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Resident Evil is one of the best survival horror franchises of all time. Regardless of which game in the series is your favorite, it’s hard to disagree on the franchise itself being overwhelmingly influential, inspiring a multitude of other horror games to follow in its viscera-drenched footsteps. To help you plan out which horror game to play this Halloween, you’ll find The Escapist’s full ranking of the best Resident Evil games below, looking at everything from the quality of the story and the world-building to the action sequences and the scares. Every Resident Evil game, ranked While gathering my list of the best Resident Evil games, I focused purely on mainline entries and remakes, as the list would be a mile long with every RE spin-off, collaboration, and additional title. Once the new Resident Evil Requiem hits, this ranking will be updated, so make sure to check back if you’re curious to see where the latest title sits in this list. 14. Resident Evil 0 (2002) Sorry, Resident Evil 0 fans, something had to go last. Resident Evil 0 is not a bad game; however, it’s not a great one when compared to the other behemoths in the franchise line-up. The story is interesting enough, but the game feels clunky for the most part, with very little emphasis on horror or even tension. If this were a list of passable survival horror games, Resident Evil 0 might not be in this spot, but there are simply too many spectacular games in the franchise to warrant it being anywhere but last in the list. It’s highly deserving of the remake treatment, though. 13. Resident Evil 6 (2012) I’m a Resident Evil 6 defender, to an extent. It’s one of the most widely clowned on games in the community, thanks to its action focus and arguably messy plotline, but looking back on it, it’s nowhere near as bad as people made it out to be. Does it outshine the original games or give the Resident Evil remakes a run for their money? No. It’s a solid action horror with survival horror elements, though, so it’s still worth picking up and taking for a spin as a zombie game fan. It features some beloved characters and a few nail-biting action sequences that still manage to be nerve-wracking to this day. 12. Resident Evil 5 (2009) Resident Evil 5 is one of the most action-heavy entries in the series, and it’s best enjoyed with a friend. The co-op experience vastly outshines its single-player experience, so if you’ve got a pal who enjoys zombie-killing, it’s worth picking up. If not, however, it might be worth giving this one a miss. It does have some great action sequences and some iconic, boulder-punching moments, but if you’re a solo player who wants a good story to rip through, this isn’t the title for you. 11. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (2000) Resident Evil – Code: Veronica is one of the most distinct entries in the Resident Evil franchise, and as such, it remains rather divisive in the community. Some fans view it as one of the best survival horror games in history, while others view it as solid but not worthy of the crown. I’m in the latter camp; it’s fun and a fresh addition to the franchise’s earlier roster, with some intriguing fights and lore snippets, but it does have some poorly paced segments. A Code: Veronica remake could be just the ticket to give the game’s story the love it deserves. 10. Resident Evil 3 (Remake) (2020) Unlike its other remake counterparts, Resident Evil 3‘s remake didn’t necessarily improve upon its original title. It’s not a bad game by any stretch, particularly if you’re someone who enjoys the more action-packed entries in the series, but it’s not what many fans were expecting to see. Amidst the brilliant visuals and interesting story, the remake of Resident Evil 3 felt largely too on-rails for the most part, removing a lot of the scare factor. It’s much more linear than its original title, too; not necessarily a bad thing, again, but nowhere near as engrossing as the other survival horror gems higher up this list. 9. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) The titular Nemesis is one of the highlights of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, showcasing just how terrifying stalker monsters can be. This entry in the Resident Evil franchise arguably opts more for tense action over horror, but it’s still got plenty of unsettling moments. Combat took a central focus with Resident Evil 3, much to the chagrin of some fans, with enhancements over the games that came before it. If you’re a fan of more action-horror-leaning games than survival horror, you’ll get a kick out of this title. 8. Resident Evil (1996) It feels mildly criminal to have the original Resident Evil so far down this list, but it’s a testament to how strong the franchise is as a whole. Don’t let its ranking here put you off playing it if you get the chance, though, as this game defined an era of horror and has inspired countless zombie games to follow in its bloody footsteps. With iconic monsters, challenging resource management, and seriously claustrophobic level design, Resident Evil is one of the most comprehensive survival horror games of its era. 7. Resident Evil Village (2021) Resident Evil Village manages to feel like an homage to both classic horror tropes and everything that makes the Resident Evil franchise so beloved. There’s a slew of puzzles in a giant mansion, horrific chase sequences, and plenty of frights, along with an interesting story on top. While it doesn’t beat any of the original titles or their remakes in terms of sheer quality, Resident Evil Village helped follow in Resident Evil 7‘s footsteps and breathe further life into the series, giving new fans a reason to start their adventure with the legendary franchise. 6. Resident Evil 2 (1998) Despite being one of the older titles in the series, Resident Evil 2 still puts most modern survival horror games to shame. It expanded upon the lovably clunky framework of the original Resident Evil and polished it up, highlighting some of the most memorable characters in the franchise. The remake of this game is a stellar experience, but if you can get your hands on the original, it’s well worth playing through. It has one of the most interesting stories in the franchise, offering bags of replay value to keep you coming back for more scares. A special mention also needs to be made to the Nintendo 64 version of the game, which somehow crammed an entire PlayStation 1 game into a dinky cart with little compromises. Magic. 5. Resident Evil (Remake) (2002) The original Resident Evil is undeniably fantastic, if a little rough around the edges in comparison to its more modern counterparts. The 2002 remake of the classic offers a refined look at the story and action, with some fans arguing it makes the original entirely obsolete. Something spectacular about this remake is that it managed to redo the graphics without losing any of the original’s disturbing charm. Visuals aren’t everything when it comes to horror, of course, but this game is a masterclass in using the environment to keep the player on edge. 4. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard couldn’t be more different from the game that came before it, which is just what the series needed. Leaning heavily into the “horror” aspect of survival horror, Biohazard manages to be bloody, terrifying, and ultimately, disturbing. One of the best things about the game is how desperate the player ends up feeling. Some Resident Evil games make the player feel decently strong, particularly if Leon is in the driving seat, but Biohazard makes even the most minor of encounters feel utterly threatening. It’s also one of the most compelling titles story-wise. 3. Resident Evil 4 (Remake) (2023) While it does take more of a serious approach to the story than its B-movie counterpart, the remake of Resident Evil 4 is ridiculously fun to play. The action is punchy and bloody, the story is gripping, and it’s received several quality-of-life improvements over the original, too. It’s quite rare to see a horror series continuously nail remakes, but the Resident Evil remakes consistently manage to outshine their original counterparts in some areas. If you prefer the sillier side of the franchise, you’ll likely prefer the original to this iteration more, but it’s still worth tearing into. 2. Resident Evil 4 (2005) Resident Evil 4 still stands up as one of the best games of its generation, defining third-person, over-the-shoulder gameplay. With the perfect blend of dramatic action, gore, and unbelievably cheesy dialogue, it stands out as one of the most memorable entries in the series. The Resident Evil 4 remake is still superb, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something supremely skin-crawling about this 2005 iteration. It’s fast-paced and bloody, with some fantastic boss fights that’ll test even the most seasoned of pros. The pacing can be a tiny bit wonky in places, but on the whole, it’s a classic. 1. Resident Evil 2 (Remake) (2019) Improving on a classic is no easy feat, but the Resident Evil 2 remake managed to do just that. With a serious overhaul to combat, smoother graphics, and a polished take on the already iconic story, the 2019 iteration of the survival horror masterpiece is a must-play for any horror lover. Both Claire and Leon’s campaigns are delightfully intense and gory, with plenty of challenging sequences thrown into the mix. RE2 is arguably one of the hardest games in the franchise due to one monster in particular, but it’s also one of the most rewarding to finish. Whether you’re more of an action horror fan or a survival horror lover, it’s hard to deny the magnitude of the Resident Evil franchise. Even the “worst” game on this list is still worth playing for yourself at least once, and there’s a new addition on the horizon in 2026 with Resident Evil Requiem that could prove to be one of the best games yet. Ask The Escapist
