I've finally played and completed enough RE games to feel confident enough making my first ranking list.
5 thumbs = Excellent
4 thumbs = Great
3 thumbs = Good
2 thumbs = Okay
1 thumb = Bad
Thumbs down = Terrible
1. RE1 remake (2002)
- It is and will always remain my favorite game in the series, period. The EPITOME of what Resident Evil is about, this is a true survival horror masterpiece that is unrivaled by everything else. Not only does it respectfully preserve the original, it expands upon it. The story of this game remains the best in the series.
2. RE2 remake (2019)
- Even though I played the remake before the OG RE2, with the benefit of hindsight I think the remake is superior. Even though it didn't get the A/B scenarios right, it did
everything else right and managed to capture 90's survival horror in a modern third-person game. With beautiful graphics, a well put together story and high replay value, this game will age like fine wine for sure.
3. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)
- Revelations 2 is a true gem that deserves every bit of credit it can get. It brought back a much-needed sense of dread and horror to a series which at that time was in a pretty bad spot. People wrongly give RE7 credit for bringing back the series to the limelight, when it was actually the huge popularity surrounding Revelations 2 that convinced Capcom to move forward with games such as RE2 remake. For a spin-off, the graphics are actually really good and the story plus setting is definitely classic RE style. Besides, the Burtons are awesome and I would love to see another RE game featuring Barry with his daughter.
4. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
- OG RE3 was the first Resident Evil that I played, and it still holds a special place in my heart. The Nemesis is an amazing antagonist that puts most other RE bosses to shame when it comes to sheer power and ability to hunt you down. Although they don't talk to each other, there does exists a sense of character arc building between him and Jill over the course of the game. Raccoon City is also very well executed in terms of exploration and atmosphere, if you want to experience the Raccoon City incident THIS is the game that does it best. Jill has so many epic quotes in this game, but my favorite is her whole intro speech which gives me goosebumps every time. It's such a shame that it never got the remake it deserved.
5. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
- I'll have to admit that this game is good, and I would be lying if I said otherwise. Even though the sheer technicality of the A/B scenarios didn't impress me, I can imagine that they were a big deal back in 1998. Nevertheless, this game is such an improvement from RE1 in terms of graphics, gameplay, exploration, dialogue and so on, that it deserves every bit of credit it can get. I thoroughly enjoyed it even after playing it for the first time in 2020.
6. Resident Evil: Code Veronica (2000)
- Code Veronica definitely stands out as one of the weirdest and most unique games in the series. The atmosphere in this game is beautiful in an otherwordly way, it almost feels like traversing through someone's dream (not unlike many Silent Hill games). The characters feel and act more like Disney characters this time around, with Alfred in particular acting laughably over the top. The game is ridiculously hard, with bosses like the middle Tyrant being especially unforgiving. The story is full of fascinating lore though, and with improved dialogue the character interactions could be top notch. If any game in the series deserves a modern remake, it is THIS ONE. With the right people involved, it could become one of the best Resident Evil games.
7. Resident Evil (1996)
- Contrary to what I was told before playing this for the first time in 2020, this game still holds up and is not unplayable at all. Take away the cheesy dialogue, and the actual story and gameplay of the OG Resident Evil is just as good as you'd imagine it to be. It deserves our respect for kicking off not only this series, but 90's survival horror as a whole. Without this game there wouldn't be any Silent Hill either.
8. Resident Evil Zero (2002)
- I've said it before, but Zero massively fails as a prequel to RE1 by omitting Bravo team from the plot. It focuses on the wrong stuff, adds content and storylines that ask more questions then they answer. It's not a bad game per se, but it just doesn't fit within the timeline.
9. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- RE4 is a wild ride, it's incredibly addictive with its adrenaline-filled action and over the top setting and characters. I had a lot of fun playing it, and it made me understand how much of an influence RE4 has had on the gaming market with everything from its revolutionary over-the-shoulder perspective and the infamous cabin scene. It is undoubtedly considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and I can totally understand why. But for me, this is when the RE series jumped the shark. There is simply too much overreliance on action and too little emphasis on horror, and the characters act and talk in a way that almost makes it seem like a parody of Resident Evil - its very arcadey-like. Leon jumps like Neo from The Matrix. Actually Code Veronica deserves some of this blame as well, but I think RE4 had a greater impact in terms of what Capcom would decide to do in later games like RE5 and RE6.
10. Resident Evil: Outbreak (2003)
- This game is a mess to play in offline mode, and its not very enjoyable. Interesting on paper, but not very well executed. I do think some of the lore in this game is fascinating though, and it was nice to see the Raccoon City incident from the eyes of more citizens.
11. Resident Evil 7 (2017)
- RE7 is the black sheep of the series to me. It is a game deeply rooted in supernatural horror, which is not what Resident Evil was originally about. Hence, this game can NEVER be considered a "return to its roots". It's not a Resident Evil game just because it takes place in a residence that's full of evil, duh. Unfortunately, the mainstream success of this game is the reason why RE8 looks the way it does.
12. Resident Evil 5 (2009)
- While I feel the lore surrounding this game is a huge step up from RE4 by introducing the origins of the Progenitor viruses as well as showing Oswall E. Spencer for the first time, it wasn't enough to take away the action-filled gameplay and lack of true horror. It's a shame, because I see so much potential in this game's story.
13. Resident Evil 3 (2020)
- Worst "remake" of all time. Never in my whole life have I been more disappointed in a game. Capcom should be ashamed for rushing through this product. Almost everything from the original is either changed or omitted except for some basic plot points, that is then restructured into a 3 hour long action-filled movie sequence. Nemesis is no longer a pursuer, but a prop.
14. Resident Evil: Revelations (2012)
- Pure trash.
