t have been so great without the fundmentals established by this very first game.
4. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7: Biohazardmarked a shift in the series toward first-person gaming, with Ethan Winters taking on the role of the central character for the first time.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazardhad a tightly focused plot that took place in a single mansion, slowly unraveling the mystery of the terrifying residents therein. The enclosed setting added to the tension, ensuring that there was always a new danger just a few feet away.
While it’s a bit shorter than manyResident Evilgames,Resident Evil 7: Biohazardis better for it. It never outstayed its welcome and it always left the player wanting more.
3. Resident Evil (Remake)
While the gameplay of the firstResident Evilgame has aged quite well—far better than most games of its era—the graphics were crude and always in dire need of a serious upgrade.
The remadeResident Evil, which came out in 2002, brought the same story to current-gen consoles of the time. More than just a remake, this felt like the final draft of the first game, with an improved battle system and pacing.
2. Resident Evil 2 + Remake
Despite all the greatness of the firstResident Evilgame, the sequel was better in nearly every single way. Not only were the two main characters more interesting, but we got the opportunity to explore Raccoon City for the first time, which further opened up the world.
The story ofResident Evil 2was tense and fraught with peril, especially with this game’s pursuer, Mr. X, looming over every interaction and scene.
The remake ofResident Evil 2, which came out in 2019, is still one of the best remakes of any video game ever made, improving on the original without losing any of what made it so fun in the first place.
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1. Resident Evil 4
The Nintendo GameCube had one of the best video game libraries of all time, andResident Evil 4has a real claim to being the best of the best.
Resident Evil 4was originally released as a Nintendo GameCube exclusive, but it was so good and so successful that Capcom had no choice but to port it to other consoles and systems—like the Nintendo Wii.
The Wii Edition ofResident Evil 4incorporated the console’s unique control scheme with its action-horror story, making it stand out as one of the greatest video games of the era.
To this day,Resident Evil 4is the bestResident Evilgame and one of the greatest horror experiences of all time.
