Hi all!
Today I am ranking every modern Resident Evil game, as well as the Capcom remakes. This is probably my favourite horror video game franchise out there. The basic premise centres on ordinary people fighting to survive against zombies and terrifying biological weapons, created by corrupt corporations. Trust me, it’s a lot deeper and darker than that! Please note, the original RE will not be included. I know it was remade in 2002 but I held off on playing it, as it will be remade again in the future. I’m all about those enhanced graphics and sleek upgrades. I cannot wait for Resident Evil Veronica to be released in 2027! Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Note: I have written individual reviews for each game listed below. Feel free to check them out for further context.
1.) Resident Evil 4
In first place, I have Resident Evil 4. I cannot imagine another game exceeding it.
Set six years later, after the events of the last game, Umbrella is long gone due to a combination of government oversight and subsequent stock value crash. We follow US agent, Leon Kennedy, who must save Ashley Graham, the daughter of the US president, from a mysterious cult in rural Spain.
RE4 is practically perfect. It is difficult to critique. Its biggest strength is its adventure. The amount of exploration is unmatched. Leon travels through villages, fishing inlets, caves, churches, mazes, castles, underground mines, islands and more. There isn’t one second wasted. I truly felt like I went on an epic journey. I also appreciate how the game is divided into chapters. It enhances the pacing a thousand fold. The puzzles were fun and inventive, not to mention the target practice sections. I had a blast (pardon the pun) shooting those naughty pirates. Additionally, the sassy Merchant is always a welcome sight. He is such an iconic character in the franchise. Babysitting Ashley was the only part I didn’t enjoy. It didn’t help that I wasn’t a fan of her personality. I know most fans take issue with the island chapter but I found that part to be fun and thrilling. Overall, Resident Evil 4 gets a 9.5/10 total score. It is absolutely worth all the hype it gets.
2.) Resident Evil Biohazard
In second place, I have Resident Evil Biohazard. For a long time, this was my favourite game. Then #4 came along…
You play as Ethan Winters, a man searching for his wife, Mia, who has been missing for three years. Within a derelict plantation, he discovers Mia is being held captive by the mutated, mold-infected Baker family. He must survive their psychotic clutches, whilst searching for a cure to escape.
No Resident Evil fan can deny that Biohazard is the scariest game in the entire franchise. Nothing can prepare you for what lies in the basement. Not to mention, being relentlessly chased by Jack Baker and Marguerite’s spidery form. You’re going to need to summon all your courage before entering their twisted abode. Biohazard has some of my favourite puzzles in the franchise. Not only do you get to participate in an actual escape room, you have to find different keys (scorpion, snake and crow) to unlock various marked doors. There are lots of hidden areas and concealed spaces to move through. The Baker house is one gigantic maze. Don’t let the outside deceive you. There’s a lot more going on inside! As much as I wanted to put RE7 first, the ship segment and underwhelming final boss battle pulls the score down a touch. Having said all that, I can forgive these issues because the rest of Biohazard is phenomenal. Overall, Resident Evil Biohazard gets a 9/10 total score. The level of horror makes it a top tier game.
3.) Resident Evil Village
In third place, I have Resident Evil Village. This is the first RE game I ever played. The memories!
We follow Ethan Winters, who, years after the Baker house incident (see Biohazard above), lives with his wife Mia and daughter Rose. One evening, Mia is killed by Chris Redfield and Rose is kidnapped. From there, Ethan is thrust into a terrifying, snowy European village, ruled by Mother Miranda and her four mutant lords. Ethan must defeat the villains one by one, in order to rescue his daughter.
Village reminds me of Kill Bill (one of my favourite movies of all time). Ethan has a list of names and he’s not stopping until he exacts revenge on all of them. The game itself has an excellent and captivating story. Not to mention, it might have the best setting of all the Resident Evil games. My main issue lies in the structure. I think we can all agree Castle Dimitrescu is the best part. So why put it first? If the adage is true – save the best till last – why did the developers get it out of the way so quickly? By the time you reach Heisenberg’s Factory, things start to feel a little stagnant. If it were up to me, this is how I would’ve ordered the villains: 1.) House Beneviento, 2.) Moureau’s Reservoir, 3.) Heisenberg’s Factory and 4.) Castle Dimitrescu. Everything else could remain the same, bar the level of difficulty. Lady Dimitrescu would be the hardest boss battle, not the easiest. She is, after all, the most iconic and recognisable villain from this instalment. Overall, Resident Evil Village gets an 8.5/10 total score. It’s fun, replayable, terrifying and exciting.
4.) Resident Evil 2
In fourth place, I have Resident Evil 2. I know it’s a fan favourite but I just prefer the other three more.
We follow rookie cop, Leon Kennedy, and college student, Claire Redfield, as they attempt to escape a zombie-infested Raccoon City. After separating, they navigate the Racoon Police Department, uncovering an Umbrella Corporation conspiracy involving the G-Virus and a deadly, mutated scientist named Dr. William Birkin.
Full transparency: I only completed Leon’s campaign. I will eventually replay the game as Claire. I’ve heard it’s worth finishing both to get the complete story/experience. By a country mile, Resident Evil 2 has the best puzzles. I loved the different coloured keys/doors to unlock, the symbol cipher statues, searching for codes to various safes, the frequency transmitter in the ARK Laboratory, the chess piece riddle in the sewers, the timed furnace trap and more. They were challenging but not so difficult you want to give up. Furthermore, I adored the entire structure of Leon’s campaign. Exploring the vast police station was equally fun and terrifying. Every single time I ventured into a new area, I had to brace myself for the zombies waiting in the dark. There was something so satisfying about retrieving a piece from the east wing, bolting back to the safe area, then travelling to the west wing to use said object. Not to mention being stalked by the pesky Mr. X! If you took your time, you could spend hours upon hours on this game. The RPD has that labyrinthian quality to it, reminiscent of the Baker House from RE7. Maps are your friend! Use them well. I don’t have any real negatives about RE2, aside from the ARK Laboratory section. I just find this part to be quite dull. The developers love to end the game there. I understand why from a narative perspective but it’s never anything new or exciting. Overall, Resident Evil 2 gets a 8.5/10 total score. It is an incredible remake and a fantastic game. One of the best.
5.) Resident Evil Requiem
In fifth place, we have the latest RE game: Requiem.
We follow FBI analyst, Grace Ashcroft and veteran, Leon S. Kennedy, who uncover a conspiracy by the evil Dr. Victor Gideon, involving a new virus called Elpis. The story deeply intertwines with the legacy of the Raccoon City incident.
Requiem is a melting pot of all the best Resident Evil games (Village, Biohazard, Resident Evil 2 etc.) There really is something for everyone. It combines horror, action, puzzle-solving and nostalgic moments throughout the entire game. If you’re concerned it won’t live up to the hype, don’t be. You’re in for a wild ride! RE9 requires you to switch between Grace and Leon throughout the game. By the end, you will have played both roles for an equal amount of time. Grace is less combative, so expect a lot more sneaking, limited supplies and hemolytic injectors. Leon on the other hand, is ready for action! He takes on the majority of the boss battles and swarms of the undead. He even has a system for weapon and armour upgrades. The more foes taken down, the more credits earned to cash in. Going from Leon to Grace can be challenging. All of a sudden, you have a significant decrease in inventory slots and only a handgun to protect you. What Grace has on her side is the element of surprise. As mentioned above, she can draw infected blood into an injector; eliminating enemies by stealthily coming up behind them. Once injected, they explode with no opportunity for resurrection. Furthermore, RE9 gives you the option to choose between different playing perspectives. It is recommended to play Grace in first-person and Leon in third-person. However, you can decide what works for you. I thought that was a really great addition to the mechanics. My only critique lies with Grace’s voice acting. She is a great character but her wobbly, jittery tone started to grate on me after a while. Overall, Resident Evil Requiem gets an 8/10 total score. I was so impressed by the final product.
6.) Resident Evil 3
In last place, I have Resident Evil 3. This is the only game in the franchise that has a signficantly lower score compared to the rest.
We follow former S.T.A.R.S. officer, Jill Valentine, who is trying to escape a zombie-infested Raccoon City during the T-Virus outbreak. Hunted by unstoppable biological weapon, Nemesis, she teams up with mercenary, Carlos Oliveira, to find a vaccine and expose the Umbrella Corporation.
RE3 has some highs but the lows are quite low. The main issue amongst fans is the duration. I finished it within 5 hours. Compared to the other games in the franchise, that’s incredibly short. Whilst it looks good, the remake is a rushed experience that leaves the player wanting more. Additionally, it was the hardest game out of them all. I died several times. Not to mention, the zombies in this instalment don’t stay dead! I would take out a whole room of them and after a minute or two, they would rise again. I learnt quickly to conserve my resources and just keep moving. The hospital segment was the most challenging part. Read my dedicated review to learn why. What I did enjoy about the game was getting to play as Jill Valentine. She is such a fiesty, badass protagonist. The opening chase sequence in the apartment building was a great start. It was action-packed and high intensity. Furthermore, I liked the look of Raccoon City in RE3. It had a neon, downtown vibe to it, unlike the other instalments. There were some solid puzzles, a range of enemies/boss battles and plenty of locations to explore. Overall, Resident Evil 3 gets a 6.5/10 total score. I still enjoyed the experience and aspects of the remake but it was not without its issues.
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know how you would rank the RE franchise. I’m obsessed with these games.
Peace & Love xoxo
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