Resident Evil is a game franchise that has been around since 1996. Throughout its 27-year history, the franchise has seen a lot of ups and downs. We have seen over 12 games in the game’s main storyline.
This number goes up to 30 when we count spinoffs and remakes, and it reaches 60 if we add the mobile ports and releases on other consoles. The franchise has stood the test of time, is still vital to this day, and is loved and adored by fans worldwide.
However, only some games in the franchise’s history were created equally. Some games are considered all-time classics by fans, while others are considered massive failures.
This sparks a debate and raises the question of what are the best Resident Evil games of all time. The answer to that question may vary based on your preference and what you value more in a game.
Always Resident Evil games Are the best
Some people like the games for action and gameplay, while others play for the story. So, let us look at all the games in the main storyline and determine the best of all time.
The original Resident Evil 4 is still the undisputed king and the best Resident Evil game of all time. It introduced a lot of new mechanics and gameplay features that were revolutionary for that period.
The game also holds up amazingly well and still plays well if you try it today. All these factors make it the best game in the franchise, hands down.
After the original Resident 4, we have the Resident Evil 4 remake in 2023. This game stays faithful to the original game and introduces new changes that do not take away from the original game.
Then we have games like the Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and the Resident Evil 1 remake, which round off our list of the best Resident Evil games ever.
If we want to learn more about these games, we suggest you keep reading. We will examine the six best games in the franchise’s history and discuss the factors that help them stand out as the best Resident Evil games ever. With all that said, let us get started;
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Best Resident Evil Games Of All Time
1. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Choosing the Best Resident Evil game of all time was hard, especially after releasing the Resident Evil 4 remake. Both games are unique and bring a lot to the table. Most people would put the remake over the original, which would be a good decision.
However, we decided to go with the original game because of its impact on the gaming industry when it came out in 2005.
Resident Evil 4 follows the story of Leon S. Kennedy. We follow Leon’s journey to locate the U.S. President’s daughter Ashley Graham.
During this journey, Leon travels to a remote village in Spain, where he encounters a group of hostile villagers and makes his way through them to complete his mission and locate Ashley.
The game is widely loved and adored by all fans and critics because of its benefits. For a game in 2005, Resident Evil 4 was surprisingly complete.
Features A Fantastic Story
It features a fantastic story, art style, gameplay, voice acting, and character arcs. It is considered one of the best games of all time and the best game in PlayStation 2 history.
Resident Evil 4 was also a commercial success and sold more than 11 units worldwide. It also introduced many unique and innovative concepts to the gaming world, like the over-the-shoulder third-person camera.
It also features fast-paced gameplay that keeps players alert while playing. The boss fights in the game was also excellent and challenged the players to deploy unique strategies to defeat them.
The game was also revolutionary because we had not seen anything like it before in 2005. It features incredible fight scenes, locales, in-game battles, and set pieces that keep players on the edge of their seats.
It also holds up exceptionally well even today, and you can play it without missing a beat. All this and more makes Resident Evil 4 (2005) the Best Resident Evil game of all time.
2. Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)
Capcom was hit-and-miss when it came to remakes. Although they had excellent remakes like the Resident Evil 1 and 2 remakes (more on them later), many fans were skeptical after the Resident Evil 3 remake. Capcom cut out some fantastic set pieces and locations from the original games that negatively impacted the final game.
So, when Capcom announced a remake of the cult classic Resident Evil 4, many fans were rightly worried about what they will remove from the original story.
Fans of the original game had doubts about the remake’s release and how it would hold up compared to the original game. All these doubts and reservations disappeared when the game was released on March 24th, 2023.
One Of The Best Remakes In Gaming History
Capcom managed to do the impossible and made significant improvements to the original game. The locations, gameplay, storylines, and voice acting improved while remaining faithful to the original game.
The game was successful and received terrific reviews from fans and critics. It also sold more than 4 million units in the first two weeks, which made it one of the fastest-selling games in franchise history.
The remake follows the same story of Leon S. Kennedy. However, new cut scenes were added to the game that helped explain the story better.
Similarly, additions were also made to the story and the missions that help tie up the game and all its story elements together. All the questions people thought were left unanswered in the original game were answered here through new additions.
The character remodels were also impressive and further enhanced the game’s beauty. All the significant locations and critical areas in the original game were recreated and rescaled to fit the new vibe of the remake. They also added new enemies, which made the game more exciting and appealing.
All this and more makes the Resident Evil 4 remake one of the best remakes in gaming history and a deserving entry in our list of the Best Resident Evil games ever.
3. Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)
Resident Evil 2 is considered by many as one of the best horror games in the franchise. The entire game’s premise revolves around Mr.X as he chases you throughout the game.
There is a sense of impending doom as you try to escape an area while a massive monster chases you. This aspect of the game makes it scary and is the main reason why fans love the game.
So, when Capcom decided to release a remake of Resident Evil 2, many fans were excited to see how they would integrate Mr.X into this new game. When the game came out, fans were happy to see they did the villain justice.
Mr.X is just as terrifying as ever in Resident Evil 2’s remake. As you try to flee Raccoon City, he pursues you through the police station and into the streets.
The game also portrays the characters of Leon and Claire Redfield exceptionally well. In the new version, they also did a better job explaining the plot holes in the original game.
The original game also needed more cut scenes and engaging dialogue between the characters. All of these issues were fixed in this new version of the game.
The game garnered overwhelming praise from the Resident Evil fanbase because of its faithfulness to the original game while adding some much-needed depth.
It sold more than 12 million copies, making it more successful than the original Resident Evil 2 game. After the original game’s release, downloadable content was also made available for all players.
This content added new missions and alternate storylines regarding some notable characters in the game who died during the outbreak in Raccoon City. All this makes Resident Evil 2 remake the third-best Resident Evil game ever.
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4. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
After the release of Resident Evil 6, the franchise’s future was in jeopardy. Resident Evil 6 massively underperformed and was hated by many fanbases because of its action-based premise.
The game has left behind the horror aspect that most people associated the franchise with. Many fans thought this would be the franchise’s future and that all the following games would feature the same action-heavy gameplay.
However, Capcom decided to return to the horror roots the franchise was known for with the release of Resident Evil 7.
Biohazard was a dark and brooding game that was considered by many the scariest game in franchise history. The game follows a new character Ethan Winters on his journey to locate his wife.
First Main Storyline Game In The Franchise’s History
Resident Evil 7 was also the first main storyline game in the franchise’s history, entirely in first-person mode. This made the game more thrilling and made the fans jump in horror after every jump scares. We also got to look at the Baker Family, who served as the antagonists for the game.
Resident Evil 7 featured a dark and creepy take on Louisiana, where we travel to locate Mia and solve the mystery of her disappearance.You must initially traverse a guest house and its surrounding area to locate Mia and escape.
Trying to plot your escape while avoiding different Baker family members as they chase you adds a sense of urgency and dread to the game. The game also features excellent missions that further help expand on this new story.
You must solve different puzzles that help you unlock the mystery surrounding the family and how they got infected.
You also follow the story of a group who traveled to the guest house before you. As you progress in the game, you unlock different tapes that expand their story and eventual fate at the hands of the Baker family.
Lastly, you must make different choices along your journey that help shape the story and impact how the game will end. All these factors make Resident Evil 7: Biohazard a strong entry in our list of the Best Resident Evil games.
5. Resident Evil Village (2021)
Resident Evil Village is a direct sequent of Resident Evil 7 and follows the story of Ethan Winters. In this game, we play Ethan Winters and follow his quest to locate his kidnapped daughter.
Village brings all the elements of gameplay that made Resident Evil 7 tremendous and adds some more action to it.
There are more enemies in the game that you can kill in more creative and innovative ways. The game also has some fantastic locations and is one of the best-looking games in the franchise.
Traveling to different areas of the map would be best to locate items that will help you get closer to your daughter.
The game also has an overarching story that ties together the Ethan Winters saga. Without any spoilers, it is the best story in the franchise when you compare it to other games.
The village also features some new weapons and enemy types. The bosses in the game are also connected, and you have to deploy different strategies to kill them.
Resident Evil Village not only answers questions about Ethan and Mia but also introduces us to Rose, who is their daughter.
The main story of the game and the Shadows of Rose DLC explains her story and abilities and set her up as the next protagonist in the franchise. Because of this, Resident Evil Village is a serious contender for our best Resident Evil games of all time list.
6. Resident Evil 1 Remake (2002)
Resident Evil was the first game in the franchise and set a high benchmark for future games when it came to gameplay. However, the version of the game that was released in 1996 suffered from a lot of problems.
The biggest problem associated with the first game was its poor voice acting. The dialogue between the characters took a lot of people out of the game and made the game almost unplayable.
The game also featured some silly and cheesy gameplay that does not suit the survival horror vibe of the game. This is why Capcom decided to remake the original game back in 2002.
This proved to be a great decision, as the Resident Evil 1 remake is one of the most substantial entries in the franchise.
You can play as Jill Vallentine or Chris Redfield and explore a mansion infested with zombies and other monsters. The remake was successful in solving the gameplay and voice-acting issues that were associated with the original game.
The remake also introduced new content and quests that helped answer some questions left unanswered in the original game.
They also added a new storyline featuring Lisa Trevor, which was more of the scariest stories in the game. Other graphical and gameplay changes helped transform it from a campy and claustrophobic PS1 game to a creative and well-made PS2 game.
Perfecting the remake formula on your first try is impossible, but Capcom did that with this game. All these factors make Resident Evil remake an incredible success and one of the best Resident Evil games in franchise history.
The Best Resident Evil Game
The fourth Resident Evil game is the pinnacle of the series. Its novel gameplay features set it out as a cutting-edge release for 2005. It also has fantastic characters, gameplay, and world design that still hold up in today’s gaming landscape.
The game’s story is also exciting, keeping the players on the edge of their seats. All of this is rounded up by creativity regarding boss and enemy types that add an extra challenge for the layers.
Other games on our list also add something extra to the franchise. All these games have great gameplay and story. They also feature excellent mechanics and worlds that keep the players engaged.
Resident Evil games also come with DLC and unique game modes that enhance the game’s playability and keep the fans coming back for more.
Resident Evil games also act as trendsetters, providing an ideal model of what to expect from a survival horror game. These are some of the reasons all these games made our list of the best Resident Evil games of all time.
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Conclusion
Our list of the best Resident Evil games of all time. The Resident Evil franchise has been around for the last 27 years. Throughout these years, we have seen the franchise completely transform and evolve.
The franchise has also seen several ups and downs and points where its future could have been better. However, Capcom has still managed to deliver some fantastic games and continues to do so.
This is why it is one of the most consistent franchises in gaming history that is still going strong today. The franchise has revolutionized the gaming world and introduced new mechanics and gameplay changes that have become the norm in the gaming industry.
This makes Resident Evil one of the most successful and enduring franchises in gaming history. This list gives you an idea about the best Resident Evil games ever.
Let us know what you think about the guide in the comments below. Your feedback is highly valued and appreciated. Till next time, good luck and have fun!
