On May 7, Capcom will launch Resident Evil Village, also known as Resident Evil 8, which functionally serves as the eighth “numbered” entry in the series, though it has dropped the number from its name. Apparently, Capcom may avoid numbering Resident Evil games in future as well, instead sticking to unique titles like Resident Evil Village, though fans will have to wait and see on that front.
If Capcom is really done numbering its Resident Evil games, that means that there have been a total of eight numbered entries released so far, including the prequel Resident Evil Zero. While there have been other main series games that avoided number conventions as well, like Resident Evil Code: Veronica, it’s interesting to take a look at the numbered entries and see how they stack up against one another.
Here are all of the numbered Resident Evil games, ranked. It must be stressed that, with the exception of Resident Evil 6, all the games in the series are varying degrees of good to exceptional, and so mileage may vary.
Arguably the only bad game on this list, Resident Evil 6 is widely considered by fans and critics to be the weakest entry in the franchise. Resident Evil 6 strayed further from the series’ survival-horror roots in favor of an even more action-oriented approach, and its multiple campaigns made everything feel bloated, messy, and repetitive. On paper, having three distinct campaigns should have given the game a lot of replay value, but in practice, it simply meant players were finding themselves going through the same areas repeatedly and redoing the same objectives/boss fights, just from the perspective of different characters.
Resident Evil 6‘s multiple campaigns led to some convoluted storytelling that makes it an even less appealing prospect. There were still some bright spots, though, like the portions of Leon’s campaign set on the college campus and the long-awaited return of the franchise’s classic zombies. Co-op support was also appreciated, and playing through Resident Evil 6 with a friend makes it a far more bearable experience to be sure.
Resident Evil Zero is, as its name implies, a prequel to the original game, focusing on what happened to Rebecca Chambers before she met with Chris Redfield in the Spencer Estate. Players get to see exactly what happened to the ill-fated Bravo Team and learn a lot more about the Umbrella Corporation’s origins in the process. An HD remaster of Resident Evil Zero is available that lets players experience the game without the tank controls from the original release, though it doesn’t solve some of its other issues.
Resident Evil Zero doesn’t rank higher on this list due to its somewhat clunky mechanic where players have to switch between playing as Rebecca and escaped criminal Billy. The game also drops the convenient item boxes used by other entries in favor of letting players drop all of their items on the ground instead. While this may make the game more realistic, it also makes it more inconvenient to play and results in far more backtracking in a series that already has plenty of it.
There are two versions of Resident Evil 3 out there, the original and the remake, but both suffer from being short and derivative of their immediate predecessor. Even so, the original Resident Evil 3 made some significant quality of life improvements to the franchise, allowing protagonist Jill Valentine to dodge attacks and perform a helpful 180 degree turn. The Resident Evil 3 remake is mostly faithful to the original game, except with some vastly improved visuals, an over-the-shoulder camera, and unfortunately, some cut content.
While both versions of Resident Evil 3 may fail to live up to the legacy of Resident Evil 2, they are still solid survival-horror games in their own right, and they feature one of the franchise’s most iconic villains. The relentless Nemesis monster is still terrifying to this day, especially the one featured in the original Resident Evil 3, who is a little more unpredictable than his Resident Evil 3 remake counterpart.
Some fans turn their nose up at Resident Evil 5, dismissing it as an action-oriented shooter that has little in common with other Resident Evil games. And while it’s true that Resident Evil 5 is more of an action game than a survival-horror game, it’s still some of the most fun that players can have with the series. The basic concept is taking the over-the-shoulder gameplay and general style of Resident Evil 4 and adding co-op, and the result is a game that is an absolute blast to play with a friend, though not so much when relying on the AI companion.
Resident Evil 5 is built for replayability, with players able to go through the game numerous times with friends to fully upgrade their arsenal and find the many collectible items. It also has a versus multiplayer component for those interested in that, plus some worthwhile DLC that expands on the story and characters. And speaking of story, Resident Evil 5 has some of the most forward-momentum for the franchise’s overarching story out of any games in the series, offering meaningful conclusions and resolving plotlines that began with the original game in 1996.
Capcom has been known to take risks with the Resident Evil franchise, and one of its biggest risks was the first-person Resident Evil 7. This change of viewpoint was a major departure from the series’ norms and left many fans skeptical, but after they actually got their hands on it, it became clear that Resident Evil 7 was a traditional Resident Evil game through and through.
Resident Evil 7 is a return to the franchise’s horror roots, with protagonist Ethan Winters having to survive against the sadistic, mutated Baker family. It is home to some of the franchise’s scariest moments, like Jack Baker chasing after Ethan in the house at the beginning of the game, or Marguerite Baker’s horrific transformation. Capcom’s looking to continue Resident Evil 7‘s legacy with the upcoming Resident Evil Village, though the bar has been set pretty high.
The original Resident Evil started it all, coining the term survival-horror, inspiring countless copycats, and establishing what has remained one of Capcom’s biggest franchise to this day. Numerous versions of the original Resident Evil have released over the years, and all of them have their own merits. There’s something to be said for the creepiness of the PS1 original, though the Resident Evil remake from 2002 is also a classic.
The Resident Evil remake may edge out the original game, as it provides a similar experience with some of the same puzzles, but it also features plenty of new content and vastly improved graphics. It ups the difficulty by forcing players to burn the corpses of zombies to keep them from transforming into the powerful Crimson Heads, and it also introduces the world to the tragic Lisa Trevor.
Resident Evil 2 refined the formula of the original game, allowing for an even more intense survival-horror experience with improved performance. It also introduced some of the franchise’s most popular characters, like Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy, while also allowing players to explore Raccoon City proper. The Resident Evil 2 remake is just as good as the original game, if not better, pivoting to an over-the-shoulder camera while retaining a classic survival-horror feel.
The Resident Evil 2 remake is arguably one of the best horror games to come out in the last 10 years, with perhaps its most memorable element being the towering Mr. X. Mr. X pursues Leon and Claire throughout Raccoon City, popping up at random and following them until he is either subdued or the characters manage to make their escape.
There’s a reason why news of a Resident Evil 4 remake has gotten many fans so excited. Resident Evil 4 is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the franchise, serving as a breath of fresh air and standing tall as the highest-rated game in the series to date. Resident Evil 4 innovated the over-the-shoulder camera gameplay that is still seen in the franchise today and was copied by numerous other third-person shooter games over the years, directly inspiring games like Gears of War in the process.
Resident Evil 4 is one of the most brilliantly-paced games ever made, constantly engaging players with new set-pieces, locations, and fresh horrors. The game has remarkable forward momentum, with no wasted space and is packed full of memorable moments. In fact, many consider the opening sequence in the village as one of the most intense sequences in all of video games, and few will forget hiding from the bloodthirsty villagers while a chainsaw revs in the distance.
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