Summary
- Resident Evil games vary in puzzle content, with some, like RE3 Remake, being streamlined for quicker play.
- Resident Evil 5 focuses on fast-paced action with minimal puzzles, appealing to co-op gameplay.
- The Chronicles games provide entry points to the series without puzzles, focusing on gameplay and story.
Puzzles have long been somewhat of a tradition in the Resident Evil franchise, with most games in the series featuring at least a few brainteasers or riddles to add some diversity to the core gameplay loop. However, everyone has their own opinions on what does and does not work in a Resident Evil game, whether that be the camera angles, the focus on action or horror, or the puzzles - more specifically, how many of them should be in a game.
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There are a lot of fans out there who simply don't enjoy puzzles slowing down the pace of the gameplay, and having an abundance of difficult puzzles can also be a little intimidating to newcomers. The good news is that anyone who simply wants a game that they can run through and enjoy without having to rack their brain along the way will find a lot to love with this series, as there have been more than a few Resident Evil games that feature barely any puzzle. Some even have none.
6 Resident Evil 3 Remake
The Remake Of Resident Evil 3 Streamlined Jill's Journey While Also Making It A Little Shorter
Resident Evil 3
- Released
- April 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Horror
While the remake of Resident Evil 2 felt like a fleshed-out and expanded version of the original, it seems Capcom had a slightly different philosophy in mind when reimagining the classic third entry. This time around, the remake was a lot more streamlined, with entire areas, such as the clock tower, being entirely removed. The same approach was also taken with several puzzles.
Though there is an early train puzzle, alongside a small vaccine riddle later in the story, players won't need to worry all that much about getting stuck on any difficult challenges during their desperate escape from Raccoon City. If anything, the lack of puzzles has actually been a major benefit of Resident Evil 3 Remake, as the game has come to be appreciated as a short but sweet experience that can be finished in a single day thanks to how streamlined it is.
5 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 Leaves Puzzles Behind To Provide A Fast-Paced Co-Op Shooter Experience
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Resident Evil 5 is often touted as one of the best co-op horror games ever made, and a major reason why it's so much fun to play with a buddy is because the game never lets its foot off the gas. Chris and Sheva are constantly entering new areas and being swarmed by hordes of ferocious Majini, meaning that puzzles are largely non-existent with this installment, but that's certainly not a bad thing.
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There is one major puzzle near the halfway point where both players will need to rotate a set of light beams to open up a door. Outside of that, though, most of the game consists of simply picking up keys and blasting away the hordes of enemies who stand in Chris and Sheva's way, making it ideal for those who enjoy fast-paced action-packed shooters.
4 Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Players Can Explore The Zombie-Infested Raccoon City Without Needing To Be Bogged Down By Puzzles
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
Operation Raccoon City is quite a unique entry in the series. Not only does it allow players to dive back into Raccoon City from a different character perspective, this time playing as Umbrella agents, but it is also the first game to feature a full 4-player co-op campaign. Having four players working together to solve a tricky puzzle can only really be done with a solid team who are all communicating with one another, but for a lobby of strangers, these areas probably wouldn't work quite as smoothly.
Therefore, the game ditches puzzles entirely to make sure that the story is always moving at a steady pace, keeping every member of the team engaged at all times. While Operation Raccoon City received much flak upon release, a lot of fans have started warming up to it over the years, especially those who enjoy jumping in for quick and breezy gameplay sessions.
3 Resident Evil: The Umbrella/Darkside Chronicles
The Chronicles Games Are Ideal Entry Points For Newcomers, Prioritizing Story And Gameplay Over Puzzle Solving
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- November 13, 2007
- ESRB
- m // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Cavia
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- id tech 4, open dynamics engine
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONPHYSICAL- Genre(s)
- Shooter
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WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONPHYSICAL- Genre(s)
- Shooter
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This applies to both Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles, as both play exactly the same and are designed to cover the stories of previous games while also providing some brand-new lore for fans of the series to enjoy. Both games are traditional on-rails arcade shooters where the characters move on their own while players direct their reticle over the enemies, which, in this case, can take the form of a zombie, Tyrant, Hunter, giant spiders, and many other weird and grotesque monstrosities.
These two games are an absolute blast to play in co-op, especially for newcomers who want to get themselves up to speed on the series without needing to dig out the older titles. These games also manage to replicate the core elements of survival horror by packing in plenty of jump scares and only limited resources for players to get their hands on. What also adds to their accessibility is that they don't feature any puzzles, since it simply wouldn't work with this particular style of gameplay.
2 Resident Evil 6
With Such A Heavy Focus On Action, Resident Evil 6 Didn't Have Much Room For Brain Teasers
Resident Evil 6
- Released
- October 2, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
With Resident Evil 6, Capcom had the idea of creating multiple campaigns that all fed into different genres. Leon's campaign was supposed to be the one that was most identical to the series' early survival horror roots, making for a much slower and more methodical playthrough, at least at the beginning. While the catacombs do contain a puzzle here and there, once Leon and Helena escape and become part of the wider plot, the campaign essentially becomes one giant action-fest, with QTE prompts replacing the puzzles entirely.
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Jake and Chris' campaigns are also very light on the puzzles, focusing a lot more on action set-pieces and bombastic boss fights. Ada's campaign does have a few head-scratchers thrown in for good measure, but her story is quite short in comparison to the others. Still, the satisfying melee combat and incredible Mercenaries mode ensures that fans of action will still adore what Resident Evil 6 has to offer.
1 Resident Evil 4
Leon's Epic Journey To Rescue Ashley Features Plenty Of Ganados, A Few Invisible Bugs, But Not Many Puzzles
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Considering that Resident Evil 4 follows Leon on a heroic mission to save Ashley, the president's daughter, he doesn't exactly have all that much time to be figuring out puzzles and unlocking doors. As a result, the game is a largely linear experience that clearly leans more into the action genre, though the enemy and weapon variety, paired with the memorable characters and story, still make it one of the most beloved entries in the entire series nonetheless.
With that being said, there are still some small riddles, such as lining up the Insignia symbol when entering Mendez's house, but these are honestly so easy that they can barely be considered puzzles. Capcom would expand upon the puzzles in the remake while also adding a few new ones to try and make it more emblematic of the classics, but those who don't enjoy them will have a much easier experience playing through the original game, which is still well worth trying out even after receiving the remake treatment.
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Capcom's Resident Evil is the most well-known horror franchise, and fans are likely to enjoy these games.