Resident Evil Games, Ranked

PlayStation 4, 2016
also on PC (2016)

It's the rare Resident Evil-related game not to actually have those words in its title (at least in the U.S.), and no wonder: It's terrible. Umbrella Corps is a team-based tactical zombie shooter (though there's also a single-player mode) developed by Capcom in an attempt to capitalize on the growing appetite for eSports-type titles. Critics thought the rather generic game offered little to fans of either Resident Evil or first-person shooters.

"Umbrella Corps is a poorly made spin-off and probably the worst game in the Resident Evil franchise. A bunch of interesting idea can't overcome all the technical flaws and the forgettable gameplay created by Capcom." —Eurogamer Italy

PlayStation, 2000

Easily the worst game to actually bear the "Resident Evil" imprint, Survivor was also the first RE game not to be part of the main series. Instead, it's a spinoff in an entirely different genre (arcade-style FPS) that was developed by an outside (non-Capcom) company, Tose Software. It was originally designed to be played with a light gun peripheral, but the North American version of the game didn't support it, leading to unimpressive gameplay coupled with a lack of story or any real connection to the Resident Evil universe (aside from a bunch of zombies). It was followed by a PS2 sequel (Resident Evil Survivor 2 — Code: Veronica) that didn't even receive an American release (and thus isn't included in this gallery), and another (Dino Stalker) that was loosely tied in to a different franchise (Dino Crisis) rather than Resident Evil. Yet another sequel, Dead Aim, did get an American release and was a bit better than this one.

"The scariest thing about this game is how awful it is." —GamePro

Xbox 360, 2012
also on PC (2012), PlayStation 3 (2012)

Taking place during the Raccoon City zombie outbreak (near the events of RE2 and RE3) but considered non-canonical, this fast-paced, action-oriented 2012 spinoff features a dozen playable characters drawn from both the U.S. Special Ops forces and Umbrella's security service. Those two forces are pitted against each other in a four-player co-op mode, but Raccoon City also includes single-player gameplay—not that that latter had many fans. But the game sold fairly well despite poor reviews and complaints that it was merely a generic third-person shooter disguised as a Resident Evil game.

"A limp and generic single-player is aided by a multiplayer offering with a few good ideas, but on the whole Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City doesn't feel like a game that will provide enough entertainment to justify you shelling out." —Xbox Achievements

PlayStation 2, 2005

An expansion to the episodic 2003 spinoff game Resident Evil Outbreak, File #2 could also be played on its own, as it offered five new scenarios featuring the first game's same eight characters, once again playable on your own or with an online companion. Despite widespread criticism of the first game's lack of voice chat for the online co-op, this follow-up also lacked such functionality, leaving critics frustrated. And the arrival of Resident Evil 4 shortly before this game set such a high bar that File #2's weaknesses became all the more glaring.

"Outbreak was an interesting experiment a year ago, but since we've now seen the Resident Evil series finally move on with its incredible fourth installment, dealing with the archaic gameplay conventions of File #2 today feels a little like taking a step backward." —GameSpot

PlayStation 4, 2020
also on PC (2020), Xbox One (2020)

Included as an extra with the recent Resident Evil 3 remake, Resistance is a 4v1 online multiplayer game set in Raccoon City in 1998. It's one of the few RE games developed outside of Capcom (in this case by new studio NeoBards Entertainment), but despite its appealing pricetag ($0), the game earned middling reviews, with reviewers finding the characters unbalanced and feeling the experience as a whole paled in comparison to RE3's single-player gameplay.

"I have the patience to play the game and hope for that potential to be realized, but the unbalanced kickoff and silly decisions like attaching hosting duty to masterminds is not something I expect many people to weather for long. Resident Evil Resistance could be so much more with what it has on the surface, but what's under the hood needs some thoughtful tweaking if Resistance is indeed a cause worth fighting for." —Shacknews

Nintendo 3DS, 2011

Resident Evil's first 3DS exclusive is a third-person shooter (with some FPS gameplay) that compiles the "Mercenaries" minigames previously included in Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. The 3DS game includes eight playable characters (though not fan favorite Leon S. Kennedy) and online co-op multiplayer and adds a few new modes to the preexisting missions. Critics found the game far too short for its price and noted that it offered almost nothing new to gamers who already owned RE4 and RE5.

"This latest Resident Evil game only gives you five missions to play over and over. The controls are far from perfect and so this game isn't worth full price. The 3D-images do look great however, and the co-op mode will entertain you for hours to come." —XGN

PlayStation 2, 2002

One of several follow-ups to the abysmal 2000 release Resident Evil Survivor, Dead Aim is another light-gun FPS—but one that (unlike Survivor) actually allowed American gamers to use a light gun peripheral. The zombie-shooting gameplay was improved a bit, but critics still complained about a lack of story and content.

"At its core, this is the most entertaining Resident Evil game we've ever played, and easily the best use of a light gun ever. With a bigger and more focused game attached to it, this could have been a must buy classic, but instead has all the hallmarks of a classic weekend rental." —Eurogamer

Xbox 360, 2012
also on PlayStation 3 (2012), PC (2013), PlayStation 4 (2016), Xbox One (2016), Switch (2019)

The simultaneous PS3 release did score slightly higher (with far fewer reviews), but still: 2012's Resident Evil 6 was the first game in the main series that failed to receive a positive reception from game critics. Retaining the action-driven approach and co-op multiplayer option of its predecessor, Resident Evil 6 features four different storylines—each with a choice between two different playable characters—as well as a new arcade-style, horde-fighting "Mercenaries" mode. But that may have been too much: Reviewers complained about bloat and inconsistency, and felt that RE6 was more generic shooter than distinctive survival horror game.

The somewhat muted critical reception didn't prevent the game from selling over 10 million copies across all platforms, making it one of the top sellers in the franchise.

"Everything in Resident Evil 6 is bigger, louder, and prettier than its predecessors, but that does not necessarily make it a better game. While it finally embraces the adrenaline-fueled action the series has slowly moved toward for so long, the rest is a schizophrenic mess." —GamesBeat

Nintendo DS, 2006

A partial remake of the very first Resident Evil game released in honor of its 10th anniversary, this DS exclusive is different from the 2002 remake released for the GameCube. In addition to containing the original game adapted for the DS's touchscreen controls and twin screens (plus some gameplay elements borrowed from RE3 and RE4), Deadly Silence adds a "Rebirth" mode with new puzzles plus local multiplayer capability. That might sound great, but reviews were middling, as critics felt the original game was starting to show its age and no longer offered much in the way of scares or originality.

"The Rebirth mode is a welcome addition, and it offers a harder quest, more enemies and new puzzles, but touch screen support is minimal, and the knifing battles feel more like hastily created mini-games rather than well-integrated portions of the quest." —Worth Playing

PlayStation 2, 2003

The first Resident Evil game to feature online multiplayer (in some parts of the world, at least), Outbreak is a survival horror spinoff from the main series featuring a selection of five short, episodic stories revolving around eight new characters in Raccoon City (sometime near the events of RE2 and RE3). Critics found the co-op gameplay a bit rough given the glaring lack of any real ability to communicate with your partner, while single-player gameplay lacked the depth of story that the main Resident Evil games offered.

"While Outbreak's gameplay is innovative - online, team co-op play and the ability to turn into a zombie - there is absolutely nothing that stands out here at all thanks to one big fat missed opportunity: Communication." —Cheat Code Central

PlayStation 4, 2015
also on PC (2015), PlayStation 3 (2015), PlayStation Vita (2015), Xbox One (2015), Xbox 360 (2015), Switch (2017)

A sequel to the 2012 game Resident Evil: Revelations (originally released for the 3DS and then ported to consoles), Revelations 2 similarly fills in some story gaps in between two of the main series games—in this case, RE5 and RE6, with playable characters including Claire Redfield and (for the first time) Barry Burton. Also returning the previous game's "Raid" mode, Revelations 2 was originally released episodically in four parts, though the score you see above is for the complete package. (Individual episode scores were all roughly in the same range.) Critics generally liked the co-op modes more than the single-player gameplay.

"If you like your survival horror experience to have more combat and co-op play, Revelations 2 is a great pick. Played solo, it's not nearly as fun, but regardless it offers a good story, interesting characters, and a good amount of content for the price." —Digital Chumps

Wii, 2009
HD remaster on PlayStation 3 (2012)

A sequel to 2007's The Umbrella Chronicles, Darkside is similarly a Wii-exclusive, on-rails shooter. (Both games were later remastered in HD and released on the PS3.) Here, the action mostly takes place during the events of RE2 and Code: Veronica. Critics liked it exactly as much as the previous game: both were solid arcade-style shooters but nothing more than that.

"It's got a lot of style and the substance shows up eventually but it's well short of classic status." —Official Nintendo Magazine UK

Wii, 2007
HD remaster on PlayStation 3 (2012)

The first Resident Evil title to debut exclusively on Nintendo's Wii console (following five months after a Wii port of RE4 first brought the franchise to the new console), Umbrella Chronicles was the first rail shooter to bear the Resident Evil name. The action is set during the events of previous main series RE games, and critics generally approved of the results even if it didn't bring anything new to the genre. The game sold well enough to merit a sequel (The Darkside Chronicles) two years later.

"This game could have been much better with a more rounded out story and a little polish, but what we get here is a good amount of raw fun and plenty of survival-horror nostalgia." —AtomicGamer

PlayStation 4, 2020
also on PC (2020), Xbox One (2020)

Following a year after a wildly successful remake of Resident Evil 2, this 2020 release offers a modern take on the 1999 PlayStation game Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (while ditching the subtitle in the process). This time, however, review scores—while still generally positive—came in lower than for the original, and the remake was hampered by a major issue that also plagued the first version of RE3: It was too short. However, the remake was slimmed down even further, with some elements shifted to a separate release, Resident Evil: Resistance.

"Overall, Resident Evil 3's gameplay is solid, fun and thrilling, it's definitely worth playing at some point, but tragically it's all too short lived." —Digital Spy

Nintendo 3DS, 2012
HD remaster on PC (2013), PlayStation 3 (2013), Wii U (2013), Xbox 360 (2013), PlayStation 4 (2017), Xbox One (2017), Switch (2017)

This one-time 3DS exclusive is not part of the main Resident Evil series but nevertheless returns series regulars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield for a new survival horror story that fills in the gaps between the events of RE4 and RE5. The game is in some ways a return to the franchise's roots by emphasizing exploration and puzzle-solving over combat—though there's certainly plenty of the latter, especially in the new "Raid" mode—and critics responded with favorable reviews for the 3DS release. Reviewers were less impressed by the subsequent high-def remaster for various consoles, where the expectations (and competition) were greater and the game didn't quite live up to its AAA price tag.

"Despite some issues, Resident Evil: Revelations is a damn fine demonstration of what the 3DS is capable of, and can be acknowledged as the best action game currently available on the handheld. However, where it falters slightly is as an ambassador for a return to former glories for the Resident Evil franchise." —Gameplanet

Xbox 360, 2009
also on PC (2009), PlayStation 3 (2009), PlayStation 4 (2016), Xbox One (2016), Switch (2019)

Of course there was going to be a sequel to the all-time classic Resident Evil 4, and of course it wasn't going to be quite as good. Still, reviewers had mostly positive things to say about this sequel that followed four years later (the lengthiest gap yet between main installments) and served as the franchise's first—and ultimately best—entry on seventh-generation consoles Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Set (controversially) in Africa, Resident Evil 5 cemented the franchise's shift away from puzzle-solving and into shooting and action while introducing a series first: co-op two-player gameplay, with one player controlling returning original game protagonist Chris Redfield and the other a new character, Sheva Alomar. Though some fans didn't like the new action-heavy approach, the game became the best-selling Resident Evil release of all time—a title it still holds today.

The original console releases of RE5 received two expansions: Lost in Nightmares and Desperate Escape. Both were included with subsequent "Gold Edition" releases of the main game for consoles and PC.

"It's not going to revolutionize videogames and is definitely not a huge step forward in the series, but it contains some of the coolest set pieces and most incredible boss fights I have ever seen in my entire life. And that makes me very happy." —Destructoid

GameCube, 2002
also on Wii (2009)
HD remaster on PC (2016), PlayStation 4 (2016), Xbox One (2016), Switch (2019)

The first numbered Resident Evil release since RE3, this 2002 GameCube exclusive is—as that zero implies—a prequel to the original game, set in the mountains. In a first for the series, Zero allows players to switch back and forth between its two playable characters, STARS officer Rebecca Chambers and ex-Marine and convicted killer Billy Coen. Critics admired the then-cutting-edge graphics and the character-switching mechanic, but found the game less groundbreaking than its predecessors. A later HD remaster received lower marks from reviewers, who found the gameplay frustratingly tedious by current-day standards.

"There is just enough of a story for Resident Evil fans to play the game and find out new information, but there certainly could have been much more in terms of the story." —Nintendophiles

PlayStation 2, 2001
also on GameCube (2003)
HD remaster on Xbox 360 (2011), PlayStation 3 (2011), PlayStation 4 (2017)

We're counting this as a separate game, though you could easily make the opposing argument. A small user base meant that the Dreamcast exclusive Resident Evil — Code: Veronica (the fourth Resident Evil game, released in 2000) would never be a commercial hit. So Capcom expanded that title with additional content (mainly just 10 minutes of cinematics, plus some other tweaks) and released it under the name Resident Evil — Code: Veronica X the following year on the PS2 (and later the GameCube). The "X" version of the game actually received slightly worse reviews on those platforms, where it faced tougher competition, and even lower scores a decade later for an HD remake where the visual upgrades were unimpressive and the game's controls felt clunky and outdated to reviewers.

"It is another fantastic foray into survival horror by Capcom, who have successfully taken the genre started by 'Alone in the Dark' and turned it into four of the most thrilling and fun-filled gaming experiences around." —GameSpy

PlayStation 5 (2021)
also on PC (2021), PlayStation 4 (2021), Xbox Series X/S (2021), Xbox One (2021)

Featuring a blood-drinking, castle-dwelling, giantess villain named Lady Dimitrescu (who already has her own vibrant subreddit, which would definitely be NSFW if we didn't all work from home these days), the newest game in the main Resident Evil series is a direct sequel to 2017's Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, returning that game's protagonist Ethan Winters and pairing him (under duress) with franchise regular Chris Redfield and shipping the both of them off to Transylvania. The first-person gameplay is similar to that of RE7, and reviews are generally similar as well: mostly positive, with some complaints about the ending and the way the survival horror and action components fit together.

A new online multiplayer component called Resident Evil RE:Verse was originally supposed to be included with Village, but it has been delayed and will now release later in 2021.

"The latest main entry to the series is a great game that offers more situations than your average Resident Evil, and successfully manages to create a memorable adventure, but also feels irregular and fails to reach the greatness of the best titles in the franchise." —Vandal

PlayStation 4, 2017
also on PC (2017), Xbox One (2017), Switch (Japan only: 2018)

Shaking up the usual Resident Evil formula by switching to a first-person perspective, the first main RE game to debut on eighth-generation hardware also marked a return to the franchise's exploration-and-puzzle-solving survival horror roots after installments 4, 5, and 6 saw the series taking an increasingly action-oriented approach (which in turn led to decreasing review scores). RE7 introduces a new character, civilian Ethan Winters, who spends the game searching a derelict Louisiana mansion for his missing wife while fending off mutated creatures called the Molded. Some critics bemoaned the fact that the final segment of the game slips back into shooter territory, but most were enthusiastic about the game's new (old?) direction.

Also playable in VR (a franchise first) on the PS4, Biohazard was followed by four separate DLC packages: Banned Footage Vol. 1, Banned Footage Vol. 2, End of Zoe, and the free Not a Hero.

"This is easily the best Resident Evil game in years. It masterfully blends Eastern and Western horror sensibilities into a truly terrifying package that also harkens back to the series' roots." —EGM

PlayStation, 1998
also on PC (1998), Nintendo 64 (1999), Dreamcast (1999), GameCube (2003)

The first sequel to the original Resident Evil game followed two years later on the same platform (PlayStation), and was later ported to additional platforms and famously remade (into an even better game) two decades later. RE2 featured two new playable characters (Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield)—each with their own storylines—but retained its predecessor's divisive tank controls. The sequel was a critical and commercial success despite a troubled development process that saw Capcom abandon its first version of the game (after it was over halfway completed) and start over from scratch.

"In every conceivable category, this game outclasses and outshines its predecessor by a wide margin. Gotta love it." —Absolute Playstation

PlayStation 4, 2019
also on PC (2019), Xbox One (2019)

Resident Evil 2 was first released for PlayStation in 1998, when it scored extremely positive reviews. But this remake took the game to the next level, impressing critics so deeply that it became Metacritic's highest-scoring game of 2019. This new RE2 is no mere graphical upgrade but significantly reimagines and modernizes nearly every aspect of the game. One major change: The camera is no longer in a fixed position—and the moving viewpoint makes playing through RE2 an entirely different experience even if you are very familiar with the original game. In addition, each of the playable characters now has a distinct campaign, which allows for a second playthrough. Heck, even the voice acting was tolerable. The remake easily outsold the original game.

"This isn't just an old Resident Evil molded into the new Resident Evil formula. It's a new take on Resident Evil 2 that doesn't feel like it's trying to 'modernize' or 'fix' the original. It's more of an expensive, ludicrously polished tribute than a remake in the semantic sense, a project that has been in demand for years and quietly pursued for just as long. I'm glad it worked out so well." —PlayStation LifeStyle

PlayStation, 1996
also on PC (1997), Saturn (1997)

Resident Evil isn't the first "survival horror" game—antecedents include Alone in the Dark and Sweet Home, and even the Atari 2600 had at least one game that theoretically falls under the label—but it was in the marketing campaign for Capcom's 1996 release that the phrase was first used to describe a videogame, launching a genre that has become a staple of the gaming world in the decades since. This first Resident Evil game (called Biohazard upon its original Japanese release but forced to change its name elsewhere due to a pre-existing game by that title) actually was conceived as a remake of Sweet Home, Capcom's 1989 haunted house game for the NES from the same director, Tokuro Fujiwara. But it turned into something new as it established franchise staples like the midwestern setting of Raccoon City, the virus-developing antagonist Umbrella Corporation, the playable heroes Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, a blend of puzzle-solving, exploration, and action, genuine scares, and (of course) zombies.

Buoyed by strong reviews despite a quirky tank-style control scheme and some dubious dialogue, 1996's Resident Evil quickly became the best-selling game of all time on the original PlayStation console, though it was later surpassed by other games, including its own sequel.

"This is exactly the kind of revolutionary title that we applaud. Sure, others like it will come along, some will even surpass it, but hats off to Resident Evil for getting there first." —Game Revolution

PlayStation, 1999
also on Dreamcast (2000), PC (2001), GameCube (2003)

The third game in the series and the first to include a subtitle, this final release for the original PlayStation console returns one of the first game's protagonists, Jill Valentine, and pits her against the new character of Nemesis, a giant villain who would return in future installments. Taking place in between the events of the first two games, Nemesis emphasizes action a bit more than its two predecessors while shifting from indoor exploration to a mostly outdoor, urban environment. Critics liked the results, though there were some complaints about the game's shorter length.

"This is damn fine gaming, and a near brilliant third chapter in the series." —IGN

GameCube (2002)
also on Wii (2009)
HD remaster on PC (2015), PlayStation 4 (2015), PlayStation 3 (2015), Xbox One (2015), Xbox 360 (2015), Switch (2019)

Released originally for the first PlayStation console in 1996, the very first Resident Evil title was remade six years later as a Nintendo exclusive for the then-new GameCube console. In addition to a graphical refresh, the remake also added new elements like defensive weapons, more story details, and additional areas to explore. Reviews were even better than for the first version of the game, but sales for the GameCube version didn't meet expectations and the franchise would then begin to shift away from its survival horror roots and into action game territory. The Resident Evil remake was itself remastered years later for newer consoles, where the game fared better commercially if not critically.

"With better effects (the lighting and environments are better than some movies-like, say, the Resident Evil movie) and slicker motion-capture animation, the new, improved Resident Evil regains the throne as horror-action video game king." —Maxim Online

Playstation 5, 2023
also on Xbox Series X/S (2023), PC (2023), Playstation 4 (2023)

Capcom's recent initiative to remake the Resident Evil series for modern hardware continued in 2023 with a redo of (spoiler alert) the best game in the franchise to date: 2005's Resident Evil 4. While the remake scored lower, it wasn't by much: Critics still think it's a fantastic survival horror game. The 2023 version lacks the industry-changing significance of the original title but reviewers seem to appreciate the gameplay tweaks and fresh visuals.

"Resident Evil 4 more than lives up to the legacy of the original game that released almost two decades ago. Combat is dramatically improved thanks to smoother controls, more threatening enemy behavior, and most importantly, the new knife mechanics. Treasure hunting has been rebalanced to highlight difficult decisions regarding resource management. Optional side quests incentivize risk vs. reward, while certain boss fights have been dramatically improved. Capcom continues their winning streak with an absolute masterclass in survival horror."  —Easy Allies

Dreamcast, 2000

Released as a Dreamcast exclusive (while its three predecessors were PlayStation titles), Code: Veronica is generally considered the fourth game in the main Resident Evil series, taking place a few months after the events of Resident Evil 2. The unnumbered Code: Veronica unites protagonists from the first two games—the brother-sister duo of Chris and Claire Redfield—and places them in Antarctica in both a prison island and a research facility. The new console hardware allowed developers to switch to real-time 3D environments (rather than pre-rendered backdrops) and more detailed graphics throughout, and the result is one of the most critically acclaimed games ever released for Sega's console. But poor sales of the Dreamcast hardware itself impacted the commercial success of Capcom's game, and the publisher opted to bring an extended version of Veronica (titled Resident Evil — Code: Veronica X) to other platforms in subsequent years.

"Resident Evil: Code Veronica is the best game in the series, thanks to features like dynamic real-time camera angles, a wonderful linear story, and some of the best graphics seen on the Dreamcast. To call it a must-own game is a definite understatement." —GameSpot

GameCube (2005)
also on PlayStation 2 (2005), PC (2007), Wii (2007)
HD remaster on PlayStation 3 (2011), Xbox 360 (2011), PC (2014), PlayStation 4 (2016), Xbox One (2016), Switch (2019)

The best game to date in the Resident Evil franchise is also Metacritic's all-time highest-scoring survival horror game (and currently our 30th-ranked game of all time in any genre). Centering on special agent Leon S. Kennedy, who is sent to Europe to rescue the American president's daughter from a cult under the spell of a mind-controlling parasite, Resident Evil 4 stands as a turning point in the survival horror franchise by incorporating elements of the third-person shooter genre (and actually influencing that genre in turn by introducing a now-standard off-center, over-the-shoulder viewpoint)—a hybrid approach that would stay in the franchise for numerous games (including remakes of RE2 and RE3) and even cause competing franchises like Silent Hill and Alone in the Dark to embrace a more action-oriented approach.

But none of those later games would match the success of Resident Evil 4, which ultimately sold over 10 million copies worldwide and collected numerous game of the year awards on its way to becoming one of the most influential games of the century.

"There are no flaws in Resident Evil 4. It is the greatest horror game to date. I never thought that a game, or a movie for that matter, could deliver pulse-pounding action in such an awe-inspiring way." —Game Informer