With Resident Evil Village out in all its glory, where does it rank in the long running Resident Evil franchise? All rankings are of course subjective, but after a full play though (or two) of Village, here’s where I have it ranking amongst both the mainline and spinoff RE games.
I’m sticking to the top 10, but it’s worth noting that there’s value in playing beyond these titles if you’re a hardcore Resident Evil fan. Beyond deciding whether to include only mainline titles, the other challenge in ranking RE games is deciding whether to include various remakes along the way, as well taking the time a game was made into account. Back in 1996 when the first Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation, it was limited by the hardware of the day. Comparing the graphics and controls of the day to Village just isn’t fair. The various remakes did their best to update not only graphics, but also controls, checkpoint/save modernization, and more. They also changed some major aspects of enemies (even introducing new ones) and maps. With that in mind, I decided to separate original versions from remakes (or REmakes if you will) and also take into account the impact they had on the series overall.
10. Resident Evil 5 (2009) – PS3/PS4
After the massive success of the over the shoulder 3rd person combat of RE4, RE5 cranked up the volume on action and graphics thanks to the PS3’s hardware and the idea that RE fans were hungry for a faster paced game.
It took the franchise in a new direction with co-op play, but brought back fan favorite Chris Redfield to go along new partner Sheva Alomar, both working for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). The game is set in a fictional country in Africa, where the duo hunts down people infected by the Las Plagas parasite. As noted, it’s a lot more action oriented than previous games, even RE4, but features a lot of original Resident Evil characters including Albert Wesker and Jill Valentine in addition to Chris. The action is not as heavy as RE6, but looking back you can see it going in that direction. Oh, and don’t forget to the check out the Lost In Nightmares DLC if you want some throwback Resident Evil feelings.
Like some other PS3 entries, it was later released as an “HD” version on the PS4 which is of course also playable on the PS5. In other words, it’s still easily playable on modern hardware.
9. Resident Evil 1 (1996) – PS1
Where it all started. The S.T.A.R.S Alpha Team, featuring characters that would go on to future Resident Evil fame including Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Barry Burton, and Albert Wesker, end up in the Spencer Mansion after looking for their Bravo Team counterparts. Sure, playing it today feels a bit rough given the early PlayStation graphics and control limitations (this is before any analog controllers!), but the pre-rendored backgrounds, fixed camera angles, and door-opening loading screens were genius is setting the horror and making up for hardware limitations.
The remake of RE1 ranks higher on my list given it smooths out a lot of the rough edges, but it’s worth giving the original a try if you haven’t experienced it. Be warned though, it’s a much slower paced and puzzle focused game than any of the later entries. It may not have aged well, but it’s a piece of gaming history that you can still play to this day.
8. Resident Evil Revelations (2012) PS3
Originally released on the Nintendo 3DS, Resident Evil Revelations hit the PS3 in 2012 and was later given an “HD” release on the PS4. The highest ranking non-mainline game on my list it was surprisingly solid, mixing the horror roots of Resident Evil with the more action oriented games that were gaining in popularity at the time.
Though a spinoff, it features mainstays Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. A good portion of the game also takes place on a creepy ship that had a feeling of the Spencer Mansion of RE1. It’s a good balance between RE4 and RE5, and holds up well to this day.
7. Resident Evil Revelations 2 (2015) -PS3/PS4/Vita
The second of the Revelations spinoffs, but the stronger of the pair, doubled-down on horror in one of the more disturbing settings of the series. It features series star Claire Redfield, cult favorite Barry Burton (along with some perfectly cheesy, Barry dialog), Barry’s daughter Moira and the mysterious, young Natalia on the creepiest island you can imagine. I won’t spoil any further, but it’s one of the more focused RE stories, and left me excited for a 3rd Revelations entry which may or may not ever hit the market. It’s also the only RE game released on the underappreciated PS Vita.
6. Resident Evil 7 (2017) – PS4
After a major change of pace in RE6 with a focus on over-the-top action, Capcom decided to go back to the slower-paced horror roots of Resident Evil with Resident Evil 7. In addition, they moved to a first person camera view, totally new setting and protagonist, and even VR support. In other words, lots of change and a big bet on what they clearly saw as the path to modernizing the franchise.
Well, it seems to have paid off. RE7 was a departure from many things, but it brought back the tense horror of playing a RE game for sure. The Banker Ranch, and the family of the same name are a cross between the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the infected freaks of previous Resident Evil games. Ethan Winters is a seemly unprepared protagonist, who in search of his wife Mia confronts unimaginable horrors on the ranch. As a plus it all sets up the events of RE Village. Though it has far less variety of enemies than other RE games, the intensity in there throughout. I haven’t played the game in VR, so kudos to those with the guts to do so. It’s a special kind of horror even without that level of immersion!
5. Resident Evil 1 Remake (GameCube 2002) – PS3 (2015)
This was a tough one for me. The original Resident Evil was one I played as a young gamer, and from a nostalgia standpoint it sits at #1. That said, with both the passage of time and the outstanding enchantments made in the series, the RE1 remake (AKA “REmake”) not only ranks higher than the original installment, but also pretty high on the list overall. Originally released on the Nintendo GameCube, it was later released on the PS3 and PS4 (and thus the PS5 via backward compatibility). It’s a graphically stunning remastering on the original, but also changes the details of the maps, story, and enemies slightly. It also gives you the option to play with the original “tank controls”, or the more modern control setup (which is a welcome option).
While the original Resident Evil will scratch that nostalgic itch, I have to admit that if you’re jumping into the franchise today, or just want to revisit the Spencer Mansion, REmake is a more comfortable way to do so.
4. Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019) – PS4
Oh, I haven’t mentioned Resident Evil 2 yet? Stay tuned. RE2 as an absolute masterpiece which I have plenty more to say about below, but the remake on PS4 was nearly as good (and some will argue better). It replaced the fixed camera angles and tank controls of the original RE2 with an over the shoulder 3rd person view and modern shooter controls as well as graphics updated for the end of the PS4 era. It looks even better on a PS4 Pro or with backwards compatibly on the PS5.
That said, it does change up the layout of the infamous Raccoon City Police Station (though the new version looks stunning) in ways that feel unnecessary. However, for those just getting into Resident Evil it’s perhaps the perfect entry point. You’ll get up to speed on much of the early lore with more accessible controls and a save system that’s more forgiving (at least on the low and middle difficulty levels). In fact, ammo and supplies feel slightly less scare in the remake even though it will feel like a major drop off from the other titles in the PS3/PS4 generation.
3. Resident Evil 4 – PS2
Finally breaking away from Raccoon City and the T-Virus, RE4 was a bit of a shock at the time. It also made the change from the fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds of the first 3 installments to a 3rd person over the shoulder view. Much of this was thanks to the upgraded PS2 hardware, but it also took a big step to a more action oriented horror game. And what a good game it was!
The opening sequence sets the stage for the intensity of what’s to come, and even playing it today gets the adrenaline pumping. Despite the change in location and bio-weapon, it features Leon Kennedy of RE2 fame and ties into the originally story tightly. It also introduced The Merchant who you could buy from (and sell to), much like The Duke in Resident Evil Village.
In addition to being an amazingly fun game to play, it set the tone for nearly all of the RE games that follow and is a must play in the series even today. Thankfully it was given an “HD” release on the PS4, and thus is easily playable on the PS5. There’s been talk of a RE 4 remake, but no official word. I for one would welcome such a remake on this Top 10 list someday.
2. Resident Evil Village (RE8) – PS4/PS5
Perhaps controversial at #2, but hear me out. After RE6 going off the action rails, RE7 came along and did a good job of both innovating and getting back to the horror roots of the series. What it lacked (as noted above) was a variety of enemies and clean tie in to Resident Evil lore. Capcom took the best of RE7 and built upon it in every way imaginable.
Sure, Ethan Winters isn’t the deepest character, but in Village he’s a known quantity and a chance to build off of RE7 rather than starting from scratch. Along with the strong number of enemy types, there are some characters that really hit the right notes. Lady Dimitrescu clearly won the hearts of RE fans on social media, but she’s not the only memorable character in the game. I’d argue that The Duke is the one you’ll remember years from now. Like The Merchant in RE4, he’s there to supply you with all that you need to fight, but even more so a voice of comfort and stability in what is quite a disturbing game at times. What’s cool about The Duke is that he’s not just buying and selling, but also helping you unravel the mystery of the Village and your mission to save your family.
The other bosses and enemies are all freaks in their own way, but don’t rule out Heisenberg as one that you’ll love to hate. His factory, while not the most frightening of settings (I’ll give that honor to House Beneviento) is a good mix of creepy and fun to traverse as he taunts you throughout.
On top of the solid gameplay, characters, and use of DualSense features (adaptive triggers for weapons in particular) is the surprising tie in to Resident Evil lore. You’ll need to play all the way through to make those connections, but just make sure to read all the notes deep in the game. This one is the first in a while that I want to replay right away to see what I might have missed.
1. Resident Evil 2 (1998) – PS1
Despite the “tank controls” and other technical limitations of 1998, RE2 is simply a masterpiece and holds up surprising well today. It pushed the limits of the original PlayStation, and once you get in a groove with the controls it’s a ton of fun even for those who’ve only played the latest Resident Evil entires. The eerie Raccoon City Police Station is one of the most famous settings in video game history, and the mix of puzzles and combat is perfectly balanced.
Resident Evil has certainly come long way over the years, but the lore of the T-Virus and Raccoon City are perhaps the most recognizable both in film and video games. While the original Resident Evil explores these concepts, it wasn’t until RE2 that they were fully fleshed out. I encourage you to overlook the passing of a few decades and give the original RE2 a shot, even if you’ve played the excellent remake. There are still some ways to play this one in the modern era.