Summary

  • Resident Evil Village on Switch 2 runs smoothly, offering an enjoyable experience for players.
  • Resident Evil 6 benefits from running at 60FPS on Switch 2.
  • Resident Evil Revelations 2 is an underrated gem that now runs at a solid 60FPS on the Switch.

While it always seemed inevitable that the immensely popular Resident Evil series would make its way onto the Switch, it's honestly quite shocking just how many games can be played on Nintendo's hybrid system. While many of these iconic titles played pretty well back on the original Switch, some have even been upgraded for the Switch 2 to run at a higher frame rate, giving players a much smoother and more enjoyable overall experience to complement the survival horror gameplay.

Split image of Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil 3
10 Most Fun Resident Evil Games, Ranked

Resident Evil is a franchise known for its horror, but it can also be fun, as shown with several exciting titles throughout series history.

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Still, these games do vary quite a bit in terms of their quality, and while all of them are still well worth playing, there are definitely some standouts for those who only want to pick up one or two games at a time. That being said, here are the best Resident Evil games currently on Switch 2, including those which have been upgraded to run better on the new console.

8 Resident Evil Village

The Epic Finale To Ethan's Saga Runs Pretty Well On The Switch 2

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Resident Evil Village
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8 /10
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Released
May 7, 2021
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror, Survival, Horror
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Resident Evil Village Press Image 1

Because Resident Evil Village is only available as a cloud version on the eShop store, it inevitably means there is always going to be a tiny bit of latency and lag baked into the experience. In all honesty, though, this is barely noticeable on the Switch 2, and despite the game receiving some minor downgrades in terms of its visuals compared to the consoles, it still manages to look downright jaw-dropping from a visual perspective.

Village marks the end of Ethan's adventure in the series, as he desperately tries to rescue his daughter Rose from a crazed group of mutants who all answer to a mysterious figure known only as Mother Miranda. The slower pace of the game can make it a little less replayable than some of the other titles, but it's an absolute blast on that first playthrough, especially for those who aren't aware of the twists and turns packed throughout the story.

7 Resident Evil 6

Chaotic And High Speed Action Running At A Smooth 60FPS

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Resident Evil 6
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6 /10
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Released
October 2, 2012
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter
Platform(s)
PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Switch
OpenCritic Rating
Weak

Resident Evil 6 received quite a bit of flak upon release due to how heavily it leaned into the action genre. Now that the series is in a much better place though, a lot of fans have begun to warm up to Resident Evil 6 and appreciate it for what it's trying to be, and it's fair to say that the game runs like an absolute dream on the Switch 2 thanks to the 60 frames per second upgrade.

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Resident Evil: 8 Hardest Games To 100% Complete, Ranked

Players will be in for the long haul when trying to 100% complete the following Resident Evil games.

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When loading into the game for the first time, players will be able to choose from four different campaigns, which all feature vastly different environments to venture through and enemies to take down. While the game is definitely more chaotic than some might expect, it's still a lot of fun to jump into for short bursts when the game is running this smoothly, and with plenty of crucial character moments and reveals featured in the stories, it's not a game that Switch 2 owners will want to skip over.

6 Resident Evil 2 Remake

An Extensive Remake Of The 1998 Classic Can Be Streamed On The Cloud

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Resident Evil 2
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Released
January 25, 2019
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Horror
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Leon and Claire back-to-back in the rain

Since Resident Evil 2 is often considered to be one of, if not the best, game in the series by a lot of fans, many people doubted whether Capcom had it in them to remake the survival horror classic while still retaining what made it so special. While the remake does admittedly leave out some key features, specifically the zapping system, it's still pretty incredible what Capcom managed to pull off here. The game uses its very tight corridors and lack of resources to always make players feel on edge, especially when going up against the multiple gruesome bosses who come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

This is another Resident Evil game which can only run on the cloud for the Switch, but outside of some slight blurriness and slowdown every here and there, it's still a more than optimal way to play the critically acclaimed remake. It's also a fantastic starting point for anyone who has never tried out Resident Evil before.

5 Resident Evil 7

Explore The Endlessly Creepy Baker Mansion From A First Person View

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
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Released
January 24, 2017
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DIGITAL
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ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Press Image 1

The seventh mainline game in this series essentially acted as a giant reboot to get the franchise back on track after it had gotten a little too action-oriented. As a result, Resident Evil 7 takes things back to basics by setting players in one giant building, which they are free to explore by collecting keys and resources throughout their playthrough. The cloud version of Resident Evil 7 is currently available on the eShop, and it runs extremely well given how demanding the game is in terms of its visuals.

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8 Resident Evil Games That Would Make Great Movies

If any Resident Evil games have the potential to make a great movie, it would be the following entries in Capcom's hit franchise.

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While the first-person view definitely ramps up the tension, Switch 2 players will also be able to connect a pair of headphones, either wired or through Bluetooth, to make the moment-to-moment gameplay even more immersive. The first game in the Winters Saga is an entry that most fans look back on very fondly, and while this is still only the cloud version of the game, this can honestly be easy to forget given how well the game runs on Nintendo's latest system.

4 Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 Features A Nice Balance Between Action And Horror

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Resident Evil 5
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Released
March 5, 2009
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
OpenCritic Rating
Fair
Chris Redfield

Following hot on the heels of the immensely popular Resident Evil 4, the fifth game in the series doesn't change up the core gameplay formula all that much from its predecessor, though there is still one major mechanic it adds, that being co-op. Chris is accompanied on his journey through Kijuju by Sheva, with there being many points in the game where both players must work together in order to solve puzzles or even beat specific boss enemies.

It's undoubtedly the greatest co-op game in the franchise, and now that it's been bumped up to a locked 60 frames per second for the Switch 2, it's a great way to experience the game. Considering Resident Evil 5 wraps up a lot of the loose ends that had been established in previous games, longtime fans will be able to get the most out of it, but the co-op gameplay is so fun that even those who don't care much about the story will still find a lot to love here.

3 Resident Evil Revelations 2

An Underrated Gem Which Has Seen A Much-Needed Improvement From The Original Switch

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Resident Evil: Revelations 2
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7 /10
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Released
February 24, 2015
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

So many people cite Resident Evil Revelations 2 as one of the best games in the modern era of Resident Evil due to its focus on survival horror, rather than trying to go into the action genre. However, while it did release for the first Switch, it ultimately didn't perform all that well, often struggling to even maintain 30 frames per second whenever a lot of enemies appeared on-screen at once.

This is far from the case for the Switch 2, though, with the game maintaining a solid 60 the entire way through. This is a much-appreciated upgrade, considering this is a game where enemies can kill Claire, Moira, and the other playable characters in no more than a few attacks, so having quick reflexes and being able to react in time is extremely important. Revelations 2 features some truly unique gameplay systems alongside plenty of eerie environments to explore and also tons of iconic characters, including Claire Redfield and even Barry Burton.

2 Resident Evil

Experience The Birth Of Survival Horror Either Docked Or On Handheld

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Resident Evil HD Remaster
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7 /10
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Released
January 20, 2015
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Violence, Blood and Gore, Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

It's not uncommon to hear people say that the remake of the first Resident Evil game still stands as the best remake ever made, and it's honestly hard to disagree when seeing the game in action. The amount of effort Capcom poured into making the Spencer Mansion as realistic and believable as possible is honestly staggering, and even on a smaller screen, players will still be able to pick out even the smallest of details, such as the blood splattered across the walls or the creepy faces staring out of the paintings.

Of course, the first Resident Evil game is also much more of a slow burn than many of the entries that came after, meaning it doesn't need to suffer from any random frame drops from an abundance of enemies being on-screen. Even 20 years after release, the Resident Evil remake is still one of the most immersive, terrifying, and memorable horror games out there, and it's a real joy to play on the Switch 2.

1 Resident Evil 4

Leon's Desperate Rescue Mission Looks And Runs Like A Dream

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Resident Evil 4
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7 /10
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Released
January 11, 2005
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, PS2, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii, Nintendo GameCube, PC, Android, iOS
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
First Gameplay for Resident Evil 4 HD and Code Veronica X HD

At a time when the Resident Evil formula started to get a little worn out, Resident Evil 4 came along and gave the franchise a second wind. With a new over-the-shoulder perspective and enemies who are much more aggressive than the average zombie, Resident Evil 4 perfectly blends action and horror together to create what has become one of the most beloved games of all time. The game runs a lot better on the Switch 2 than it did for the original system, being locked at a buttery 60 frames per second, not only in dock mode, but even on handheld too.

The game also has great replay value, not only because of the unlockables which can be earned through subsequent playthroughs, but also The Mercenaries mode, where players can assume control of key characters who are seen in the main story. Since Resident Evil 4 also features a self-contained storyline, it means that anyone, regardless of their prior experience with the series, can jump in and enjoy what the game has to offer, with the Switch 2 now being one of the best systems to play it on.

Resident Evil Games With The Best Psychological Horror, Ranked
Resident Evil: 5 Games With The Best Psychological Horror, Ranked

For fans of psychological horror, here are some Resident Evil games that make the best use of the subgenre.

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