As the title suggests, we’re about to sit down and rank all the main entries in the Resident Evil franchise. Now, it is unfair to expect a game released for the original PlayStation to be on the same level as something released for modern systems. Each game is a product of its time, so the rank will be based on relevance to the overall franchise. Relevance refers to impact on the market, future titles, and the fanbase. In the end of the day, all the mainline games are worth trying out.
Spin-offs such as Code Veronica and Dead Aim will not be included, as well as the remakes. Those may have a list of their own.
RESIDENT EVIL 6
Relevance to the franchise: 3/10
Resident Evil 6 is the most action-oriented of all the mainline games, and for many, the worst.
The reason why Resident Evil 4 had more shooter-oriented gameplay than previous titles was that Shinji Mikami thought it would bring life to the franchise by inviting a new generation of gamers. Many elements that made up previous entries had to be stripped or simplified to not hamper the pace, mainly resource management and exploration. Resident Evil 6 takes this philosophy to the extreme. The soundtrack was amazing, and it had the most flexible combat system out of all the Resident Evil titles. There were tense encounters and a few cool enemy designs, such as Haos (Chaos) and Ubistvo (Murder). It brought back the different campaigns approach from older games. The story, while including fan favorite characters, felt a bit melodramatic and rushed, with only a portion of Leon’s campaign feeling like classic Resident Evil.
Anything that would slow the pace or require commitment from the player was streamlined or removed completely. No shop equivalent. No weapon upgrades. Partially regenerating health. AI partners have infinite health and ammo. A GPS system holds your hand 24/7. Most levels require no backtracking. A simpler inventory system. QTEs galore. On-rail vehicle sections. Currency being used only for character upgrades, most of which were straightforward stat boosts. It was a good action game, but not a good Resident Evil game. The fact that Capcom decided to go old-school after 6 says it all.
RESIDENT EVIL 0
Relevance to the franchise: 4/10
Resident Evil 0 was released in 2002, the same year as the Resident Evil remake. Resident Evil 0 was praised a lot back in the day, yet the reception nowadays is not so charitable. The game removed some of the problems present in the Resident Evil remake and introduced a few new ones. Most of the enemies are classic Resident Evil, only the leech enemies, which are unique to the game. While different, they didn’t invoke the same level of unease as other enemies, like the Crimson Heads or Hunters. The plot did explore the relationship between Burkin and Wesker, and a few more factoids about Umbrella. That’s as revelatory as things get.
Rebecca and Billy were a good combo, but not on the same level as, say, Chris and Jill or Leon and Claire. The fact that Rebecca and Billy have the least amount of appearances throughout the franchise’s history reflects their popularity among the fans. And Capcom. Once you’re done playing, the more relevant entries you can give this one a shot, just don’t expect anything grand.
RESIDENT EVIL 5
Relevance to the franchise: 5/10
Resident Evil 5 is a bit of an oddity. The bad qualities that would be further enunciated in 6, but also a lot of the good qualities of 4. Co-op, while adding a layer of difficulty and replay value, removed some of the tension and was bothersome at times. The new inventory system, trading, and exploration left a bit to be desired. Some consider this the part where Resident Evil stopped being Resident Evil, but it is still a cherished entry for many.
The game retained most of the combat systems introduced in 4 while adding a few set pieces, such as the minigun chase scene and Irving’s boss battle. Yes, and the volcano battleground. Careful engagement and resource management were still paramount to survival. Unlike 6, the set pieces were fewer and better spaced out, thus making them more memorable. Regarding atmosphere, the game followed the same philosophy as Resident Evil 4. Creating a sense of dread by dropping the player in a foreign and hostile environment, mixing dilapidated shanty towns with ancient ruins and modern science facilities. The impressive graphics at the time and harsh color scheme managed to reinforce that feeling of unease. It also managed to bring a definitive end to the Wesker versus Chris plotline introduced in Code Veronica.
RESIDENT EVIL 8: VILLAGE
Relevance to the franchise: 5/10
Resident Evil 8: Village is the latest mainline Resident Evil game and the second game to feature Ethan Winters. It was fun. It had good production values. It had a certain memorable villain. Sadly, it didn’t leave the same impact as its predecessor.
It borrowed a lot of elements from Resident Evil 4, such as the inclusion of a backwater European setting, a merchant, and the source of the infection being a parasite. The enemies of the game took heavy inspiration from classic Hammer Film Productions and Universal films, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. The world-building department was creative. The gameplay retained systems introduced in Resident Evil 7 but deviated in key areas, mainly with the greater focus on gunplay and Hollywood spectacle. There were bombastic moments in Resident Evil 7, but those were few and far between, done to bring a sense of realism. And that’s why the game isn’t higher on the list. It sacrificed a lot of the slower, more grounded aspects in favor of something loud and your face.
RESIDENT EVIL 3: NEMESIS
Relevance to the franchise: 7/10
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is an oldie but a goodie. Graphically, it wasn’t that much of a leap. It was still about exploring with tank controls and careful resource management. But a fan favorite character returned, there was a palpable sense of escalation, some variation in the story, and one of the most memorable monsters in the entire franchise.
Similarly to the remake, Nemesis is a much more brutal version of Mr. X. His relentless pursuit of the player, coupled with his unique abilities and access to weapons, arguably made him one of, if not the, strongest enemy in the franchise. It was one thing to be pursued by a zombie. It was something completely different to be chased by Nemesis. Nowhere was safe, and his presence only emphasized that. Instead of having two separate campaigns like in the previous two games, Resident Evil 3 featured choices in key moments, with each choice providing a different outcome. A unique and clever choice.
RESIDENT EVIL 7: BIOHAZARD
Relevance to the franchise: 7/10.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is arguably the game that brought horror back to the Resident Evil franchise. It is also the first Capcom game to use the RE Engine. Similarly to Resident Evil 4, the new direction managed to bring new life.
Comparing Resident Evil 6 to Resident Evil 7 is like comparing a burger with fillet mignon. Both are tasty and filling, but one is undoubtedly better than the other. Resident Evil 7 ditches the bombastic action movie gameplay, abundance of QTEs, and melodrama in return for something more grounded. Resources, upgrades, and new weaponry are again directly tied to exploration and puzzle solving. Enemy types are few but are a genuine threat, and the game is perfectly fine with throwing you a curveball now and again. Ethan Winter’s slow movement and limited defensive options emphasize that he’s just some regular guy stuck in a horrible situation. The game still looks amazing to this day, mainly due to the impressive lighting. The RE Engine created for this game would end up being used for Capcom’s other flagship titles. Resident Evil 7 can be enjoyed standalone, requiring only surface-level knowledge of the franchise.
RESIDENT EVIL 2
Relevance to the franchise: 8/10
For many gamers out there, Resident Evil 2 was their entry to the franchise. Like any sequel, Resident Evil 2 improved the existing formula, with enhanced graphics, a stronger presentation, and an even grander story.
The developers went through lengths to make sure each campaign felt distinct. The soundtrack was perfect for the setting. The game was the debut for fan favorite characters Leon, Claire, Ada, and Hunk, all of them featured in different Resident Evil media. The game was also the debut of some of the most memorable enemies in the franchise, mainly Burkin, Mr. X, and the Lickers. The setting that is Raccoon City has become iconic, having the most depictions out of all Resident Evil media. While the controls are dated and the horror might not appeal to modern audiences, there’s a certain charm that no other game has managed to invoke.
RESIDENT EVIL 4
Relevance to the franchise: 9/10
Resident Evil 4 is available for every major system. PC. PlayStation. Xbox. Switch. VR. There was even an iPhone port for the game, back when iPhone gaming was the hot new thing.
As mentioned earlier in the article, Resident Evil 4 was designed the way it was because Mikami wanted to reinvigorate the series. Technology and the market had changed considerably since the last mainline entry. There was a lot of potential for success, and even more potential for failure. But the game nailed everything. It had cheesy Hollywood action moments, but it also had soul. The gameplay was a fresh change, and the Plagas enemies were unique, utterly disgusting, and designed in such a way as to make every encounter unpredictable. The upgrade system allowed for a degree of flexibility. Yeah, there were QTEs, but the amount was tame compared to a different game on this list. Resident Evil 4 also had some of the best music in the franchise, from the calm tones of Serenity to the “oh my god go away go away” feeling with the Regenerator theme. You don’t need rose-tinted glasses to know the game stood the test of time.
RESIDENT EVIL
Relevance to the franchise: 10/10
We wouldn’t be here without the original.
Resident Evil was inspired by the game Sweet Home, the haunted mansion genre of films like The Shining, the horror videogame grandpa Alone in the Dark, and a few other western inspirations. Various sources have released information regarding the game’s development. The original idea for Resident Evil would’ve included co-op, a first-person perspective, and a more comedic tone. Capcom thought the game wasn’t going to be much of a success. Then it ended up selling millions and spawning a wave of sequels, spin-offs, and other media.
While it is hard to say if Resident Evil pioneered these tropes, it popularized them. Limited ammo. Pre-rendered backgrounds. The story expanded through notes. Survival mixed with puzzle solving and exploration. Circumventing player expectations. With impressive graphics and gameplay at the time, the ideas introduced in Resident Evil would become synonymous with the series and inspire countless other games. Silent Hill. Parasite Eve. Dino Crisis. Obscure. Even the Alone in the Dark franchise would end up taking a few lessons from Resident Evil with Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare. Even modern horror games are taking lessons from it. Without a lot of your favorite horror games wouldn’t exist, which is why it takes the top spot.