Summary
- Resident Evil games offer a balance between horror, combat, and exploration.
- Various titles in the series encourage players to delve into unique locales beyond Raccoon City.
- Exploration in games like Code: Veronica and Resident Evil 7 reveal deep backstories and enhance the overall experience.
For the majority of a typical Resident Evil playthrough, players will be gunning down swarms of zombies, scavenging resources, and solving puzzles, but exploration is also a core part of the gameplay cycle featured in this immensely popular horror series. Everyone knows Raccoon City, but the truth is that the series has introduced a plethora of other interesting locales that players are free to admire and learn more about at their own pace.
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The balancing act between horror and combat is difficult, but these Resident Evil games balance the scale best in the whole franchise.
Sure, some of the Resident Evil games are a little on the linear side, making it difficult to go off the beaten path, but there are still some that encourage players to scope out their surroundings, not only to earn goodies and collectibles but also to get some context on the area's backstory. With that being said, anyone who wants to do a little exploring in a zombie-infested city or sinister gothic village ought to check out these particular Resident Evil titles.
8 Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Journey Through A Worn-Down Raccoon City With Some Friends
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Released
- March 20, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Admittedly, Operation Raccoon City isn't the most fondly remembered game by a lot of fans, primarily because it released when the series was still in its action-heavy phase. That being said, though, the game offers a pretty stunning look at Raccoon City in its final moments, with players making their way through the entire city over the course of the missions to witness the chaos first-hand for themselves.
From secret Umbrella facilities to decaying survivor camps, fans can get a deeper insight into the Raccoon City incident by taking a little time out to explore every once in a while. Being able to do this with friends is also a real treat, considering no other games set in Raccoon City allow for this. The game's strength does mean it ends rather abruptly, but there's still plenty to enjoy here for those who just want to gawk at Raccoon City in all its zombified glory.
7 Resident Evil 3
When Jill's Not Being Chased By Nemesis, She Is Free To Go And See The Sights Of Raccoon City
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
- Released
- November 10, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
In Resident Evil 2, players were only allowed to enter specific areas of Raccoon City, such as the R.P.D and the sewer system. While the third game is also based in the infamous zombie-ridden city, this time around, players are free to walk the streets and experience what the city was like at ground level once the zombies started to attack.
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Though the remake of Resident Evil 3 allows players to explore many of the same areas with a brand-new visual upgrade, it also removes several key locations, primarily the clock tower. In the original, there's a ton of unique parts of the city to uncover before the bombs inevitably drop to wipe it, and every zombie and mutant within it, from the face of the earth.
6 Resident Evil - Code: Veronica
A Memorable Entry Based Outside Of Raccoon City Gives Players A Few New Areas To Enjoy
Resident Evil CODE:Veronica
- Released
- March 28, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Most of Code: Veronica is based on Rockfort Island, which, unlucky for Claire, just so happens to be infested with flesh-hungry zombies and mutants by the time she arrives there. Many fans enjoyed that the game decided to get away from the familiar streets of Raccoon City, providing a more gothic-inspired map that is fully explorable.
Checking out every nook and cranny on the island is the best way to make sense of the story's main villains, the Ashfords. Claire can find plenty of notes from former workers who describe the evil twins in great depth, but there are also plenty of weapons to be found. This isn't even mentioning the Antarctica base, which provides an entire new open area full of unique monsters and secrets. Considering that Code: Veronica is often considered one of the hardest games in the RE franchise, checking out as many rooms as possible in order to be fully prepared is always heavily recommended for those hoping to make it through to the end in one piece.
5 Resident Evil Revelations
Jill And Parker Find Themselves Aboard A Giant Ship Lurking With Ooze Monsters
Resident Evil Revelations
- Released
- January 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
When developing Resident Evil Revelations for the 3DS, Capcom made it clear they wanted to return to the roots of the series. This involved making the core gameplay a lot slower and more methodical, and the perfect setting to complement this was the Queen Zenobia cruise ship. This massive cruiser, which contains a fair number of horrifying Ooze monsters, is free to be explored by Jill and Parker the moment they enter.
Though the corridors of the Zenobia are linear, there are tons of extra side rooms that can be accessed, alongside some pretty neat special items to look out for, including weapon upgrade parts. Once players reach the main hall, they'll essentially be able to explore any part of the Zenobia that they wish to return to. Though the other areas of the game aren't anywhere near as interesting, the Zenobia is a real standout.
4 Resident Evil 4 Remake
The Remake To Resident Evil 4 Expands Each Area To Make Them Fully Connected And More Realistic
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Both Resident Evil 4 and its remake are split up into three areas: the village, the castle, and the island. In the original, while these areas were explorable to a degree, they still felt fairly small and linear in nature, but Capcom decided to expand them significantly for the re-telling of the survival horror classic. While the environments themselves are bigger in general, giving even veteran players new places to explore, there's also a ton of hidden weapons, items, and files that are locked away in rooms that players can miss out on entirely.
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For example, players can retrieve some crucial documents about Mendez and his past if they return to his manor after they rescue Ashley, granting access to the lord's attic. Resident Evil 4 Remake also features a healthy assessment of collectibles to look out for, including the Blue Medallions and rats that need to be killed. So, those who want to be fully prepared for the fight ahead should ensure they don't skip out on the optional areas that are featured in the game.
3 Resident Evil 7
A More Traditional Gameplay Loop Where Players Can Explore At Their Own Pace
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
After Resident Evil 6 received mixed reviews from fans due to its action-heavy gameplay, Capcom decided to bring things back to basics with the seventh mainline title. While the first-person camera is a massive shift for the series, on the other hand, the claustrophobic environment of the Baker Estate feels eerily similar to that of the Spencer Mansion seen in the first game.
Once Ethan breaks out of his chair at the dinner table, players can gradually explore the dark and creepy estate at their own pace. Technically, not all the rooms in the building need to be explored all that thoroughly (or even at all), but there is a great deal of information scattered around the house concerning Eveline's mold and how it ended up corrupting the family's minds.
2 Resident Evil Village
Miranda's Village Is A Gorgeous But Creepy Area Filled With All Kinds Of Dark Secrets
Resident Evil Village
- Released
- May 7, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Though players are free to go straight towards their next objective when playing Village, it's a much better idea to take some time out from killing Lycans to explore the dreary and mysterious village. This is undoubtedly one of the creepiest areas in the series, but considering how many fun and intriguing secret files and documents are scattered around, it's more than worth snooping around to see what's out there.
While many of the Lords have fairly small bases for Ethan to infiltrate, Dimitrescu's personal castle is on the bigger side, giving players the chance to look around and learn more about the vampire's past and how she and her "daughters" ended up becoming servants to Miranda. Village really stands out in the series for its environments, which are all a ton of fun to venture through and explore because of their spine-chilling atmosphere and aesthetic.
1 Resident Evil
The First Game Is A Masterclass In Visual Storytelling
Resident Evil
- Released
- April 30, 2002
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The first Resident Evil game encourages players to figure out the story from their own experiences traveling through the Spencer Mansion, rather than giving it to them as part of long exposition dumps. As a result, the game goes a long way in its visual storytelling, with the ripped wallpapers, blood-splattered floors, and terrifying diaries kept in many of the rooms making the mansion feel like a place that's just begging to be explored.
Simply put, every room in the mansion tells its own story, which is why players should always check out everything the building has to offer, as there's a lot to uncover here. Though the first game isn't as packed full of collectibles as future games, it instead contains some of the best and most memorable files in the series. It's also home to tons of optional encounters with monsters and key characters.
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