The adrenaline is always high when playing through any of the entries in the Resident Evil series. Mindless zombies don’t seem so frightening at times… that is, until you’ve experienced the mutilated, virus-infected organisms Capcom calls zombies.
From the first installment of the franchise to the more modern releases, the creature designs and mechanics have undergone a continuous evolution, consistently meeting and surpassing the expectations of horror players. However, the undead isn’t the only thing that gamers must fear. Capcom's enhancements to the RE Engine have enabled them to craft some terrifying environments, treacherous situations, and an incredibly macabre aesthetic that coalesce into a massive nightmare.
10 Resident Evil 4: Playing As Ashley
A little bit of a surprise awaits you in the Resident Evil 4 Remake when assuming the role of Ashley. The revamped puzzles in the Ashley sequence present a deeper and more intricate challenge, sending anxiety levels soaring as the Armadura enemies close in. Armed with a single blue lamplight, you have to strategize to momentarily immobilize the knight-armored monstrosities.
Sneaking past multiple adversaries becomes the preferred approach, introducing a significant shift in gameplay mechanics. With the absence of conventional firepower, puzzles, and stealth become the focus, heightening the sense of tension and requiring quick thinking to outsmart the relentless foes.
9 Resident Evil 4: Verdugo
The chilling redesign of the frozen horror known as Verdugo in the Resident Evil 4 Remake leaves an ingrained mark on players' memories. A sudden and intense cutscene shatters the calm when Leon explores the ice room, showcasing the monster’s terrifying advance through the many freezer rooms.
The first-person perspective, bathed in an ominous red hue, intensifies the imminent threat. The scene bears a resemblance to a spine-tingling moment straight out of an Alien movie, with the creature reminiscent of an alien monster slithering through ceiling vents. Verdugo's continuing pursuit, with lightning-fast speed akin to the Regenerator prototypes, makes every encounter a heart-pounding race for survival.
8 Resident Evil 7: Marguerite Boss Fight
Marguerite emerges as one of the more obnoxious and formidable adversaries within the unhinged Baker family. Her transformation, fueled by the virus infecting her brain, escalates her into a grotesque humanoid spider, growing in size and power. As Ethan Winters faces off against this towering abomination, Marguerite’s mocking taunts add an extra layer of horror to the encounter.
Her deafening presence and the daunting task of severing her limbs intensify the sense of desperation. The Marguerite boss fight embodies the never-ending struggle against a powerful, mutated foe, evoking a profound sense of unease and dread.
7 Resident Evil 7: Mia Reunion
Ethan's arrival at the house holds a cloud of uncertainty, further amplified by Mia's urgent warning to stay away. Exploring the sinister abode, anticipation grows until Mia eventually reveals herself, triggering a torrent of unsettling emotions. Desperation mixes with anxiety as Ethan demands answers about the mysterious circumstances.
Multiple encounters follow, but the true horror manifests when Mia's complexion shifts and she transforms into a possessed entity. Ethan finds himself fending off multiple attacks while pleading for his life. Confronting Mia's grotesque visage, coupled with the revelation that he has embarked on a perilous journey to save his possessed girlfriend, intensifies the sheer terror of the situation.
6 Resident Evil 4 - Remake: Regenerators
In the Resident Evil 4 Remake, Capcom resurrects one of the most disturbing foes in the franchise: the Regenerators. These unnerving creatures, tall and deformed, are impenetrable to usual attacks such as gunfire and grenades, forcing Leon to adapt to a bioscope rifle to take out their weak spots. Their haunting presence was marked by heavy, unnerving breaths reverberating through the atmosphere.
What truly sent shivers down players' spines was the revelation that Regenerators could now sprint, significantly increasing their threat level. Witnessing their glowing eyes as they closed in or hearing their eerie, irregular breathing instilled a profound sense of unease, evoking a collective sense of terror among players. The Regenerators' presence alone prompts Leon to let out something we were all thinking: what the f*** are you!?
5 Resident Evil 7: Jack Baker Encounters
Another fearful and challenging experience in Resident Evil 7 revolves around the nonstop chase of Jack Baker. After his seemingly friendly introduction and sharing a disturbing family dinner, Jack becomes a constant presence, lurking in the living room to ensure Ethan doesn't escape. This situation builds frustration arising from frantically navigating a house while Jack taunts from behind.
As the head of the Baker family, he takes pride in his mutations, going to extreme lengths to prove that he will catch up to Ethan. Each encounter with Jack amplifies the sense of dread, as his taunting remarks and unpredictable behavior instill a constant fear of being cornered and overpowered.
4 Resident Evil 2 - Remake: Mr. X Chase
A standout feature of the Resident Evil 2 Remake is the persistent stalking of the formidable bioweapon known as Mr. X. Bursting through walls to get to Leon and Claire, this towering humanoid giant relentlessly stalks the characters, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Even when his footsteps are momentarily absent, his looming presence lingers, creating an atmosphere of constant tension where he could strike from any corner.
Unlike specific scripted encounters, Mr. X's unpredictable movements keep players on edge throughout the game, as they must evade this terrifying menace that cannot be defeated with conventional firepower. Escaping from the giant bioweapon becomes a nerve-wracking experience, accompanied by haunting music that further heightens the sense of impending doom.
3 Resident Evil 7: The Clancy Jarvis Tapes
Among the Baker family's unfortunate victims, Clancy Jarvis endures unspeakable horrors while held captive. The videotapes depicting Clancy's torment within the house are deeply disturbing, thrusting players into his desperate struggle for survival. Discovering these tapes (and Clancy's simmered corpse) scattered throughout the house, Ethan gains insights and clues that help navigate the treacherous mansion and the Bakers' deadly traps.
Notably, the VR Demo released for PlayStation in 2016 introduced players to a whole new level of horror, as the immersive experience intensified the terror, paving the way for the full game's release in VR.
2 Resident Evil 7: Beyond the Basement
Following the constant shadowing of Jack Baker, players stumble upon a familiar save point, but this time, an ominous basement looms nearby. The flickering light above the door casts a dying glow, emphasizing the darkness that awaits beyond the stairs leading downward. In any horror game, a basement is an ill omen, and this particular basement intensifies the horror.
With an unsettling ambiance permeating the air, featuring black mold and eerie sounds, the descent into the depths takes players through unsettling locations like a morgue and an engine room. From the walls, grotesque black goo-like beasts, once humans, emerge unexpectedly, attacking Ethan while Jack Baker inches closer, setting the stage for another harrowing confrontation.
1 Resident Evil 8: House Beneviento Baby
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
In Ethan's search for his daughter Rose, he encounters House Beneviento, presided over by the twisted Donna Beneviento and her eerie puppet, Angie. As Ethan approaches the house, haunting visions of his wife Mia and daughter foreshadow the horrors within. Once inside, Ethan finds himself trapped, stripped of weapons, and faced with a series of formidable challenges.
One such obstacle involves a grotesque, giant alien-like baby crawling through the corridors, its umbilical cord trailing behind. Tormenting Ethan with visions of his loved ones, this monstrous entity becomes the last thing players want to confront. The shrill cries of the baby, combined with the dimly lit red ambiance of the house, create a profoundly anxiety-inducing experience, immersing players in an atmosphere of complete horror.