Resident Evil Games That Have Lost Replayability

If Resident Evil games were ranked for replayability based on their critical receptions, Resident Evil 6 and Umbrella Corps would likely vie for the bottom spot. However, replayability doesn’t always correlate with gameplay quality. Many Resident Evil installments can be engaging and satisfying on the first playthrough but offer little incentive for a second. Additionally, some games that were highly replayable in their time are now considered challenging to revisit simply because the standards for a replayable game have been changed.

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By  Rhenn Taguiam

The following are examples of Resident Evil games that are challenging to replay today, not because they are "bad games," but for various reasons such as outdated technology, overly short gameplay, or straying too far from the franchise’s core elements.

7 Resident Evil 5

Challenge: Accepting It as a Main Title

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Resident Evil 5

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Survival Horror

Third-Person Shooter

Action-Adventure

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Released

March 5, 2009

ESRB

m

Developer(s)

Capcom

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Platform(s)

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, Android, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Genre(s)

Survival Horror, Third-Person Shooter, Action-Adventure

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Having sold over 15 million copies, Resident Evil 5 is far from a failure in the franchise. However, its shift toward a third-person shooter focus caused it to lose relevance over time. The excessive emphasis on action, coupled with the downplaying of horror elements, leaves RE5 players questioning whether they're truly playing a canonical title in the series.

Beyond Chris’s infamous boulder-punching scene, the game is filled with dull and vague moments that detract from both the story and gameplay. Though it isn’t as flawed as Resident Evil 6, it also doesn’t reach the heights of Resident Evil 4. It remains a title stuck between a masterpiece and a disappointment—one that few players are eager to revisit. Resident Evil 5 is a good game, but it’s not a good Resident Evil game.

6 Resident Evil 3 Remake

Challenge: Finding a Reason to Replay

A more fitting title for the Resident Evil 3 remake would be "RE3 Recap with New-Gen Visuals." This is because the development team chose to cut significant content, offering a condensed version of the story that can be completed in just four to five hours. To make matters worse, the Resident Evil 3 remake has no New Game Plus mode to entice players into a second playthrough.

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By  Ewan Lewis

For a game that’s only been on the market for four years, the Resident Evil 3 remake has lost its appeal rather quickly. The game was undeniably a step forward in Capcom’s remake journey, as it successfully transformed the classic tank controls into a modern third-person shooter mechanic. However, once the player has had one satisfying playthrough, the Resident Evil 3 remake is easily shelved and rarely worth revisiting.

5 Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Challenge: Dealing with the Imposed Companion Mechanics

Revelations 2 managed to avoid harsh criticism by receiving mostly average reviews. Financially, it did reasonably well, selling just under six million copies. However, the companion mechanics that the game aimed to highlight are now seen as a drawback—often, the companion feels more like a hindrance than a helpful ally. As more modern games move away from this mechanic or offer players the option to control or remove their companions, replaying Revelations 2 with its mandatory companion system is far less enjoyable than it may have been at the time of its release.

Another challenge in replaying Revelations 2 is its lack of the distinctive Resident Evil essence. The game feels more like a mid-budget zombie title, with borrowed supernatural elements, such as one companion’s ability to sense nearby enemies. It comes across as too generic to entice players to revisit it on current-gen devices—especially given the abundance of free-to-play zombie games available today.

4 Resident Evil Code: Veronica

Challenge: Enjoying Lackluster Story and Excessive Backtracking

• Platform(s): Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
• Released: February 3, 2000
• How Long to Beat: ~ 12 Hours

Code: Veronica has remained a controversial entry in the franchise since its release. Some argue it shouldn’t be considered a main title, while others see no reason to label it as non-canon. However, these debates don’t touch on the real issue with the game—its lack of replayability. Code: Veronica is difficult to revisit due to its shallow story, low-budget voice acting, and, most significantly, its heavy emphasis on backtracking. Typically, backtracking can enhance a game's replayability, but in the case of Code Veronica, it merely slows down the progression.

Capcom didn’t allocate the same budget for Code: Veronica as it did for other titles like Resident Evil 3, and this has negatively impacted the game in multiple ways. For instance, the main characters sound as though they were voiced by random individuals. But even if players can look past these shortcomings, the excessive backtracking will likely frustrate them. As the industry shifts toward fast-paced gameplay, the slow progression of this classic entry is something that only the most dedicated fans are likely to enjoy.

3 Resident Evil: Dead Aim

Challenge: Adapting to the Shooting Mechanics

Dead Aim is a Resident Evil spin-off designed to appeal to fans of the popular light guns of its time—a gun-shaped controller used to aim directly at the screen to shoot enemies. However, replaying Dead Aim today is challenging not just because light guns are no longer in use but also due to its unique shooting system, which can be difficult to enjoy with modern controls.

In Dead Aim, the camera shifts from third-person to first-person when the player aims their gun, which slows down the pace of gameplay. While retro game enthusiasts might argue that this mechanic adds an extra layer of fear by forcing close-range combat, it’s a feature that many modern gamers might not find appealing.

2 Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

Challenge: Resisting the Nausea-inducing Shaky Camera

Like Dead Aim, The Darkside Chronicles is another spin-off designed for a specific device—the Wii. Unlike the main Resident Evil games, The Darkside Chronicles is a light-gun shooter without any third-person shooter elements. Players only see a crosshair on the screen, which they use to aim and shoot at enemies.

As a sequel to Umbrella Chronicles, The Darkside Chronicles continued Capcom’s foray into Wii gaming. However, its replayability is hampered by its shaky camera, which can cause nausea within minutes. While this camera movement was innovative at the time, it doesn’t provide the best gameplay experience by today’s standards.

1 Resident Evil Re:Verse

Challenge: Seeing the Potentials, not the Flaws

Capcom has experimented with multiplayer games several times, and Re:Verse is the closest it’s come to success. However, Re:Verse remains the hardest Resident Evil game to replay due to its chaotic deathmatch gameplay. The premise is straightforward: players choose classic RE characters like Leon, Jill, and Chris for a free-for-all battle. The twist is that upon death, players respawn as infamous franchise villains like Mr. X or Nemesis.

Despite its potential, Re:Verse was intended as a promotional content for Resident Evil 7 and wasn’t designed for long-term play. While it offered a semi-fun multiplayer experience, it quickly faded from memory. As a result, it’s now one of the last installments that die-hard fans are likely to revisit. Its downfall was almost inevitable from the start.