The modern entertainment industry has witnessed the rise of the Resident Evil franchise as one of its most renowned and celebrated multimedia phenomena. With numerous video games released across multiple platforms, it can be daunting for newcomers to determine where to commence their journey. So here is every main mainline Resident Evil Games ranked.
In preparation for the highly anticipated Resident Evil 4 Remake, we have taken the liberty to rank each of the mainline story instalments, providing players with a fundamental comprehension of the Resident Evil universe.
1. Resident Evil 4 (2005) – 9/10
At first, the game was criticized for not implementing a shoot-and-run feature and yet, this game manages to be one of the most perfect experiences in the franchise and a Resident Evil Games Ranked article wouldn’t be complete without it.
Capcom didn’t just reinvent the franchise with this fourth entry but the entire first-person genre and the game’s over-the-shoulder and precision-based gunplay still feel incredible to this day as you battle formidable cult leleaders.
2. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – 8.5/10
After the regrettable experience that was Resident Evil 6, many players had given up on seeing the franchise return to its former glory until Resident Evil 7 launched in January 2017 and surpassed all expectations by reeling the franchise back to survival horror territory.
In Resident Evil 7 players control Ethan Winters as he searches for his long-lost wife in the midst of a derelict plantation that’s been occupied by the infected Baker Family, some of the most disgusting and terrifying characters we’ve seen in years.
This is also the first game in the mainline story to use a first-person view in VR. Unless you’re all too familiar with horror games, RE7 will be one of the most terrifying games you will find. After playing Resident Evil 7, we can confidently say that Capcom has revitalized the franchise.
3. Resident Evil (1996) – 8/10
This is the game that started it all – every live-action movie, animation, series etc, was adapted from Capcom’s first survival horror game that launched in 1996 for PlayStation before subsequently making its way to Sega Saturn and PC. The pinnacle of survival horror gaming was reached with the release of Resident Evil.
The franchise’s followers still reminisce about the first instance where a zombie dog broke through a window. This game featured remarkable voice acting, engaging puzzles, and amusing characters. Although zombies had been present in video games before Resident Evil, many gamers still regard it as the most terrifying experience to date.
4. Resident Evil 5 (2009) – 7.8/10
Resident Evil 5 introduced a lot of features but the most eye-catching was the duo player control system. It wasn’t a perfect feature but it was fun having it for the first time in the franchise. The plot involves an investigation of a terrorist threat by two Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance agents Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar in Kijuju, a fictional region of Africa
There’s a lot to admire in Resident Evil 5 but it also has its share of problems and on top of that, it was the game that proved that the franchise was starting to lose its sheer brilliance.
5. Resident Evil 8 (Village) – 7.7/10
Resident Evil 8 is the latest entry in the long-running survival horror franchise that’s set in a mysterious village somewhere in Europe. The game follows the story of Ethan Winters, who returns from the previous game to rescue his kidnapped daughter from the clutches of a cult led by the enigmatic Mother Miranda.
The game features a mix of horror, action, and exploration gameplay, as players navigate through a variety of environments and battle a range of monstrosities. One of the game’s standout features is its atmospheric and immersive setting filled with dark alleys, abandoned houses, and ancient castles. Resident Evil 8 is a must-play for fans of survival horror games.
6. Resident Evil 2 (1998) – 7.5/10
Resident Evil 2 was released in 1998 in an attempt to outclass the first game and it did just that by introducing two of the franchise’s most iconic characters, Leon S. Kennedy, an American federal agent and Claire Redfield, a local police officer.
This game picks up two months after the events of the first game and if you think the original Resident Evil game had standout moments, Resident Evil 2 doubled down on them hard. It’s no surprise the game sold over 5 million copies when it launched and the 2019 remake became a massive success as well by selling nearly 8 million copies.
7. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) – 7.5/10
There’s rarely anything we can say about this game that hasn’t been said before! Resident Evil 3 took everything that made the first two games incredible and expanded its scope when it launched for PlayStation in 1999. The game lets you play as Jill Valentine who must escape from a city that has been infected by a virus.
Resident Evil 3 offered more detailed characters and environments compared to previous games with music and overall sound design that drew deep into the hearts of every player and introduced one of the most fearsome and vicious creatures in the franchise’s history – Nemesis.
8. Resident Evil 6 (2012) – 6.5/10
When discussing the worst game in the Resident Evil franchise, pretty much all attention is directed to the sixth entry in the main series and for good reason. It became a glaring turn for Capcom’s horror franchise after focusing less on the horror aspect laid up by previous games and steered into action shooter territory.
Players take control of Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Jake Muller, and Ada Wong as they confront the force behind a worldwide bio-terrorist attack. Resident Evil 6 isn’t without its charms but it’s bogged down with too much content.