Ranking: The Best Resident Evil Games from the Classic Survival Horror Series.
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase "survival horror" is Resident Evil. Capcom's long-running series is credited with creating some of the genre's clichés with the first game, in addition to laying the groundwork for a lore-rich universe with one of the most loyal fanbases in gaming. We've compiled a list of the top 10 Resident Evil games, despite the fact that not all of them are made equally and there have been some duds throughout the years.
You'll note that a few "main" entries were left off in favor of games that were virtually spin-offs, but there were no titles that were off-limits for this list of Resident Evil games.
That only applied to a small number of games, and just because a game's title included a number didn't automatically imply that it was great. This list could change over time depending on the release of the VR version of Resident Evil Village for the PS5 and the remake of Resident Evil 4.
10. Resident Evil: Revelations 2
With the upcoming Resident Evil 7 bringing back more classic horror, Capcom decided to take a new approach with Resident Evil: Revelations 2. The episodic game maintained the third-person perspective of its predecessor while ramping up the B-movie cheesiness, even reintroducing buffoon Barry Burton as a playable character alongside Claire Redfield. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is action-packed yet firmly based in survival horror and classic camp film. It doesn't try to reinvent the franchise or push the genre ahead, but it does grasp what made it so adored in the first place. Barry's one-liners are just unbeatable.
9. Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 0 was first released as a GameCube exclusive before becoming more generally accessible later on. It is a prologue to the Resident Evil series, set before the events of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2. Because the zombie danger is not yet widely distributed or even public, it's a different kind of horror experience than most of the previous games—save possibly the original. Along with officer Rebecca Chambers, you'll have the opportunity to play as a one-of-a-kind video game character, a death row convict, as you try to solve the dark mystery.
8. Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 swaps practically all of the horror for straight-up action, a contentious game that undoubtedly hinted at the identity problem we'd see more blatantly in the future. Brighter settings, a plethora of ammunition at Chris' disposal, big set-pieces, and an improved Albert Wesker who is effectively Agent Smith from The Matrix set it apart from the previous games, including Resident Evil 4. Is it frightening? No. Is it the same as the previous games in terms of scratching the same itch? No. Is it able to produce an action-adventure that brings one of the series' longest-running story lines to a satisfactory conclusion? Without a doubt.
7. Resident Evil: Revelations
Is it possible that one of the finest Resident Evil games of all time will be a Nintendo 3DS exclusive? Yes, at least for the time being. Resident Evil: Revelations acted as a bridge between the previous two games' action-oriented gameplay and the sluggish, tense-filled terror of the originals. The game functioned fairly well on the 3DS, especially with the Circle Pad Pro accessory for dual-stick gameplay, and it acted as a nice side-story to help fill in what Jill had been up to between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5.
6. Resident evil Code: Veronica
It didn't have the Resident Evil 3 name on it, but that was more of a marketing ploy to get gamers to play another PlayStation-only game. Make no doubt about it: Resident Evil Code: Veronica is the series' real third installment, returning to the battle between Chris Redfield and Albert Wesker while also bringing Claire Redfield back from Resident Evil 2. It was launched for the Dreamcast at the time (it was eventually ported to the PS2, GameCube, and other systems) and featured graphics that weren't feasible on the earlier PlayStation, although with a gameplay style that was starting to lose its luster.
5. Resident Evil
The first Resident Evil game was revolutionary, not just for effectively setting the stage for survival-horror games to this day, but also for what it didn't do. Resident Evil didn't need huge armies of zombies, crumbling skyscrapers, or a bunch of super-powered, giant monsters to instill fear. Instead, it took a "less is more" approach to horror, delivering its scares and twists slowly to make the more impactful. It's a lesson some of the other games, including Resident Evil 3 just a few years later, didn't seem to understand, and though the original Resident Evil's tank-style controls haven't aged very well, a remake and another HD remaster offer much-improved visuals.
4. Resident Evil Village
The sequel to Resident Evil 7 with a cheeky little "VIII" hidden in the logo, Resident Evil Village plays up the campiness in both protagonist Ethan Winters' reactions to everything around him and with the game's roster of villains. Despite this, it does still contain one of the most terrifying moments in any Resident Evil game--or, really, in any game--and the few allies you meet along the way are often just as interesting. Resident Evil Village seems intent on making further connections to the rest of the series, which is occasionally to its detriment, but the game's Resident Evil 4-like European setting and varied takes on horror help make it worthwhile on its own. And yes, that's even if it didn't include the Tall Vampire Lady.
3. Resident Evil 7
After the bombastic and unfocused Resident Evil 6 tried--and mostly failed--to fully transform the series into a blockbuster on the level of Call of Duty, Capcom went back to the drawing board with its sequel. However, Resident Evil 7 wasn't just an homage to the original. Instead, the brooding, tense horror was paired with a new first-person perspective, limiting your environmental awareness to make every scare hit harder. Setting almost the entire game in one mansion didn't feel restrictive, either, as the many puzzles, unexpected areas, and terrifying encounters with the Baker family helped make it one of the best locations in horror game history.
2. Resident Evil 4
The game that changed everything… again, Resident Evil 4 transitioned the series from its tank-controlled, slow-moving, survival past to a more action-oriented and cinematic experience. It didn't ditch the scares, with Leon's journey into a remote Spanish village offering terrifying not-zombie enemies and even a few terrifying allies. Instead, it simply brought the moment-to-moment movement and shooting in line with the atmosphere Capcom had been perfecting for years, despite functioning just fine as a standalone game or entry point for newcomers. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise when considering Resident Evil 4 was directed by Shinji Mikami, who also directed the original game.
1. Resident Evil 2 (both versions)
The original Resident Evil is one of the most important video games ever made--there is no denying that--but it was the second game that turned it from an important stepping stone for the industry into one of the biggest video game franchises of all time. Expanding beyond the mansion of the first Resident Evil for a larger Raccoon City, Resident Evil 2 gave us much more insight on who was responsible for the outbreak, and just how manipulative and powerful Umbrella Corporation was. Its 2019 remake is the version to play now, offering much-improved third-person combat controls while telling largely the same story for both Leon and Claire. Despite the better action, it doesn't abandon the scares--something 2020's Resident Evil 3 mostly did.
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