Resident Evil Games Tier List: Every Mainline Entry Ranked
Twenty-one games, one zombie-infested franchise that reinvented itself more times than Chris Redfield has punched a boulder. We're ranking everything from the fixed-camera originals to the remakes that somehow made them scarier, plus the spin-offs that tried something different.
This list covers the mainline numbered games, the big remakes, and the console spin-offs people still argue about. Rankings come from where fan forums, review scores and years of debate have settled, with our own opinions thrown in where the community still fights about it. Go ahead and disagree, that's half the fun of a series this long-running.
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SS Tier: The genre-defining greats
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Leon and Claire running the Raccoon City Police Department gauntlet is still one of gaming's best horror setups. The zapping system, where your two campaigns intertwine, gave it replay value nobody else had in 1998.
About Resident Evil 2 (1998)
A sequel following Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield through a zombie-overrun Raccoon City Police Department. Known for its zapping system linking the two playable scenarios.
- Platform
- PlayStation
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
The game that rewired third-person action for the next two decades. The village opening alone, with its chainsaw-wielding villagers and that one bell, is still taught as a masterclass in pacing.
About Resident Evil 4 (2005)
A reinvention of the series starring Leon Kennedy rescuing the President's daughter from a village in Spain. Shifted the series toward over-the-shoulder action and influenced countless third-person shooters.
- Platform
- GameCube
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake)
Capcom didn't just reskin a classic, they rebuilt it with over-the-shoulder camera, a stalking Mr. X that never lets you relax, and some of the best survival horror atmosphere in years. Somehow it improved on a game people already loved.
About Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake)
A full remake of the 1998 classic with modern over-the-shoulder controls and reworked areas, widely praised as a high point of the remake trend.
- Platform
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
AA Tier: Excellent, just a notch below
Resident Evil Village
Lady Dimitrescu got all the memes, but the real draw is how Village swings between gothic castle horror, a creepy doll house and a straight-up action finale without losing its footing. It's RE7's dread with RE4's momentum.
About Resident Evil Village
A sequel to Resident Evil 7 following Ethan Winters into a gothic Eastern European village filled with varied horror set pieces.
- Platform
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake)
A remake that had no business being this good given how beloved the original is. It trims the cheesier dialogue, deepens Ashley and Luis, and the Verdugo chase in the sewers somehow gets more tense than it already was.
About Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake)
A full remake of the 2005 classic, rebuilding the village and castle sequences with modern graphics and reworked character writing.
- Platform
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil (1996)
The one that started it all. Tank controls and pre-rendered backgrounds sound primitive now, but the Spencer Mansion's puzzle-box design and that first zombie turning around in the hallway still land.
About Resident Evil (1996)
The original survival horror game from Capcom, set in the Spencer Mansion outside Raccoon City. It established tank controls, fixed camera angles, and item management as genre staples.
- Platform
- PlayStation
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
First-person and the Baker family's dinner table scene alone justify this ranking. It brought real dread back to a series that had drifted into action-movie territory, and the Baker house is as memorable as any mansion.
About Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
A first-person reboot of the series' horror roots, following Ethan Winters into the nightmarish Baker family plantation.
- Platform
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil (2002 Remake)
Widely considered one of the best remakes ever made before remakes were even a trend. The Crimson Heads forcing you to actually burn bodies instead of just looting them changed how you played the whole game.
About Resident Evil (2002 Remake)
A GameCube remake of the original 1996 game, rebuilt with new graphics, areas, and the Crimson Head enemy mechanic. Widely praised as one of the best remakes in gaming.
- Platform
- GameCube
- Developer
- Capcom
BB Tier: Solid and worth your time
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Nemesis himself is the star here, a pursuer who shows up when you least want him to and forces real decisions about fight or flee. Shorter than RE2, but the dodge mechanic and Jill's street-level survival run keep it memorable.
About Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
A follow-up starring Jill Valentine as she escapes Raccoon City while pursued by the Nemesis bioweapon. Introduced dodge mechanics and branching choices.
- Platform
- PlayStation
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
The first fully 3D mainline entry, and it holds up better than people give it credit for. Claire and Steve stranded on a prison island has real atmosphere, even if the fixed camera occasionally fights you.
About Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
The first fully 3D mainline entry, following Claire Redfield to a prison island. Originally released for Dreamcast.
- Platform
- Dreamcast
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil 3 (2020 Remake)
A fun, fast remake that fans still argue is too short compared to RE2's remake. Nemesis is genuinely terrifying in his new mutated forms, but the clock tower and some beloved RE3 puzzle sequences got cut.
About Resident Evil 3 (2020 Remake)
A remake of the 1999 original following Jill Valentine's escape from Raccoon City, released as a shorter companion to the RE2 remake.
- Platform
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil Zero
The partner-swap mechanic between Rebecca and Billy was ambitious, letting you leave one character to solve a puzzle while controlling the other. The training facility setting never grabbed people the way a mansion or police station did, though.
About Resident Evil Zero
A prequel following Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen before the events of the original game. Introduced a character-switching partner mechanic.
- Platform
- GameCube
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil: Revelations
Originally a 3DS game, and it shows in the best way, cramming genuine tension into the cruise ship Queen Zenobia's corridors. Episodic structure was a gimmick, but the horror fundamentals are solid.
About Resident Evil: Revelations
Originally released on Nintendo 3DS, following Jill Valentine aboard the derelict cruise ship Queen Zenobia. Later ported to consoles and PC.
- Platform
- Nintendo 3DS
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Barry Burton teaming up with his daughter Moira gives this one more heart than most entries, and the episodic release let Capcom experiment with co-op in a way that mostly worked.
About Resident Evil: Revelations 2
An episodic sequel starring Claire Redfield and Barry Burton's daughter Moira, released across multiple digital episodes.
- Platform
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer
- Capcom
CC Tier: Flawed but has fans
Resident Evil 5
Chris Redfield punching a boulder became a meme for a reason: this is where the series fully committed to action over horror. Co-op with Sheva is fun, but fans still debate whether it abandoned what made RE scary.
About Resident Evil 5
A co-op focused entry starring Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar in Africa, continuing the series' move toward action.
- Platform
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
An on-rails shooter that retells the early games' stories for Wii controls. Fun with a second player and a light gun, but it's more fan-service highlight reel than its own experience.
About Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
An on-rails light gun shooter retelling events from the original games and Code: Veronica, built for the Wii.
- Platform
- Wii
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
The follow-up rail shooter covers RE2 and Code: Veronica's events, with the same point-and-shoot appeal as Umbrella Chronicles. Never quite escapes feeling like a spin-off spin-off.
About Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
A follow-up rail shooter retelling the events of Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica, also built for Wii's motion controls.
- Platform
- Wii
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil Outbreak
Ahead of its time with online co-op survival horror on PS2, before online infrastructure could really support it well. Fans who got it running with friends remember it fondly; everyone else just remembers the connection issues.
About Resident Evil Outbreak
An online co-op survival horror spin-off for PS2, letting multiple players team up against outbreaks in Raccoon City.
- Platform
- PlayStation 2
- Developer
- Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem was released on February 27, 2026 and is available across multiple platforms including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.. Early impressions suggest a return to horror roots, but it hasn't had time to earn a higher placement yet.
About Resident Evil Requiem
A recent entry in the series. Details on story and reception are still developing as more players get hands-on time.
- Developer
- Capcom
DD Tier: Only for completionists
Resident Evil 6
Four campaigns, four tones, and none of them land consistently. Trying to be horror and action and everything in between at once just made this one feel unfocused, even if Leon's campaign has its moments.
About Resident Evil 6
A large-scale entry with four interconnected campaigns and playable characters including Leon, Chris, and Jake Muller, blending horror and action tones.
- Platform
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Developer
- Capcom
FF Tier: Skip it
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
A third-person shooter that let you play as Umbrella mercenaries, and it's remembered mostly for buggy enemy AI and a story that nobody considers canon in spirit. Even diehard fans struggle to defend this one.
About Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
A third-person squad shooter spin-off letting players control Umbrella Security Service mercenaries during the Raccoon City outbreak.
- Platform
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
- Developer
- Slant Six Games
How we ranked them
We weighed how each game played on release, how it holds up now, its impact on the series and the horror genre, and how fans and critics talk about it today. Remakes are judged both as games and as improvements on their source material. Spin-offs are judged on their own terms, not just against the mainline games.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best Resident Evil game of all time?
Most fans and critics point to Resident Evil 2 (1998) or Resident Evil 4 (2005) as the series peak, with the Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake) often cited as the best modern take.
What is the worst Resident Evil game?
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is the most commonly cited low point, criticized for its buggy shooting and forgettable story.
Is Resident Evil 4 Remake better than the original?
Opinions are split, but a lot of fans and critics argue the 2023 remake refines the pacing and characters while keeping what made the 2005 original great, making it a worthy companion rather than a replacement.
Which Resident Evil game should beginners start with?
Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake) is the most commonly recommended starting point for new players, since it's self-contained, modern, and doesn't require decades of lore.
Are the Chronicles games canon?
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles retell canon events from earlier games but are spin-off rail shooters rather than mainline entries.
More rankings
Image credits
- Resident Evil 2 (1998)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 4 (2005)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 2 (2019 Remake)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil VillageImage: Resident Evil Wiki (Fandom), © its owner · Source
- Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil (1996)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 7: BiohazardCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil (2002 Remake)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 3: NemesisCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil – Code: VeronicaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 3 (2020 Remake)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil ZeroCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil: RevelationsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 5Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil: The Umbrella ChroniclesCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil: The Darkside ChroniclesCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil OutbreakCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil RequiemCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil 6Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon CityCover: Wikipedia · Source