Summary
- Resident Evil Remake offers the quintessential experience of the first game with modernized graphics and gameplay.
- Resident Evil 5, despite its flaws, provides a fun co-op experience with a focus on gameplay and epic boss fights.
- Resident Evil 2's 2019 version is a terrifying and thrilling experience with intense encounters, well-known characters, and scary locations.
The Resident Evil franchise has been around for many decades, pulling scores of fans with its terrifying games, horrific monsters, and the legacy characters that often pop up throughout the series. Even years after its debut, there may be new fans ready to enter the survival horror genre, but they should definitely consider their starting point.
Every Main Resident Evil Game In Release Order
The Resident Evil franchise has been around for decades and is responsible for some of the greatest horror games ever. Here are all the main releases.
Taking into consideration that the first game is almost thirty years old, newer games might be put off by the aged controls and graphics, but there are newer titles that might not give a complete picture as to what Resident Evil is truly about. Thus, these games are the ones new fans should check out to truly experience the series.
1 Resident Evil Remake
The Newer Version of the Original Game is the Quintessential Resident Evil Experience
Resident Evil
- Released
- April 30, 2002
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii
One of the most remade games of all time, the first Resident Evil has been modernized, given better graphics, some new content, and made readily available for newer hardware to introduce new players to a classic survival horror game.
Playing as Jill or Chris, players are forced into a mysterious mansion after a pack of rabid dogs chase them over the threshold, only to find that the place they sought shelter might be even more dangerous. With more modern gameplay, despite players being unable to move and shoot at the same time, this is a great way to experience the first game, and a great place to enter the franchise, as it is truly one of the scariest games in the series, and introduces key characters such as the aforementioned duo, as well as famed villain Albert Wesker.
2 Resident Evil 5
A Surprisingly Fun Co-Op Experience
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Many Resident Evil veterans turn their nose away at the mere mention of Resident Evil 5, which is somewhat of a fair reaction. It is hardly the best game in the series, and was influenced by the influx of action movies at the time. But those willing to look past its flaws, and gather a friend to play alongside them, will find a solid, fun co-op shooter game.
Chris from the first game makes a reappearance, looking to apprehend Irving before he can sell the BOWs to no doubt unscrupulous people. Aided by local agent Sheva, the duo uncover a far bigger conspiracy here, one that involves the best villain of all time: Wesker. Resident Evil 5 is truly where he shines, as he sports a killer outfit, shades, and a sassy attitude players can't help but love. If for no other reason, players should give Resident Evil 5 a shot just for Wesker's swansong.
3 Resident Evil 2
The 2019 Version Is As Terrifying As It Is Excellent
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Capcom has been hard at work over the past years, recreating some of the older titles in their newer engine to modernize them for today's audience. While die-hard fans will defend the original versions, most fans can agree that the remakes are all great successes, improving upon almost everything. Resident Evil 2 is just one of the most successful games.
Every Resident Evil Remake, Ranked
Capcom has generally delivered awesome Resident Evil remakes, but some are better than others.
Claire, Leon, RPD, Mr. X, and more monsters than one can shake a T-Virus sample at, 2019's Resident Evil 2 blends horror and combat. The locations and the creatures that populate them are terrifying, but the gameplay is fun and responsive, and there are some meaty boss fights to contend with, such as Birkin and Mr. X himself.
4 Resident Evil 3
Experience Jill's Raccoon City Trial
Resident Evil 3
- Released
- April 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Arguably, the Resident Evil 3 remake is not making anyone's top ten Resident Evil list, at least not those who have played the original, but it's not a game that should be disqualified immediately, especially for newcomers to the series. It is more easily available to purchase, and much more forgiving to play. And gamers can always go right back to the original once they feel more confident and have managed to track down a copy.
Cut content aside, Resident Evil 3's more action-focused gameplay is a lot more beginner-friendly than the tank control stop-and-shoot games of yore, taking into consideration that those gameplay mechanics are a thing of the past now. This way, the new fans get to check back in with Jill after the first game to see what she's been up to since the mansion incident, and witness her struggles during the destruction of Raccoon City.
5 Resident Evil 7
One Of RE's Most Frightening Entries Is A Must-Play
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
From Raccoon City to a remote Spanish village, the Resident Evil series sure takes its players to some pretty interesting places. In Resident Evil 7, they are taken to the backwaters of Louisiana, far out in the sticks away from people and civilization. Here, Ethan is searching for his wife Mia who went missing three years ago, and has since fallen into the clutches of the Baker family, driven mad by Eveline's gifts.
Resident Evil 7 was a celebrated release, as it marked a return to survival horror, which is what this franchise is known and loved for. Intense, atmospheric, and injected with plenty of southern gothic horror, this game is a must-experience for any Resident Evil fan, old or new. Ethan Winters is a brilliant new protagonist who is definitely out of his depth, making him instantly relatable, and every tangle with the Bakers is uniquely terrifying.
6 Resident Evil Village
Finishing Ethan's Story
Resident Evil Village
- Released
- May 7, 2021
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Naturally, the next game to play after finishing Resident Evil 7 would be Resident Evil Village, which is a direct sequel. Settling down in Romania to try and return to normalcy, Ethan's life is once again turned upside-down when another member of his immediate family is kidnapped, this time his infant daughter Rosemary. Chasing down her kidnappers, Ethan finds himself in a beautiful yet remote snow-swept village that cowers under the terror of the lycans and the Four Lords, who each hold a piece of his daughter.
Horror Games Set In Small Towns
These games make use of some small towns to provide an isolating and terrifying feeling within players that will make them want to run ASAP.
Following similar gameplay to its predecessor, those who enjoyed 7 will probably enjoy Village, as they have more Ethan, more first-person gameplay, but this time new monsters and a new objective. Each of the Four Lords provides a completely different experience, such as Beneviento's house of illusions, and Lady Dimitrescu's relentless pursuit of Ethan through the castle. As such, there is something here for every horror fan.
7 Resident Evil 4
A More Action-Packed Game That Doesn't Foresake Its Roots Completely
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
For the longest time, Resident Evil 4 was thought of as the best game in the series. It was cheesy, action-packed, and Leon's characterization was just brilliant. Overall, just a fun game that doesn't take itself too seriously. And then in 2023, the remake was released, and most gamers dropped the original in favor of this new, shiny toy. It was a marked improvement in almost every way. The characters were better written, the atmosphere was moodier, and the gameplay was better, not hampered by age.
As such, it is an accessible game to new RE fans, readily available on this generation of consoles and PC, and Leon handily narrates the events of his experiences in the series so that players are all caught up. It is truly the best way to experience Resident Evil 4, and shows Leon in his absolute prime, slightly jaded but not too edgy, still throwing out his iconic bingo line.
20 Best Resident Evil Games, Ranked
The Resident Evil series is expansive, housing some of the best action and horror games ever made.