Resident Evil is one of the most iconic and influential franchises in the history of video games. Since its first release in 1996, it has captivated millions of players around the world with its unique mix of horror, action and suspense.
With a variety of titles released over the years, the series has been able to maintain its relevance and continues to surprise fans with new exciting experiences. In this list, we will explore the top 10 games in the franchise, classified based on expert critics reviews.
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It is worth remembering that the list was set up using aggregators like the Metacriticwho use reviews from experts in the field, which does not necessarily mean that one game is actually better than the other, and may also be something subjective from each player.
10. Resident Evil Village (2021) – Note: 84
Resident Evil Village continues the story of Ethan Winters, from the previous game, while he travels to a mysterious village in search of his kidnapped daughter. Mixing gothic horror elements and shadowy fairy tales, the game features a variety of scary places and grotesque enemies, including Lady Dimitrescu, which has become an instant icon among fans. With solid gameplay and a captivating plot, Resident Evil Village opens the list of the best games in the franchise.
9. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) – Note: 86
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marks a return to the roots of the series, adopting a first person perspective and focusing more on psychological horror. Set on an abandoned farm in Louisiana, the game follows Ethan Winters in his search for his missing wife and puts him face to face with the Baker family, a collection of disturbing and relentless antagonists. With its scary environment and an engaging narrative, the seventh numbered game of the franchise offers a chilling and memorable experience, featuring on the list.
8. Resident Evil 2 (1998) – Note: 89
Resident Evil 2 is a timeless classic that continues to be revered by its contribution to the Survival horror genre and widely regarded as one of the best in the series. Set in the town infested with Raccoon City zombies, the game features an engaging and branched narrative, allowing players to experience the story of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield from different perspectives.
With their impressive visuals for the time, which combined prerendorized 3D scenarios, and an atmospheric soundtrack, the second game in the series captivated the players and solidified their place as one of the best games in the franchise.
7. Resident Evil Remake (2002) – Note: 91
The original Resident Evil remake has brought a new life to the 1996 classic with fully redone graphics, enhanced controls and significant additions to the story. Set in the same haunted Spencer Mansion, the game offers a renewed experience for old fans and a memorable introduction to novices. With its oppressive atmosphere and intriguing plot, this remake of the first game is a masterpiece of Survival horror.
6. Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019) – Note: 91
Resident Evil 2’s remake is a reimagination of the 1998 classic that follows the events of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield in Raccoon City during the Tudd -Generation Tour Virus outbreak, a faithful recreation of iconic scenarios and modernized gameplay, the game has won both old and novice fans. With a dark and scary atmosphere, challenging puzzles and a sense of constant danger, Resident Evil 2 Remake is a must-see experience for Survival horror lovers.
5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) – Note: 91
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis continues the story of Jill Valentine as she struggles to escape the town infested with Raccoon City zombies. Introducing the fearsome enemy known as Nemesis, the game offers an even more intense and distressing experience than its predecessors.
With exciting action sequences, challenging puzzles and an atmosphere of constant danger, this is one of the highlights of the series, and introduced one of the most iconic enemies in the history of video games.
4. Resident Evil (1996) – Note: 91
The game that began everything, the original Resident Evil established the foundations of the series and introduced the players to the dark and dangerous world of Spencer Mansion. With his impressive visuals for the time, which mixed prerendorized scenarios with 3D models, and a frightening atmosphere, Resident Evil won the hearts of players and helped define the genre of Survival Horror.
3. Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023) – Note: 93
Resident Evil 4’s remake brought back Leon Kennedy’s acclaimed adventure with stunning visuals and improved gameplay. Although maintaining the essence of the original game, the remake has significant improvements in graphics, controls and mechanical, providing a more immersive experience for modern players.
Combining nostalgia with innovation, the remake received praise from critics and fans, with the bronze medal on our list, and is quoted as one of the best remakes in the world of games as a whole.
2. Resident Evil Code: Veronica (2000) – Note: 94
Resident Evil Code: Veronica marks the debut of the series in the PlayStation 2 generation and Dreamcast. The game follows Claire Redfield in her search for her missing brother, Chris, and leads her to face Umbrella Corporation’s dangerous experiments on a remote island.
With impressive graphics for his day, an engaging story and challenging gameplay, Code: Veronica solidified her place as one of the best games in the franchise.
1. Resident Evil 4 (2005) – Note: 96
Resident Evil 4 is often considered one of the best games of all time and a milestone in the evolution of the Survival Horror genre. Originally released to Nintendo Gamecube, the game features revolutionary gameplay, abandoning fixed controls and static camera perspective for previous titles in favor of a shoulder vision and a more fluid shot mechanics.
With an engaging plot, tense atmosphere and memorable enemies such as illuminated Los, Resident Evil 4 remains an unforgettable experience for players.
The Resident Evil franchise is undoubtedly one of the most iconic in history, with numerous games that have marked generations and are often cited not only on lists of the best Survival Horrors ever, but many of them are cited as true masterpieces in the world of games as a whole.