It’s the spooky season, and what better way to get into the spirit than go over the most famous horror series of all time? Resident Evil kicked off in 1995 and became an instant hit, weaving all the hallmarks of a George A. Romero zombie movie into a PS1 disc. Since then, Capcom have churned out new games almost every year, with no signs of slowing down; we’re just four months away from Resident Evil 9: Requiem!
So ahead of RE9‘s launch, and for Halloween, here’s the burning question: how do the Resident Evil games rank? Which ones stand tall like a Tyrant, and which ones sit in the gutter like a Drain Deimos? For some clarification: this list isn’t completely exhaustive, as I’ve chosen to omit Resistance and Re:Verse – they’re essentially multiplayer modes bundled in with some of the other games on this list, and Re:Verse already shut down anyway. It’s not counting every port as separate either, or we’d be here all night.
1.) Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake)
There was very little doubt about what happens when Capcom’s excellent remake team collide with one of the greatest games of its generation. Needless to say, they nailed almost everything that made RE4 an instant classic, while updating just about everything that didn’t quite hold up. The grimy locale of rural Spain is given a loving facelift, and the enemies are more gruesome than ever. It’s also way harder – Leon’s martial arts aren’t nearly as broken as they were in the original.
The more tedious interludes of the game are cut down to assist pacing, and the dialogue is more in line with the other remakes. The best change of all is Ashley, who’s far more of her own character rather than just a damsel in distress. Removing the ridiculous amount of QTEs would have to rank as the second best change, of course.
A key part of remaking a game is knowing what to keep intact, and Capcom definitely knew what was up. The Del Lago encounter, the village attack capped off with the legendary “bingo” quip, and of course, the mysterious and reliable merchant who’s always around to ask “What’re ya buyin’?” are all there. Above all else, it’s an excellent survival horror experience, as a remake and in general. If you play one Resident Evil game, make it this one.
2.) Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Yes, the 1998 original Resident Evil 2 is ranked above the remake. Hey, hear me out! The Resi 2 remake is fantastic, and you’ll see it pop up soon. But, having played both for the first time recently with zero nostalgic attachment… I must admit I found myself slightly preferring the original. For a PS1 game, it’s about as good as one can look – compared to its predecessor, the backgrounds and models are much improved.
Zombies appear in large numbers and are more aggressive, but the game is tightly designed so there’s always a way around – or through. Resources may be scarce, but are drip-fed to the player with an expert level of difficulty scaling that has you always against the ropes, but never outmatched. The iconography of the game is inspired, and of course we wouldn’t have such a brilliant remake if the original wasn’t so fantastic.
But beyond that, there are things here that even the remake couldn’t replicate. The intertwining scenarios of Leon and Claire are done way better here, with consequences for the other character depending on the choices you make with your first. Perhaps my favourite part of the original that’s not in the (base) remake is the soundtrack – it feels straight out of a 90s horror flick in the best way. It’s so good that Capcom put it in as DLC for the remake!
As a sidenote, the elephant in the room should be addressed – the tank controls are scarier than the zombies. But honestly, all it takes it a little patience and knowing to steer while you run instead of stopping to turn every time – give it a try! The original game is available on PS4/5, and on PC via GOG.
3.) Resident Evil (2002 Remake)
One thing is for sure; Resident Evil 1‘s remake gets ranked above the original, no question. While it may still seem archaic with its fixed camera angles, it adds so much to the atmosphere. Gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds make it one of the best-looking games on GameCube. Entire sections are added that have become iconic in their own right, such as Lisa Trevor. The voice acting, while not exactly Oscar-worthy, sheds the excessive cheese of the original.
Even veterans of the original who thought they knew everything will get hit by the pants-wetting Crimson Heads when they least expect it. Make no doubts, this is a tough game, but in terms of pure horror? I’d say there’s only one other Resi game that can match this one. Plus, if tank controls aren’t your thing, the HD Remaster on modern platforms gives you the option for normal analog controls; so no chickening out of this one!
4.) Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake)
Resi 2 has this fast-paced, arcadey charm to its shooting and puzzles that I didn’t think a modern remake could ever replicate. But despite the snazzy cinematics, modern third-person aiming and quieter ambience, it’s incredible how well RE2R recaptures that pacing. Zombies go from cannon fodder to formidable foes, and don’t get me started on lickers.
The various subweapons, including disposable knives and grenades, are the perfect counterbalance that swings the pacing back in the direction of the original. As it turns out, they’re also handy outs for when you inevitably get grabbed, if you can bring yourself to part with one.
It’s such a great game that I’ve already spent a paragraph just talking about the sublime combat! Of course, the most famous change is turning Mr. X from lame miniboss into a constantly roaming threat, Alien Isolation-style. His presence adds a much-needed boost of tension in what would otherwise be much less of a scary game than the original RE2. While I do think the original is the slightly better game, we are talking a 10/10 versus a 9/10. Both are awesome, and chances are you’d prefer the remake anyway – but to that I say, try both!
5.) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
When I mentioned that there’s one Resident Evil that matches RE1 Remake for pure horror, this is what I meant. Releasing in 2017 after a bit of a lull in the franchise, RE7 was a return to form. Not only that, but it was a bold reinvention. Switching to first-person for the first time in the mainline series changed everything. Now, the monsters were looking you in the eye. Scavenging for items required more attentiveness, and combat felt more desperate than ever.
All this would make for a great horror game, but Capcom didn’t stop there. Their then-new RE Engine allowed for incredible graphics, and they went all out to make the most disgusting game possible. Every room you walk into is a new nightmare of its own, lined in rot and mold. As for villains, Jack Baker is among the most iconic – and entertaining – villains in the series. While the final act of the game drags on a bit too long, everything before it is excellent. Not only that, but mostly detaching itself from the lore of the previous games makes it a perfect jumping-on point.
6.) Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Now, this certainly would not be ranked as the scariest Resident Evil game, but it’s certainly one of the most fun. In many ways, it feels like a modernised House of the Dead game with how much it feels like a shooting gallery, but that’s the joy of it. Silly as it is, there’s something really enjoyable about being able to roundhouse kick enemies into a crowd to cause a domino effect. Indeed, the entire game goes for a cheesy action movie vibe, and it’s often hysterical. Leon gets given a direct communication line with the villains just so they can exchange sassy retorts!

Resident Evil 4 (image credit: Capcom)
If you’re looking for proper scares, you’re going to be left a little disappointed here. That being said, the Regenerador enemies you encounter late in the game are easily among the creepiest monsters ever. Scariest of all, of course, is having to deal with Ashley’s constant cries for help. While aspects may seem outdated nowadays, this was the blueprint for modern survival horror and spawned countless imitators for good reason. Special mention goes to the bonus Mercenaries mode; the original, and still my favourite iteration of it. The remake trumps it, but this is still great fun if you can grab it for cheap.
7.) Resident Evil Village
As a follow-up to RE7, Village is a surprising hard turn into action-horror. As a game in the greater Resident Evil series…well, it veers a little too close to being a rehash of RE4. But don’t get it twisted – Village is still a great game in its own right. You’re in another rural village, albeit a much more snowy one this time around. You return to this central village a lot throughout, giving it almost a central hub feeling as you go from one area to the next, each culminating in an epic boss fight. It’s surprisingly formulaic, but the gameplay keeps it held together.
Where Village really invests is in delivering a heartfelt story, that continues and wraps up the story of Ethan Winters from RE7. It’s definitely the most character-driven a Resi story has felt, and it personally stuck the landing for me. For others, it may not – and ultimately, the other elements are slightly lesser retreads of other games. Even Mercenaries mode, returning after an absence, is a bit linear and basic. But it’s still a solid game, and as you’ll see, you can do much, MUCH worse. Besides, if there’s one thing Village has to itself, it’s the iconic villainess Lady Dimitrescu – perhaps worth the price of admission alone.
8.) Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
This game has a chaotic development history that I think is ultimately to its detriment, but it’s still good enough to make the top ten. Originally planned as a spinoff before getting elevated to mainline status, it serves as a sidequel to RE2. Covering what happened in Raccoon City during the outbreak in Resi 2, you step back into the shoes of Jill Valentine from RE1. It’s a white-knuckle ride, full of setpieces and never letting up during her desperate escape. Stealing the show is the titular Nemesis, a bioweapon that stalks Jill at various points, even following her between rooms.
I would certainly say this game is ranked as one of, if not the hardest Resident Evil game. Zombies appear in gigantic numbers, and the Nemesis fights are nerve-rackingly brutal… but the rewards are essential for the road ahead. Not everything it introduces works – there’s a quick-dodge, but it plays a random animation that might leave you getting hit anyway. Presentation-wise though, it goes above RE2 in places, especially with its quick-time decisions that can change the direction of the story. As with RE2, you can still get it on PS4/5 and PC via GOG.
9.) Resident Evil (1995)
Despite the remake, the original Resident Evil is still a very special game that holds up better than you’d think. Almost everything that makes the other fixed-camera games great can still be found here, even without the QOL improvements. The Spencer Mansion is one of the most iconic locations in gaming that it’s still fun to explore here. The bosses are introduced in memorable ways, the progression of your arsenal matching the intensifying threats.

Resident Evil (image credit: Capcom, GOG)
But how could I not mention the most well-remembered part of this game: the voice acting? It’s honestly the main thing the original has over the remake. While the remake has bland, stilted voice acting, the original RE1 is full of the most charmingly awful line-reads you’ve ever heard. Despite Capcom’s best efforts to erase them in the remake, lines such as “the master of unlocking” and “you were almost a Jill Sandwich!” have passed into legend, to the point they even pop up again in the modern games.
It’s a bit dated now, even compared to the other PS1 games, but it feels like a rite of passage to at least experience the founding father of survival horror.
10.) Resident Evil 3 (2020 Remake)
Arriving on the scene just a year after Resident Evil 2‘s remake, this one is a little controversial. One thing’s for sure; it could’ve definitely ranked higher among the Resident Evil games if it had more development time. Almost everything that makes Resident Evil 2 a great remake still shows up here – the shooting, graphics, and scares. However, sadly, very little of what made Resident Evil 3 a great game makes it into the remake. It feels almost like an expansion for RE2R in this regard, as opposed to a proper remake.
Nemesis still stalks Jill, but his appearances are fewer and more telegraphed. The quick-time choices are removed, as are any variances in the campaign. Entire locations and setpieces are removed entirely, and it all feels a bit too much like a cash-in. It’s not a bad game – if you liked Resi 2 Remake, this is more of the same (now with a proper dodge!). But fans of the original felt duped, and rightly so.
11.) Resident Evil 5
Following in the footsteps of Resident Evil 4 must’ve seemed scary for Capcom, who took 4 years to bring this out. The result is a game that puts emphasis entirely on co-op multiplayer. So uh… so much for the scares! The combat from Resident Evil 4 remains mostly untouched, but a lot of then-modern game conventions are awkwardly thrown in. Worst among them are a few boring turret sections – why did we let these become a thing again?
Your experience and ranking of Resident Evil 5 probably depends on whether you get to play with a friend or not. With a friend, it’s actually a pretty fun co-op campaign, if a bit light on the horror. Alone, you’re stuck with the AI. The terrible, terrible AI. Beyond that, you get a very silly story that, unlike RE4, takes itself totally seriously. Wesker is a pantomime villain, and there are some…racially insensitive aspects to the enemy designs and settings.
Quite how Capcom are going to approach an inevitable remake is a very intriguing question. If anything, though, they need to keep in Chris Redfield furiously punching a boulder out of his way.
12.) Resident Evil Revelations 2
This one’s a bit of a contentious one, but I personally think it’s one of the stronger games in the series. Following an episodic structure, it certainly has the vibe of a miniseries you’d catch while channel-hopping.
Part of what makes it appealing is focusing on two underrepresented characters as the protagonists; Claire Redfield from RE2, and Barry Burton from RE1. Each character is partnered with a brand new character, and you can either swap between them or have a second player control them. Unlike RE5, this avoids making the game too action-heavy by limiting the combat capabilities of the second character, making them more of a puzzle solver. It’s easily the best way the franchise has handled dual protagonists.
It’s got a few problems; level design can be a little bland and empty. The story is a little silly even for Resident Evil standards, though fun dialogue and performances prop it up. However, Claire Redfield is strikingly out-of-character, barely resembling who she was in RE2 and Code Veronica. New character Moira Burton is also a little on the loud, sweary side. Still, it ultimately comes together in a solid finale – even if it ends on a cliffhanger that’ll never be resolved.
13.) Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
The most requested remake of all Resident Evil games, and there’s no question as to why. Code Veronica (and its enhanced edition, CVX) introduced a lot of important story elements that are integral to RE5, while giving the spotlight to Claire and Chris Redfield. It’s a journey that takes players through a military base, and all the way to Antarctica. It has the makings of another great entry, but unfortunately there’s a couple of big issues.
Chief among these is newcomer Steve Burnside, with a cool name, and cool dual pistols. Unfortunately, his characterisation is not cool at all, being that of a whiny loser who can’t stop hitting on Claire. As for gameplay, the difficulty is through the roof, and there are certain design elements that are pure evil on Capcom’s part. Just google “Code Veronica Moth Corridor” for a mountain of disgruntled gamers. So, if Capcom were able to improve Ashley, hopefully they can work the same magic on Steve.
14.) Resident Evil Outbreak 1/2
Cheating a little by throwing them both together, but these curious games are rather impressive. Capcom tried to hop on online gaming ahead of the crowd, and one of their attempts was Resident Evil Outbreak. These games played like traditional fixed-camera Resis, but had you play through short mini-campaigns with other players. Think Left 4 Dead if it was a Resident Evil game instead!
You can pick one of many survivors with their own inventories and abilities, and race to survive. If your infection rate gets too high, from damage or time, you become a zombie and get to chase down the remaining survivors. Pretty awesome concept!
Unfortunately, this was on the PS2, which did not have built-in internet. So you’d need to get an adapter and configure it all just to play as intended. Unless, that is, you live in Europe – in which case, no online for you at all! There’s also the matter of intense loading times after every door that hamper the experience, especially while the clock ticks.
With co-op campaign games being a big deal right now, Capcom would do well to remake these – especially as Outbreak survivor Alyssa Ashcroft is a pivotal character in the upcoming Resident Evil 9: Requiem. As they are, they’re still fun novelties, which is more than can be said for other Resis…
15.) Resident Evil 0
The last of the fixed-camera Resident Evils, and sadly ranked the worst of them. RE0 is a beautiful game, but looks are skin-deep. What lies within is frustrating gameplay, reused locations and a story that didn’t need telling. Protagonists Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen have “zero” chemistry, and Rebecca’s mere presence calls her role in RE1 into question. You mean to say she took down an army of Hunters but then needed help to take down one?
Gameplay is the worst way any Resi has handled dual protagonists. You control one at a time, while the other awkwardly follows or stays put. They can still get attacked, and aren’t great at self-preservation. Furthermore, the ever-handy item box to store your items doesn’t exist in Resi 0, so you have to leave items strewn about on the ground. Rumour has it that this game is getting a remake, but I’d say it’s worth forgetting entirely. Still, if you have a strong affinity for the classic Resi formula, this is still a decent take on it.
16.) Resident Evil 6
A blockbuster budget and scope may have been the wrong route to take Resident Evil. RE6 envisions a huge story, with four different overlapping campaigns of new and old characters. Unfortunately, said story falls apart immediately, feeling like a sequel to a story that doesn’t actually exist. Combine this with forced conflicts, melodramatic dialogue and boring villains and you have a massive waste of time on your hands.
Where it almost makes up for it is the gameplay – melee combos, cover-shooting and dive-shooting make you into unstoppable zombie-shredding machines. It’s one of the most unique third-person shooters out there, just such a shame they stuck the Resident Evil name on it. Certain bosses are more focused on being sexy than scary, and it caused Capcom to stop and think about what they actually want to make in this franchise. The best thing about Resi 6 is that it led to Resi 7…but there’s not a whole lot else to love here. Unless you’ve been clamouring to fight a zombie T-Rex transformer.
17.) Resident Evil: Umbrella/Darkside Chronicles
Ranking these together feels like the way to go, as they’re essentially the same experience with two campaigns. Umbrella Chronicles remakes Resident Evil 0, 1 and 3 as lightgun shooters, while Darkside Chronicles covers 2, Code Veronica, and an original story prelude for 4. Both games are standard lightgun shooter affair – wait for enemies, and blast them to kingdom come before they reach you. Originally released on Wii, they also made their way to PS3 later on.
It was fun seeing these games with then-modern graphics at the time, but the remakes have superseded them. They also get crushingly hard without a second player to help you out. They’re the best of the lightgun Resi games, but there’s not much reason to dig the Wii Zapper out from under the TV nowadays.
18.) Resident Evil: Dead Aim
The last of the lightgun games on PS2, Dead Aim is a very strange Resi. Taking place on a boat (this will happen a lot), it sees original characters Bruce and Fong taking out zombies and getting to the bottom of a new T-Virus strain. Our protagonists are very clearly expys of Leon and Ada from RE2, from their femme-fatale romance story to their ethnicities. It’s hardly memorable, but the terrible acting gives it charm.
Gameplay is a weird one. You roam in third person, but it switches to first-person whenever you want to aim your lightgun. Uniquely, if you don’t have the Guncon to hand, you can plug in a mouse to aim instead! It’s a serviceable game, notably developed by third party studio Cavia (most famous for Nier). However, you can do better. It might just be the best Resident Evil game to be set on a boat, at least…
19.) Resident Evil Revelations
…because I really cannot give it to the original Resident Evil Revelations. Originally released for the 3DS, it was billed as a return to more traditional survival horror (coming off of Resi 5). The graphics were very impressive for the system, but the game itself was incredibly boring. It plays like RE5, just without the co-op…but you still have an AI partner in several sections. You’ll constantly be running back and forth through the same rooms in the ship, but because you get tons of ammo (and a buddy), you’ll be clearing out most enemies as you find them, so there’s no tension to the backtracking at all.
As for the story, it also has an episodic format despite releasing as a complete game. Due to developmental issues, the story was hastily rewritten during development. As a result of the cuts, the incident that the entire story revolves around goes from being the game’s intro, to being relegated to a couple of flashback missions and cutscenes. Without having much of a connection to this backstory, it stops the plot from having any real impact or intrigue. Dead Aim may not be refined or original, but at least it avoids the sin of being boring like Revelations.
20.) Resident Evil Degeneration
Here’s one that you probably won’t even know about! Degeneration is the only Resident Evil game based on any of the movies, which does at least mean it ranks highly in one category. The game itself was initially exclusive to Nokia phones on its “N-Gage 2.0” service, followed by an enhanced port to iOS. With such a background, I expected much worse, but the result was a kind of cute demake of Resident Evil 4! The control scheme, QTEs and a weird merchant all make the jump over.
It’s far from anything I’d recommend – playing a game on a pre-smartphone is torturous. But with all the limitations in mind, I’m genuinely impressed with how it still feels like playing RE4. It looks like hell, and the story is just a padded-out version of the airport sequence at the start of the movie – it’s over in under 2 hours. You’d never want to play this unless your curiosity is that strong, but I have genuine respect for this! Which is something I cannot extend to the games below.
21.) Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
I mentioned about how Outbreak felt like a Resident Evil-styled Left 4 Dead, but Capcom would go on to actually make one. Set during the Raccoon City outbreak in RE2 and 3, you play as the bad guys – Umbrella operatives sent in to clean up. While Revelations was Resident Evil at its most boring, ORC can barely even be called Resident Evil. It is, however, most certainly still boring.
Gunplay feels bland, and you’ll find yourself shooting as many enemy soldiers as you will zombies. Characters feel sluggish to move and control, and the encounter design is as uninspired as it gets. It straddles the line between “misguided attempt to do something different” and “shameless cash-in”. Though considering the six most interesting missions are locked behind DLC, maybe it really is the latter.
22.) Resident Evil Gaiden
That’s right, we’re back on another cruise ship! While a shockingly impressive port of RE1 was developed for Game Boy Color, it went unreleased. Instead, this hot mess washed up on there. Gaiden is a strange one – it’s a top down game that plays like a JRPG of sorts. When a zombie on the map sees you, it’ll pursue you. If it catches you – or if you shoot it from afar – combat begins. You have to time button presses as your aim moves along a line, sort of like how Undertale‘s combat works. As the fight goes on, enemies will creep closer until they start doing damage.
This is all unique and creative, but tons of unavoidable encounters will leave your heavily limited resources running dry. By the second half, the game gets so unfair that you’ll be wanting to jump overboard, and who could blame you? Gaiden is a bizarre and sadly quite poor start to Resident Evil‘s handheld exploits. All this, too, for a story that is 100% non-canon (and has one of the least satisfying endings ever).
23.) Resident Evil Survivor
One of the most infamous games in the series, and deservedly so. Survivor is a strange case where it was designed as a lightgun shooter, but political and social tensions at the time forced the compatibility to be dropped. What’s left is a very clunky FPS that has you aim with the D-pad and gives you infinite ammo. You walk around, see a zombie, aim and mash shoot. Repeat for about three hours and you’re basically done. It’s more lifeless than the undead you’re mowing down.
The only saving grace is the voice acting, which is on a whole new level of bad. It makes Resident Evil 1‘s voice acting feel like a Daytime Emmy nominee! Ark Thompson, the protagonist (and supposed friend of Leon Kennedy), talks like he’s only just learning what words are. The voice acting of the child characters plays off of him like nails against a chalkboard. I’d recommend it for that if the actual gameplay wasn’t so tedious. Fortunately, with clear room for improvement, the developers could only go up from here.
24.) Resident Evil Survivor 2: Code Veronica
Just kidding! It somehow got even worse. Resident Evil Survivor 2 is a conversion of Code Veronica (ranked 13th on this list) into an incredibly short lightgun shooter. You move through simple areas, mow down zombies, pick up items and get out. It’s only 4 levels long, but you only get three lives and no continues. All while your AI companion blocks your shots! Not that you’ll be landing them, as you’ll be distracted by how shockingly ugly the game looks:
On the plus side, at least Nemesis shows up in this one. Wait, no, sorry, not a positive – why would he be here? Nemesis is most famous for his only word being “S.T.A.R.S…”, referencing the S.T.A.R.S. members he’s programmed to hunt down and kill. So what’s his beef with Claire and Steve? He’ll pursue you if you spend more than a few minutes on a level as a means to kill you and get you off the arcade machine quicker. Of course, being a home console game, he just makes you want to play something else instead.
25.) Umbrella Corps
But if you do play something else, just don’t let it be this. Ditching the “Resident Evil” brand entirely as if it were ashamed, Umbrella Corps is ranked the lowest because it just has nothing in its favour. It’s another multiplayer shooter like Operation Raccoon City, but without any clear cut narrative. Everything here feels like pure, repetitive content, not feeling like a Resi game or any kind of good multiplayer shooter either. It’s without ambition or soul.
Sadly, Operation Raccoon City was delisted from Steam due to the deprecation of its DRM, while Umbrella Corps remains for sale. So if you’re desperate to wear a shirt saying “I played the worst Resident Evil and lived”, you can still grab it and join the three other players (actual peak playercount from the last 24 hours at the time of writing). Just have that refund on standby if you’re not able to make it 2 hours in, eh?
So, that’s (almost) every single Resident Evil game, ranked and assessed. If there’s anything I want you to takeaway from this, it’s to at least give the older games a fair chance for what they are. Oh, and avoid anything set on a ship. Any disagreements? Feel free to sound off in the comments!
 
																															


























