It has come to my attention that as of March 5, 2019, a little game called Resident Evil 5 is a whopping ten years old. While this shouldn’t come as a shock that old game is old, considering how many entries have come and gone since, this one is special. There’s a certain energy to Resident Evil 5 that has made it a massive success over a long period of time. This is in contrast to its incredibly divisive reception among gamers and Resident Evil fans, many of whom are still going back and forth on what they think of it.
That legacy is part of what makes Resident Evil 5 special. Everyone has an opinion on it, for better or worse. There just aren’t many games like it, and part of that is how totally all-in on cooperative play it was in an era of booming online multiplayer. Split screen play was literally dying due to power demands. Yet Capcom built an entire game out of the concept, using its tentpole horror franchise to do it. This game doesn’t make any sense and is riddled with problems, but playing it with a friend is one of the best experiences you can have in gaming.
Resident Evil 5, in the ten years it has been available (in multiple SKUs and even a reappearance on modern platforms), has risen to be Capcom’s number two game in terms of sales, second only to the explosive Monster Hunter: World. What has supported this is things like Steam sales and the PS4 version being nice and cheap, but that only goes so far (look at Resident Evil 6 for example, which is number three but short by several million).
What has kept this game alive is its mechanically perfect co-op play. This game is designed specifically to be enjoyed by two people working together, to the point that single players have to do a few extra things to keep the partner AI in check. But the co-op gameplay loop works so well, it no longer matters what the “spirit” of Resident Evil 5 is once you get into it.
I used to be a Resident Evil purist, even being on the fence about the legendary Resident Evil 4 because it eschews horror about halfway through for some big action setpieces. Resident Evil 5 goes a step further and is pure video game-ass video game from the jump. It has satisfying two-player puzzles, cooperative melee combat moves, and real-time inventory management. It also has that crisp, third-person shooting play that was introduced in the previous game and only polished from there. Knee-capping a zombie, then punching it in the face as a team to set up a co-op move was one hundred percent lit, and that’s without all the boulder-punching nonsense from the story.
Resident Evil 5 is a game that is all over the place, from its weird impact on the series overall, to its tone and messy structure. But where it shines is in sharing the experience with a friend, which has led to a long stretch of quiet success. People love to share this game and have been more than willing to pick it up and give it a whirl over multiple years and platforms. While the Resident Evil series continues to change and evolve with each new release, it’s clear that Resident Evil 5 had a big impact, albeit an incredibly divisive one.
Every Resident Evil Game Ranked
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23. Umbrella Corps
Umbrella Who? Even if you're a Resident Evil fan, you might not have heard of this game. Upon its release, it received unfavorable reviews and currently holds a Metacritic score of 38.
Canonically, Umbrella Corps is a spin-off and takes place three years after the events of Resident Evil 6. Why did everyone dislike it so much? Well, the entire game is a tactical shooter, with the main focus being on competitive multiplayer. This isn't inherently bad, but many argued that it was unfinished, clunky, and had performance issues.
Plus, the fact that it focuses on tactical online multiplayer strays way too far from what the series is. Even if you get this for free, it's not recommended.
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22. Resident Evil: Dead Aim
In yet another attempt at the light-gun sub-genre, Resident Evil: Dead Aim missed the mark and was met with mixed reception. Experimenting with an IP is great, but as Resident Evil Survivor showed, it's best to stick to what made those original games so iconic.
This one does improve on Survivor and had some decent visuals for the time, but it hardly feels like Resident Evil. Maybe if the controls were improved and if it had a more memorable story, Resident Evil: Dead Aim would be higher on this list.
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21. Resident Evil Survivor
It's hard to directly compare this game to the rest of the mainline entries, since this one is so different. Although, with Resident Evil in the title, a certain level of quality is expected, which it most definitely did not deliver.
The main issue with this entry is that it's a light-gun game, but the North American release does not include said light-gun. That means playing through in a way that was not intended.
However, even the Japanese version that did include the light-gun didn't make it much better, as the game is slow and sluggish—the opposite of how a light-gun game is supposed to feel. Don't bother with this one unless you're a hardcore RE fan.
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20. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Operation Raccoon City is a mess. And considering it's not canonical and is presented as a hypothetical situation, it's not essential to play.
If you're into co-op cover-based shooters, you might have a fun time with this, but ranking it against some of the greats on this list makes this stick out like a sore thumb. This does take place during the events of RE2 and RE3, so if you're a fan of that time-frame and aesthetic, you might find something to love here.
It also doesn't help that there are glitches galore, numerous bugs, and technical issues, which are just too inexcusable to recommend Operation Raccoon City. If you're really desperate for more Resident Evil action and have played all the other console games, then sure, give this one a try. Otherwise, it's a hard pass.
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19. Resident Evil Gaiden
It seems that any time the series strays too far away from the foundation of the first game, fans tend to be disappointed. With Resident Evil Gaiden, that also seems to be the case, unfortunately.
This was a game made for the Gameboy Color, which, at the time was a huge deal. Given the success of the previous installments, who wouldn't want Resident Evil on the go? The problem is that this game isn't very good, which is a shame because a portable Resident Evil game could have been really neat. While much of it feels at home on the Gameboy Color, a huge complaint is in its save system, which has always been a slight point of contention.
Saving your game works similarly to the console games, which just doesn't translate well to a handheld system. At least the combat is interesting and while not a fan-favorite, it was a noble attempt at a portable Resident Evil game.
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18. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D almost didn't make this list, since it's essentially just the Mercenaries minigames from Resident Evil 4 and 5. But, since we're looking at all the worldwide releases, we decided to include it.
When looking at this game, it's not bad. In fact, it's quite fun at times. The issue is that it doesn't have enough content to justify the full-price of a 3DS game at the time. Having a second screen certainly makes things better, as you can use it to access items from your inventory, an implementation that works well on the system.
But overall, the package feels like an afterthought that lacks enough to warrant a purchase. It certainly has its merits, but this is definitely one of the weaker entries in the series.
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17. Resident Evil Outbreak
You can definitely tell the spin-offs and side stories from the mainline entries in the Resident Evil series, as they always tend to be met with less appreciation than the numbered entries. Resident Evil Outbreak was interesting, as it was the first game in the series to support online play, which was still in its infancy with the PlayStation 2.
The controls were taken straight out of the GameCube's Resident Evil Remake, which many fans adored. And while Outbreak was fun to play and featured multiple scenarios to experience, the exclusion of voice-chat was not well-received, as well as its long loading times.
Since Outbreak is marketed as an online game, the servers have been shut down for almost a decade, making the main selling point of it unplayable today.
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16. Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
With the standalone expansion to Resident Evil Outbreak, Outbreak File # 2 featured extra scenarios to play through, and slightly improved mechanics, adding to the foundation that was laid out by the first Outbreak.
Upon its release, fans couldn't help but compare it to Resident Evil 4, which had just launched that same year and was regarded by many as the best Resident Evil game. Even without comparing Outbreak to others, it's just mediocre.
It's not horrible, but it doesn't do much to advance the series. Like the previous entry, it does get some things right like with its visuals and controls. But ultimately, this one can be skipped.
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15. Resident Evil 6
Ahhh, Resident Evil 6. This is the first mainline entry that was met with negative reception from critics. Interestingly, the premise sounds great, featuring four different campaigns to play through, all with interweaving stories and events.
But, as the series made its departure from its survival-horror roots and was then officially classified as a third-person shooter with this entry, fans were quick to lose interest. And understandably so, as half of the campaigns were met with much criticism, resulting in almost universal apathy and even dislike for this game.
It does have some incredibly well-designed cinematic moments, and at least two of the campaigns are worth playing through, including Leon's and Ada's, but for the most part, Resident Evil 6 is sort of a disappointing game, at least compared to the others.
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14. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
One of the better side-games in the Resident Evil franchise is the on-rails shooter, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. It won't do much for you if you love the series for its survival elements, but if you're just looking for a good game with some horror sprinkled throughout, this one is a worthy choice.
The fact that it's on-rails means there isn't much you can do to avoid enemies, aside from some optional paths you can take. This forces you to face your foes head-on, which adds to the terror. It's also really neat that this includes events from the first RE, RE0, and RE3. A welcome feature is the inclusion of co-op, which is a fun and arcade-style addition.
Thankfully, this can be found on the Wii and PS3, so you have a couple of options for accessing it. Umbrella Chronicles is certainly no replacement for the core entries of the series, but it's a great way to introduce you to Resident Evil if you're new.
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13. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Probably the better out of the two light-gun games, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is the followup to 2007's The Umbrella Chronicles. Unlike the previous light-gun game, The Darkside Chronicles focuses on events leading up to Resident Evil 4, acting as a prequel.
This takes the gameplay and formula of the past entry, but refines it a tad, adding some minor adjustments like the ability to score headshots easier and the implementation of a status screen. Co-op has also been refined, making it easier to tell your reticle apart from your partner's.
Like the last entry, this one isn't going to satisfy you as much as the mainline entries, but it's a ton of fun and is made even better if you have a buddy to blast through it with.
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12. Resident Evil: Revelations
When Resident Evil: Revelations launched, it took fans by surprise because of how good it looked on 3DS. That's right, an exclusive (at the time) Resident Evil game on 3DS. And the game itself isn't half bad, either.
Revelations doesn't go as far down the survival-horror path as one would like, but it's an adequate entry that satiated its fans after several years' worth of shooters. There's a lot to love with this game, most notably its pacing, which definitely feels more like a cinematic experience.
It also does a good job of returning to the heart of the series, with several instances of having scarce amounts of ammo and resources found throughout. This is something that critics praised Revelations for, eventually leading to it being ported to home consoles.
It doesn't quite match the quality of the numbered entries, but if you've played all the good ones and need more Resident Evil in your life, this is one to check out.
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11. Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Around the height of episodic titles like the ones from Telltale or 2016's Hitman, Capcom tried their hand at releasing Resident Evil, episodically. Revelations 2 is good, but the staggered release was strange and it seemed like an odd experiment on the publisher's part.
As for the game itself, it has some of the best storytelling the series has seen, bouncing between four playable characters, not unlike Resident Evil 6. The superb plot and high production value comes across in a way that really stands out.
If you can get past the forgettable puzzles and the cringe-worthy writing, you'll likely have a good time with this. Revelations 2 isn't anywhere near the best RE game, but it's one of the best of the side-entries and is worth playing.
Oh, and it's also on PS Vita, which we're fans of here. #VitaLives
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10. Resident Evil 5
This game was huge when it released back in 2009. Sure, it leaned more into the action genre and away from true survival-horror, but the fact that it included a complete co-operative campaign was reason enough to jump in.
Playing through with a buddy is still fun and it will always stand out as the first Resident Evil game to feature co-op. It also has some wild aesthetics, with some creepy enemy designs, as the series should. For the time, the visuals were impressive, too, still looking great on modern systems.
Aside from the wonky controls and maybe leaning a tad too far in the action category, Resident Evil 5 is worth playing, especially if you have a friend to go through it with.
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9. Resident Evil
It's hard to not have a soft spot for the original. Sure, Resident Evil is super flawed and many of its gameplay mechanics don't hold up today, but there's something to be said about the way the game evokes terror, simply with its camera angles.
The idea of uncovering secrets in every nook and cranny and mastering the layout of that mansion is still one of the most interesting and unique horror experiences out there. It's a slow and deliberate experience that really wants you to take your time in order to survive and carries a lot of significance for the horror genre.
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8. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
At the time, Resident Evil - Code: Veronica was regarded as the best in the series. Everything fans praised Resident Evil 2 and 3 for was further exemplified with Code Veronica. Like many of the older entries on this list, it doesn't hold up as well today, but if you think back to the year 2000, this game was groundbreaking.
Capcom was really trying to push the series to feel more cinematic, which they accomplished with flying colors in this entry. It still suffers from the awkward controls and bad voice acting, but that doesn't ruin the experience.
The fact that Claire is presented as more of a badass is a welcome improvement and makes this more enjoyable, especially after comparing her to how she was in Resident Evil 2. This game is not one to miss if you can put yourself in the mindset of someone playing it back in the day.
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7. Resident Evil Zero
With the prequel to the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero did some neat things and was arguably ahead of its time. Being able to play through the game with an AI controlled partner—one that you could switch to—was an inventive and creative addition for Zero.
And the fact that each character has different abilities makes it easy to want to experiment with both and keeps things fresh. It's also really neat seeing the events prior to those of the first game, as it makes you appreciate the original so much more.
This entry does a fantastic job of setting the mood with its creepy atmosphere and impressive use of sound to add to the terror. Seriously, do yourself a favor and pick up Resident Evil Zero, because it's a must-play.
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6. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is a weird one. On one hand, it expands upon what made the original two entries great, but on the other, it went slightly too far into the action category, drifting away from the heart of the series.
While this notion is purely subjective, and many fans see no issue with the amount of action, it's worth noting that this game does include way more enemies to fight than past iterations, like Nemesis. Speaking of which, it's hard to ignore how cool the Nemesis villain is, as he towers over you and stalks your every move while you progress through the game.
Even more interesting is the fact that you can totally avoid some of the Nemesis encounters based on decisions you make during the story. However you feel about this entry, you can't deny the dozens of improvements that were made, making for a more streamlined Resident Evil game.
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5. Resident Evil 2
When looking at this game through the lens of someone playing it in 1998, it's super impressive, especially with its eerie atmosphere, top-notch graphics, and presentation that many critics compared to film at the time. Resident Evil 2 introduced us to Leon Kennedy, a fan favorite that would appear in later installments.
What really makes this one of the best entries in the series is the way it handles the four possible scenarios between the two playable characters. Some of the events that unfold can be seen from the other character's perspective, which for the time, was unprecedented for a horror game.
Looking at this in 2019, it is rough around the edges, but there's no denying the importance of this game. Luckily for us, the highly anticipated remake is on the horizon and we're looking forward to it.
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4. Resident Evil Remake
Let's face it, it's really hard to go back to the original Resident Evil. The controls are outdated, the visuals don't hold up, and the voice acting is laughable at times.
With Resident Evil Remake, it takes the foundation of the original game, but adds a fresh coat of paint and streamlines it for a modern generation. Purists may insist that the original is best way to play, and while the first Resident Evil is important, it's not necessary to play if you're wanting to get into the series.
Instead, you can start with Remake and you'll probably enjoy it way more. Nearly everything about Remake is improved upon, from the controls, the visuals, sound, among minor tweaks sprinkled throughout. Gone were the jagged edges of the character models and blurry textures.
At the time, this game set a precedent for future installments and made a splash among critics. Resident Evil Remake is the definitive version of the first game and should not be skipped.
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3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
You might think Resident Evil wouldn't work in first-person, but Capcom did an incredible job of translating the heart of the series to a totally different perspective with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. This game ups the creepiness and drops much of the campy feeling of past entries, but still feels exactly like a Resident Evil game.
At first, it feels like something entirely different, but as the story unfolds, the familiar formula and mechanics start to appear, while introducing some new surprises that make it feel fresh and revitalized.
While some of the more recent entries have felt like action games, Resident Evil 7 comes back to that true survival-horror genre many of us fell in love with. And as an added bonus, the entire game can be played in VR, as if you weren't scared enough with the base version.
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2. Resident Evil 4
What makes Resident Evil 4 iconic and memorable is the way it almost perfectly blends action with horror gameplay. In contrast to the original Resident Evil, the fourth installment takes place over several larger open areas, with smaller close-quarters segments in between.
This not only gives a wider variety of areas to traverse, but the smart placement of upgrade materials and currency encourages thorough exploration and the game rewards players for doing so. You'll need all the weapons you can get, too, because RE4 will throw a ton of enemies at you in all different forms.
It's also nice to see the series embrace its silliness. The first installment had its fair share of this, but Resident Evil 4 totally goes off the rails and many fans love it for that.
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1. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Putting Resident Evil 2 (2019) in the number one spot was not a tough choice. It does the original Resident Evil 2 justice while modernizing it for current platforms and adds many new surprises throughout.
Nearly everything has been improved from the visuals, to the controls, and even the shift to an over-the-shoulder perspective.
This game does what Resident Evil 4 got right with the blend of horror and action, but refines it even more in a way that doesn't feel unbalanced. The puzzles are smart and rewarding, the multiple campaigns intertwine throughout one another in clever ways, and the dynamic map is one of the most useful inclusions in a horror game in recent memory.
2019's Resident Evil 2 sets a precedent for what Resident Evil games should look, feel, and play like going forward. Let's cross our fingers for a Resident Evil 3: Nemesis remake on the same engine.
