Resident Evil Ranked: Every Mainline Game From Worst to Best

In honour of the upcoming Resident Evil Movie release, I wanted to put together a blog that expresses both my love and my frustration with this incredible series.

Resident Evil is one of the most unique franchises in gaming. At its best, it's exactly what survival horror should be, tense, atmospheric, and genuinely terrifying. At its worst, though, it almost becomes a parody of the genre, throwing subtle horror out the window in favour of ridiculous action, cheesy dialogue, and boulder-punching insanity.

Before we begin, here are a few ground rules for this ranking.

Remakes and original games are bundled together. In my opinion, most of the remakes surpass their original counterparts, so there's no point ranking both versions separately.

I'm including Resident Evil Revelations, Code: Veronica, and Resident Evil Zero. They're all important parts of the Resident Evil story and deserve a place in the ranking.

This list is completely my opinion. If your favourite game ends up near the bottom, don't panic, grab a large grain of salt and let me know your own ranking in the comments. I have a feeling this one is going to be controversial.

Resident Evil 6 (12)

Oooof... now this has to be the low point of the series.

Last year, I made the questionable decision to replay every Resident Evil game so I could refresh myself on the story before Resident Evil Requiem. Then I got to Resident Evil 6... and honestly, it was the point where I nearly regretted revisiting the franchise entirely.

So, where do we even start?

The game is absolutely bloated with crap. Resident Evil games are usually fairly brisk, story-driven adventures that encourage multiple playthroughs by letting you experience events from different characters' perspectives. That's part of the series' charm.

Resident Evil 6 takes that idea and pushes it way too far. Instead of one tight campaign, you're given four separate story modes, all packed into one game. On paper, bringing back so many iconic characters sounds brilliant. Leon, Chris, Ada it's basically a who's, who of Resident Evil protagonists. In reality, though, the story feels stuffed, unfocused, and far too long. By the end, it feels more exhausting than exciting.

Then there's the gameplay, which ditches so many of the hallmarks that make Resident Evil distinct. The slow-building tension, resource management, and survival horror are replaced with an action-heavy spectacle that's constantly throwing explosions, quick-time events, and waves of enemies at you.

The result is an over-the-top button masher that feels like Resident Evil in name only. It's not a terrible action game, but it's a terrible Resident Evil game and that's why it sits firmly at the bottom of my list.

Resident Evil 0 (11)

Believe it or not, this was my first Resident Evil game, so I'll always have a soft spot for it. It's the game that introduced me to one of my favourite franchises, and for that alone it's hard for me to completely hate it.

That said... Resident Evil Zero is a tough one.

The story is perfectly fine and, if anything, does a great job of building hype for what comes next in the series. Billy and Rebecca are both likeable protagonists, and I actually enjoyed seeing Rebecca before the events of the original Resident Evil.

My biggest issues aren't with the story or the characters, it's the execution. Controlling two protagonists by yourself is a neat idea in theory, but in practice it might be one of Resident Evil's biggest blunders. Constantly switching between Billy and Rebecca becomes frustrating, especially when puzzles require both characters to be in different places.

Then you throw in the game's limited inventory, the complete removal of item boxes, endless backtracking, and some seriously punishing puzzles, and it all becomes a bit of a chore. Half the game feels like you're trying to remember where you left a key item rather than surviving a horror game.

Resident Evil Zero has plenty of good ideas, but they're buried under mechanics that feel more annoying than enjoyable. If this is your first Resident Evil game, I wouldn't blame you for wondering what all the hype around the series is about.

Resident Evil Revelations & Revelations 2 (10)

I'm bundling these two together because they're somewhat two peas in a pod. These spin-offs gave us a much-needed look at some of Resident Evil's biggest characters, fleshing out their stories and, well, giving them something to do.

Resident Evil Revelations is probably the weaker of the two. Being originally built around the Nintendo 3DS naturally limited its scope from the get-go, and while the game eventually made its way to other platforms, you can still feel those handheld roots. Add in some questionable design choices and a few seriously annoying characters, and Revelations 2 starts to shine that little bit brighter.

I wasn't a huge fan of the episodic nature of Revelations 2, either. The game was released across four episodes, with the story alternating between Claire and Moira's campaign and Barry and Natalia's perspective.

At the time, Resident Evil was hitting its stride with these more connected, semi-open environments that allowed you to explore at your own leisure. So going back to long loading screens, chapter breaks, and constantly jumping between different characters definitely made Revelations 2 feel like a side story rather than a full-blown Resident Evil adventure.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Both games do a good job of expanding the wider Resident Evil universe, and I actually appreciate Capcom using these spin-offs to bring back characters who might otherwise have been forgotten.

But when you're ranking the entire series, these two feel exactly where they belong: interesting side adventures that add to the Resident Evil experience, but never quite reach the heights of the mainline games.

Resident Evil Code Veronica (9)

For me, and probably many others, this is a huge Resident Evil blind spot. I was way too young to properly appreciate Code: Veronica back in the day, and to its credit, it contains some genuinely important lore moments that were tucked away behind what was essentially a spin-off.

Don't get me wrong, though. The tank controls, fixed camera angles, and overall murky presentation make this one particularly difficult to go back to today. There's a fantastic Resident Evil game buried underneath all that old-school design, but the years haven't exactly been kind to it.

That's why I'm so happy it's finally getting a second lease on life with Resident Evil Veronica.

Out of all the games on this list, Code: Veronica might be the one that needs a remake the most. There's a genuinely important chapter of the Resident Evil story here, and with Claire, Chris, Wesker and plenty of other major characters involved, there's a lot for Capcom to work with. If the remake can preserve what made the original special while fixing some of its more frustrating mechanics, I could easily see this climbing much higher in my ranking.

For now, though, the original feels like a fascinating piece of Resident Evil history that's much easier to appreciate than it is to actually play.

Resident Evil 5 (8)

Resident Evil 5 was, for me, the beginning of the end.

Its stubbornness when it comes to that awkward control scheme makes it another difficult replay, and somehow it's not even the oldest game on this list. After getting used to modern Resident Evil controls, going back to RE5 can feel like fighting the controls more than the enemies.

It was also the first entry where I really felt the series leaning heavily into action. Chris Redfield had gone from a relatively grounded survival horror protagonist to a completely jacked-up parody of himself. There's a ridiculousness to Chris in this game that feels like Capcom was slowly losing sight of what made the series work in the first place.

That said, RE5 does have some redeeming qualities. Bringing Wesker back was a fantastic decision, and his presence gives the story some much-needed weight. I also appreciate Capcom taking the series somewhere completely different geographically. Moving away from the usual labs, streets and creepy mansions and setting much of the game in Africa gives RE5 a distinct identity. The environments, atmosphere and larger-scale set pieces all help separate it from what came before.

Unfortunately, those positives are overshadowed by the feeling that Resident Evil was rapidly transforming into an action franchise. Resident Evil 5 isn't a terrible game by any means. In fact, there's plenty to enjoy here, especially when played with a friend. But as a Resident Evil game, this is where I think the cracks really started to show.

Resident Evil and Resident Evil Remake (7)

This may be divisive, and I'm sorry, but boy... the original Resident Evil really is a product of its time.

I completely understand why fixed camera angles, tank controls, and those painfully long door-loading animations existed. Back in 1996, these weren't necessarily flaws, they were part of how Capcom built the game around the hardware and technology available at the time. But revisiting it today makes both the original and its remake a surprisingly tough play.

Call me spoilt by the modern remakes, but this is one game that is absolutely crying out for the remake treatment. The HD version does offer alternative controls, but you're still dealing with the fixed-camera design and the general limitations of the original's structure.

And yet, I can't deny how important this game is. Resident Evil does a fantastic job of establishing so many of the trademarks that would go on to define the series. The mansion, the puzzles, the resource management, the limited ammunition, the bizarre characters, and that constant feeling that you're never quite safe, it all starts here. I completely understand that without this game, there wouldn't be a Resident Evil series for me to love today. It's the foundation everything else was built on.

But when you're ranking the entire franchise in 2026, nostalgia can only take you so far. As much as I respect what the original accomplished, going back to it after playing the modern remakes makes its age painfully obvious. Give me a proper RE Engine remake of this game, though, and suddenly we're talking. I genuinely think a modern take on the Spencer Mansion could be something special.

Resident Evil 3 (6)

We're at the point now where the series becomes synonymous with being one of the best horror franchises in gaming. Resident Evil 3 is a bit of an ugly duckling, though. Even the remake has a slightly tacked-on vibe to it, like we're playing Side B of Resident Evil 2 rather than a fully fledged story.

When the game is good, boy, is it good. Nemesis is terrifying, Jill is a badass, and there's so much fan service packed into the experience. It feels like Capcom knew exactly what fans wanted and decided to throw as much of it into one game as possible.

But, as I alluded to earlier, this is a pretty paint-by-numbers entry that does very little to make itself stand out from its arguably better predecessor. The remake suffers from this even more. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those people who actually liked the Resident Evil 3 remake. Having never been particularly fond of the original, I was probably a lot more forgiving of the changes. Jill and Carlos are fantastic, the action is satisfying, and the recreation of Raccoon City looks incredible.

But there's no denying that something feels missing. The remake is surprisingly short, cuts several locations and leans much more heavily into scripted action sequences. Even Nemesis, arguably the star of the entire game, loses some of his impact once his terrifying pursuit is replaced by more predictable boss encounters. And that's ultimately where Resident Evil 3 falls short for me. It's a perfectly enjoyable Resident Evil game, but it feels more like an expansion of what came before than a meaningful evolution of the series. I can understand why Capcom wanted to capitalise on the success of the Resident Evil 2 remake, but RE3 never quite manages to escape its predecessor's shadow.

Ultimately, Resident Evil 3 is the weakest of the modern remakes for me... well, barring the original Resident Evil remake, but that probably doesn't count as a remake remake. It's good. At times, it's bloody brilliant. But when you're ranking Resident Evil as a whole, I think this is about as high as it deserves to go.

Resident Evil 8: Village (5)

Now we're starting to get into the better half of the series, and it's genuinely getting harder and harder to rank these games against each other.

Resident Evil 7 was a rebirth for the franchise, doing more than enough to make up for the downfall of Resident Evil 6. So, Resident Evil Village had some mighty big shoes to fill. Being a continuation of the Ethan Winters saga while taking huge inspiration from Resident Evil 4, Village felt like a certified home run. The only problem? It only really got to second base.

This game is a bloody good Resident Evil. It's gorgeous, the new villains are iconic, and sprinkling in some of the older lore helped bridge the gap between classic Resident Evil and this new direction for the series.

Unfortunately, it just wasn't as groundbreaking the second time around. Ethan, in my opinion, is probably the most forgettable of the series' protagonists. He's perfectly serviceable, but when you're putting him alongside the likes of Jill, Leon, Chris and Claire, he doesn't exactly leave the same impression. I also wasn't a huge fan of the game's shift towards weird voodoo and Mold-based powers. Resident Evil has always had some pretty ridiculous science behind its monsters, but Village pushes things further into fantasy territory. It makes the world feel a little less grounded, which is a shame because some of the game's most terrifying moments come when it leans into traditional horror.

The Beneviento section alone proves that Village knows exactly how to scare you when it wants to. It's creepy, uncomfortable, and genuinely unsettling in a way that the rest of the game doesn't always manage to replicate. And that's probably my biggest takeaway from Village. It's a great Resident Evil game, don't get me wrong, but it's not quite as revolutionary as its predecessor.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (4)

As I alluded to above, Resident Evil 7 was such a breath of fresh air for the series. After the absolute mess that was Resident Evil 6, Capcom went right back to the survival horror roots, only this time with a first-person perspective and much better controls.

It felt like a genuine rebirth for the franchise. And then there's the Baker family. Honestly, these guys steal the entire show. Every member of the family is just as batshit crazy as the last, and their unpredictable behaviour makes exploring the Baker estate genuinely terrifying. Jack Baker in particular is one of the most memorable villains in the series, and the infamous dinner scene perfectly captures what makes RE7 so effective.

It also helped that the game looked leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. The move to first-person made everything feel much more immersive, while the claustrophobic environments gave the game that feeling of constantly being trapped with something horrible just around the corner.

This wasn't just a solid Resident Evil entry. It was the game that gave me, and, I imagine, plenty of other fans, hope for the future of the series. After years of increasingly action-focused games, Resident Evil 7 reminded everyone what made the franchise special in the first place. Limited resources, creepy environments, genuinely unsettling enemies and that constant feeling that you're never quite safe. It wasn't afraid to slow things down and let the horror breathe.

If I had to be critical, though, many of my problems with Village are present here as well. The difference is that RE7 gets the benefit of doing it first. The Mold, the increasingly ridiculous lore, Ethan being a fairly forgettable protagonist and the gradual shift from grounded survival horror towards something much more fantastical are all things that would become more noticeable in Village. But here, they still feel fresh. RE7 was experimenting, taking the series somewhere completely different and, most importantly, succeeding. And that's why I think it deserves to rank this highly.

Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 4 Remake (3)

Why do I sense an angry mob making its way to my house as I type this?

Before you crucify me, it's worth mentioning that I LOVE Resident Evil 4. This game is a must-play for fans and non-fans alike. It takes Leon's action-heavy style and combines it with what is probably the best location in the entire series. Iconic character after iconic character is introduced, and the original did a stellar job of bringing Resident Evil into a new generation of hardware without regressing, instead, it somehow managed to improve on almost everything that came before it.

The village is one of my favourite locations in the entire franchise. It's creepy, expansive, packed with secrets, and gives you that perfect feeling of never quite knowing what you're going to stumble across next. Then you have the castle, which somehow manages to be even more ridiculous while still being incredibly fun to explore. My only real issue with Resident Evil 4 is the way the game is broken up into chapters. The village and castle are both so large and enjoyable to explore that it occasionally took me out of the experience knowing I had to backtrack before it was too late, otherwise the chapter would move me away from an area.

Resident Evil 2 Remake did a fantastic job of allowing you to explore its environments a little more freely, and I wish some of that philosophy had been carried over here. Let me wander around, revisit areas, and discover things at my own pace without constantly worrying that I've missed my chance.

But honestly... I'm nitpicking. Resident Evil 4 is still one of the greatest games in the franchise and one of the most influential survival horror games ever made. Whether you're a longtime Resident Evil fan or someone who's never touched the series before, this is one I would recommend without hesitation.

Resident Evil 9: Requiem (2)

This... this was a real toss-up for me. Resident Evil Requiem is damn near perfect, and it's one game I'm going to keep coming back to whenever I need my Resident Evil fix. Its two distinct playstyles give longtime fans a fantastic mix of old and new. It felt incredibly rewarding to strategically play as Grace, carefully navigating terrifying encounters, only to then switch over to Leon and start mowing down enemies like the absolute badass we've come to know and love. It's a brilliant way of showing just how far the series has come while still reminding us where it started. And then there's Raccoon City.

By this point, it may not be a huge spoiler to say that revisiting Raccoon City genuinely had me choked up. Like I said earlier, I shotgun-blasted my way through a huge chunk of the series in preparation for this release, familiarising myself with as much of the story and lore as possible. So when Requiem finally brought me back to Raccoon City, it felt incredibly personal. This wasn't just another location. It was a return to where so much of Resident Evil's history began. Seeing familiar locations brought back with modern visuals, while recognising little details from the games I'd spent so much time playing, made the whole thing feel like a huge love letter to longtime fans.

And that's probably what I love most about Requiem. It feels like Capcom saying, "Thank you." Thank you for sticking with us through the highs, the lows, the questionable decisions, the remakes, the ridiculous villains, the boulder-punching and everything in between. Sure, at times the game can be a little cheesy, but Resident Evil has always been that way. I'd honestly be disappointed if Capcom suddenly decided to take itself completely seriously.

If I had one real complaint, it would probably be the length. Requiem isn't the longest Resident Evil game, but honestly, it's difficult to complain when Capcom manages to pack so much into the experience. Every section feels like it has a purpose, and the game rarely feels like it's wasting your time. I can even forgive the fact that we don't get a traditional A and B scenario like Resident Evil 2. The two stories blend into one another so seamlessly that it never really bothered me.

Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 2 Remake (1)

Here we are. The BEST Resident Evil has to offer. Resident Evil 2 is just so damn special for a whole list of reasons. Leon and Claire have always been two of my favourite characters in the series, while the Raccoon City Police Department has become one of the most iconic locations in gaming. Resident Evil 2 does a fantastic job of fleshing out the world and showing us the scale of the Raccoon City outbreak.

The original Resident Evil was very much confined to the mansion, which was absolutely fine. It created an incredibly memorable setting and became one of the most iconic locations in horror gaming. But its sequel felt so much bigger and more ambitious. You're exploring the RPD, the streets of Raccoon City, underground facilities, sewers and plenty of other locations, making the whole adventure feel like a genuine escalation. It also does a fantastic job of making the outbreak feel bigger.

And then we got the remake. Resident Evil 2 Remake was another pinnacle for the series, proving that Capcom could modernise one of its classic games without stripping away the things that made it special. The fixed camera angles and tank controls were replaced with a modern over-the-shoulder perspective and much more responsive controls, while the puzzles, exploration, resource management and claustrophobic atmosphere remained firmly intact. Capcom essentially rebuilt the game from the ground up rather than simply giving us a prettier version of the original.

And honestly, I welcomed the changes. As I've said throughout this ranking, I'm not a huge lover of some of Resident Evil's old-school gameplay staples. I completely understand why they were important, and I appreciate what they did for the series, but I much prefer the modern approach. Resident Evil 2 Remake gives me the best of both worlds. It has the story, characters, locations and atmosphere that made the original so special, while presenting them in a way that I actually prefer to play. The RPD is still recognisable, Leon and Claire are still at the heart of the story, and the game still captures that feeling of being completely outmatched by the horrors around you.

It's also incredibly replayable. The different characters, weapons, routes and scenarios give you plenty of reasons to jump back in, and the remake's approach to exploration makes revisiting the RPD feel rewarding rather than restrictive. That's ultimately why Resident Evil 2 takes the top spot for me. It's the perfect combination of everything I love about Resident Evil. Great characters, an incredible setting, a brilliant story, terrifying enemies, satisfying gameplay and enough replayability to keep me coming back. The original laid the foundations, but the remake showed just how incredible those foundations could be when given modern technology and a fresh coat of paint.

So there we have it. Resident Evil 2 is officially my favourite game in the entire series. And yes, I'm fully expecting some of you to disagree with me. That's half the fun of ranking an entire franchise, isn't it?

Thanks for Reading! Thanks for making it all the way to the end of my first video game ranking list! If you enjoyed this ranking, I'd love for you to explore some of my other posts on Tye's Save File. I've got plenty more gaming content planned, from reviews and rankings to general gaming ramblings. You can also subscribe to my mailing list so you don't miss any new posts coming in the future. And if you disagree with my ranking... well, let me know in the comments! I'm sure I'll hear about it.