Summary
- Resident Evil 4 revolutionized the series with action-packed gameplay and smarter foes, becoming one of the most popular entries.
- Resident Evil 2 Remake combined third-person action with RE2's atmosphere, providing fans with new horrors to face.
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard refreshed the series with a first-person view, offering a quieter, slower experience packed with creepy terror.
Since the original Resident Evil's release in 1996, the series has become one of Capcom's premier titles. Mega Man, Street Fighter, Dead Rising, and the like have had their lulls, but the survival horror series has continued to shock and entertain its fanbase over its near-30-year run.
8 Forgotten Capcom Franchises
These classic franchises from Capcom have long since waned in terms of popularity.
The series' gameplay has evolved over the years, from the still cameras of the original series to the more action-based style of Resident Evil 4-6, to the first-person fear introduced in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. It tested players' nerves with its zombies, BOWs, mutants, and other monstrosities, and tested their brains with its puzzles. But some of their games have been better than others, with these being the best of the bunch.
Updated March 10, 2025 by David Heath: In its nearly 30-year history, Capcom has pumped out a ton of Resident Evil games, ranging from stone-cold classics to absolute zombie fodder. Though after covering the iconic likes of RE2, 4, REmake, and the remade sequels, it's hard to find new games in its oeuvre that match their caliber. Anyone fancy a go at Operation Raccoon City?
So, this time, this list has been updated with more quirky titles. Games that did something different to appeal to new crowds, and either succeeded or fell by the wayside. That way, they can get their due appreciation, even if they're not going to pull most RE fans away from a fresh RE2 Remake campaign or another go at RE Village.
20 Resident Evil Outbreak
Taking the Franchise Online
Resident Evil Outbreak
- Released
- March 31, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 1
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
- PS2
The RE1 Remake, or REmake, is generally considered to be the peak of the classic games, capturing the fear the original PS1 game had and building on it with new shocks, and better graphics and voice acting. So, using it as the basis for an online game wasn't the craziest idea. Resident Evil Outbreak let players pick one of eight characters each to play through scenarios set within Raccoon City between RE2 & 3. Their mission is to complete the scenario before their T-Virus infection goes terminal, or they'll turn into an enemy for their friends to mercy kill.
Critics didn't find much wrong with the controls, so why did it get a ho-hum response? Well, online players had to use voice clips as it didn't support voice chat, making communication a bit of a chore. Capcom had trouble setting up servers for US and Japanese players, so they skipped setting up one for European players. So, in Europe, players got a game made specifically for online play that couldn't go online. The PS2 already had an uphill climb in competing against Xbox Live, and snafus like this made it all the steeper.
19 Resident Evil 0
A Bold but Mixed Attempt to Revamp the Formula
Resident Evil 0
- Released
- November 12, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
Resident Evil 0 is low on this list, though some would argue it should be higher, or kept off of it completely. Many call it a nice callback to the classic static camera formula of the original games, with a unique gameplay style where the player can zap between STARS medic Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen, controlling one or the other at their leisure while the game's AI handles the other character. They could also drop items wherever they liked and pick them up later instead of using a storage box.
This sometimes worked against the game, as the AI wasn't all that sharp on the uptake, and the new item-dropping mechanic was less convenient than the old storage box. The story strains credulity, even by the series' standards, and it's one of the more difficult games in the series. Yet there are as many people who love its odd quirks as there are people who detest them. If players love the way the old school games played then, like RE0 or loathe it, this game will challenge them.
18 Resident Evil: Deadly Silence
Taking RE1 On the Go
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence
- Released
- February 7, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS
Before the Revelations games, Capcom had tried a few times to put their classic zombie survival series on handheld devices, to varying degrees of success. They did try porting RE1 wholesale to the Game Boy Color, complete with static camera and isometric layouts. But it got canceled in favor of Resident Evil Gaiden, a simpler top-down game that some people liked (Retro Gamer included it in their "Perfect 10" GBC games), while others mostly shrugged it off. Then the Nintendo DS came out and offered developers some new opportunities.
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With its beefier hardware and 3D capabilities, Capcom thought they'd commemorate the series' 10th anniversary by porting RE1 to the device as Resident Evil: Deadly Silence. Players can either go through the game in its Classic form, or its new Rebirth Mode. This extra campaign threw in new puzzles and features that made use of the DS' touchscreen, like knife slashing and CPR. That, and it had some gameplay features from the sequels, like quickturning and tactical reloads. Still, these were ultimately just extra gimmicks included to spice up the same old game.
17 Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Home Of The Deceased
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
- Released
- November 13, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Cavia
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
By the time Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles came out, Capcom had worked with multiple developers for about a decade to get RE to work as an on-rails shooter. Shooting zombies with lightguns helped make Sega a lot of cash via its House of the Dead franchise, so replicating that on consoles couldn't have been too hard. Though, as the Gun Survivor games showed, it wasn't as easy as it looked, as RE Survivor, Survivor 2, and Dead Aim didn't click with players.
But, thanks to the Wii and its fancy new motion controls, Capcom and Cavia (of Drakengard and Nier infamy) hit paydirt with RE: UC. It essentially condensed REs 0-3 into shoot 'em up sections, where they could blast foes with guns, or use the Nunchuk for the occasional melee strike. The better the ranking players get, the more content they unlock, including an original campaign with Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. While it wouldn't scratch a Wii owner's itch for survival horror, it did offer a way for them to have fun shooting zombies with their friends.
16 Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Meeting The G-Virus Over There
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
- Released
- November 17, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Cavia
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Wii
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
One of the bugbears people have with RE: UC was that it didn't give RE2 much coverage. It had two campaigns following Ada and Hunk during their time in Raccoon City. But where was Leon Kennedy? Turns out he was being saved for its sequel, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. On top of following everyone's favorite rookie cop during his time in RE2, it also lets players relive RE: Code Veronica through Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside.
Interestingly, it also offered two prequel campaigns to RE4 that filled in some gaps that the game offered. Namely, revealing who Jack Krauser was, how Leon knew him, and what happened to both of them following "Operation Javier." The game also added RE4-style gun upgrades that let players improve their firepower, capacity, reload speed, etc, alongside QTEs to evade enemy strikes, and a status screen for players to check their health, use green herbs, etc. Ultimately, it was more of what RE: UC offered, but faster and with more Leon content.
15 Resident Evil
RE1 Started the Series Decades Ago, and It Shows
Resident Evil
- Released
- March 22, 1996
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS, PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The original Resident Evil on the PS1 is a hard game to go back to as its beginnings are very humble. Director and creator Shinji Mikami felt it was outdated back in 2001, leading to its remake, and it's not any fresher in 2024. The controls are stiffer than in the sequels, it lacks many of the quality-of-life features later games would offer, and the story loses much of its impact thanks to the cheesy voice acting. On the other hand, it did add to the game's charm, making Barry Burton a fan favorite purely down to his line delivery ("I have THIS!").
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Even so, RE1 wasn't made to compete against its sequels or the subsequent decades' worth of survival horror games. It was made to offer a new experience over proto-survival horror games like Dr Hauzer or Capcom's own Sweet Home RPG series. It was a genuinely spine-tingling experience as the dogs, crows, Hunters and more were relentless in their assault, and players didn't always have enough herbs to save themselves, or ink ribbons to save the game. As such, it'll always be appreciated for being the starting point for 28+ years of undead terror.
14 Resident Evil CODE: Veronica
The Trickiest Entry in the Classic RE Games
Resident Evil CODE:Veronica
- Released
- March 28, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- Sega Dreamcast
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Resident Evil CODE: Veronica was one of the last of the classic formula games, where the Redfield siblings Claire and Chris investigate a viral outbreak in the Southern Ocean, going from Alfred Ashford's Rockfort Island prison to Umbrella's Antarctic facility, which reveals the truth behind Ashford, his sister Alexia, and the not-so-late ex-leader of STARS Albert Wesker.
When it was released, the game received widespread praise. Yet each re-release has seen its stock fall with each generation. Aside from age, it could be because of its difficulty, as it's generally considered to be the hardest of the classic games. Then it's also infamous for Alfred Ashford's Psycho-inspired plot twist, and Claire's less-than-helpful ally, Steve Burnside. Nonetheless, it's a popular game for classic RE fans and one they'd like to see get freshened up with a remake someday.
13 Resident Evil: Revelations
Handheld Survival Horror in 3D
Resident Evil: Revelations
- Released
- January 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Just before RE6 shook up the foundations, 3DS owners managed to get an RE game of their own in Resident Evil: Revelations. It was essentially RE4/5 gameplay in portable form, though given the 3DS only had one control stick and fewer buttons than a joypad, it had a few compromises. Instead of focusing on fast-paced action and combat, it went back to the series' roots by emphasizing survival, as Jill and co-investigate a cruise ship as they search for Chris Redfield and his partner Jessica Sherawat.
Players could still pull off RE4/5-style moves, like stunning foes to pull off melee moves and use a variety of firearms that switch them between third and first-person views. But they only had so much ammo and health pickups to work with, and they could only carry 3 firearms at once. It also introduced the Raid Mode, where players took on missions with specific loadouts for XP and points. Though it's since been improved on by its sequel, it was a solid title people got into.
12 Resident Evil 5
It Tried to Double the Fun But Introduced Co-Op Woes
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Resident Evil 5 was the biggest-selling game in the series until RE7 and RE2 Remake came along. Considering it was the immediate sequel to the almighty RE4, it had an eager audience waiting with bated breath to play it. The final result saw Chris Redfield join forces with Sheva Alomar to shut down a parasitic outbreak in West Africa and confront Albert Wesker one more time. It continued the action-packed gameplay style of RE4 but with new co-op functions.
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Chris and Sheva could solve puzzles together, trade ammo and items with each other, and heal each other. With another human, it worked out fine and made the main campaign, DLC, and Mercenaries mode a blast to play. However, single players had less fun as the AI wasn't as sharp on the uptake. It could make getting through the game as problematic as its portrayal of Africans (suggesting tribes are mentally regressed is an iffy point). It's still a fun time. It's just better with friends.
11 Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Capcom Nails Co-Op in Action Gameplay's Swansong
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
- Released
- February 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was released in 4 episodes before being bundled all together. Set between RE5 and RE6, Claire Redfield and Barry Burton work together to save Barry's daughter when they're abducted and stranded on an island in the Baltic Sea. It stuck to the action-based RE5-style gameplay while spicing things up with a few stealth sections, cooperative gameplay, and Raid Mode - a series of missions based on RE5, RE6, and Revelations 1 that players can complete with one of 15 playable characters.
It didn't get the greatest response at the time of its release, given its gameplay was showing its age at the time of its release. Yet it managed to pull off the co-op gameplay better than its big console brethren, with smarter AI, and the ability to switch between characters for puzzles and actions. It also offered more variety between the shooters, who got more of the action, and the melee-based ones, who were better suited to stealth. It's an underrated title that offers more than its cover suggests.