The original Resident Evil - known as Biohazard in Japan - launched on the PlayStation in 1996 and featured fundamental concepts that helped define the survival horror genre. The tense atmosphere of the Spencer Mansion is only made worse by limited inventory space, complex puzzles, and terrifying monsters that lurk around every corner.
Since then, there have been over thirty games released under the Resident Evil banner, including multiple spin-offs, mobile games, and more. The series excels at subverting expectations and exploring new ideas and mechanics, but it doesn't always work. If you want to play the best Resident Evil games, these are the ones you should look into first.
10 Resident Evil 5 (2009)
During the late 2000s, the Resident Evil series began abandoning the survival horror elements of its predecessors and became more of an action-packed third-person shooter. It was a startling transformation, and while some fans were displeased with games like Resident Evil 5, it still has most of the elements that made the series special - like characters and gameplay.
Resident Evil 5 follows Chris Redfield as he teams up with Sheva Alomar to stop a terrorist group from releasing a dangerous virus into the world. It might not have the same terrifying atmosphere as other entries, but the story is just as bizarre and full of shocking moments.
The best part about Resident Evil 5 is that you can play through it cooperatively with a friend.
9 Resident Evil Revelations 2 (2015)
After launching action-focused titles for a few years, the series finally returned to its survival horror roots with Resident Evil: Revelations. The first Resident Evil: Revelations used an episodic narrative structure, and while it was great to see Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine return for another misadventure, Revelations 2 is a much better experience overall.
Revelations 2 still splits its story into episodes, but each one contains intriguing character moments and tense gameplay sequences. Unlike the first Revelations, you can play through Revelations 2 cooperatively, but you'll need to fight with your friend to decide who gets to play Barry Burton.
8 Resident Evil Code: Veronica (2000)
The Resident Evil series didn't begin experimenting with spin-offs until the early 2000s when they launched Resident Evil Survivor and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. The latter received almost universal acclaim for its story, gameplay, and stunning environments.
Code: Veronica is somehow the only game to feature Chris and Claire Redfield as playable characters, though they're only reunited for a little while before going their separate ways again. As great as Code: Veronica was at the time, some of its puzzles don't hold up very well and can be extremely frustrating to solve by today's standards.
7 Resident Evil 3 Remake (2020)
As great as the Resident Evil trilogy is, it's hard to go back and play the original versions due to their fixed camera angles and tank controls, but fortunately, Capcom has been remaking older entries from the ground up for modern audiences, including Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Set around the events of Resident Evil 2, you follow Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira as they fight for their lives in a zombie-infested Raccoon City.
To make things worse, a creature known as Nemesis chases down any surviving S.T.A.R.S. members from the original game - including Jill Valentine. 2020s Resident Evil 3 is a gorgeous game with memorable action sequences and terrifying monsters.
Still, it's almost three hours shorter than 2019's Resident Evil 2 remake and doesn't offer nearly as much replayability as other titles in the series.
6 Resident Evil Remake (2002)
Between Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and the Resident Evil remake, the GameCube was home to some of the best versions of the PlayStation's greatest games. Directed by series creator Shinji Mikami, the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil improves the gameplay and graphics while expanding the world with new areas to explore and cut storylines from the 1996 version.
It might not be as flashy as modern entries, but the tight hallways and mysterious atmosphere are just as scary to explore today as they were nearly three decades ago. There is a sense of dread throughout the game that even modern survival horror titles struggle to replicate, and each decision you make will feel like the difference between life and death.
5 Resident Evil Village (2021)
Resident Evil Village - the eighth mainline entry in the series - often feels like a love letter to the games that came before it. It subtly recreates familiar moments while exploring Castle Dimitrescu or surviving an attack from an overwhelming amount of monsters until they eventually run off - homages to the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 4.
Taking place three years after the events of Resident Evil 7, you once again play as Ethan Winters after your daughter is kidnapped. Resident Evil Village is more action-focused than its predecessor, but it contains one of the scariest sequences in any Resident Evil game and a roster of iconic villains that you won't forget anytime soon.
4 Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Six years and eight spin-off games after Resident Evil 3: Nemesis launched on the PlayStation, the series finally returned with an exciting new entry that would redefine the brand and eventually become one of the most influential video games ever made.
You play Leon S. Kennedy as he goes on a rescue mission to save the President's daughter. Resident Evil 4 is a non-stop thrill ride from beginning to end, with some of the most iconic sequences, lines, characters, and bosses in the entire series.
Shinji Mikami created a timeless adventure that's an absolute delight to revisit every time it gets re-released on a new console.
3 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
After the success of Resident Evil 4, the series started to stray away from horror and eventually became a hollow shell of itself by the time Resident Evil 6 launched in 2012. The excitement around the Resident Evil brand had essentially dissipated, and without the downright terrifying Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, it may have completely vanished into obscurity.
Few series have reinvented themselves as often as Resident Evil, but the decision to strip away everything it had become known for - like third-person perspectives and cinematic action sequences - so it could return to its roots was essential for Resident Evil 7's success. The first-person perspective makes exploring the Baker residence one of the most horrifying experiences in gaming, and the story is simultaneously exciting and stomach-turning until the very end.
2 Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)
It could have been a risky move for Capcom to remake one of the most beloved games of all time, but after perfecting the formula with Resident Evil 2 and 3, they somehow made Resident Evil 4 into a masterpiece for the second time. Leon's journey to save the President's daughter may seem familiar at first, but the game plays with your expectations and keeps even longtime fans of the original wondering what will happen next.
The best part about the Resident Evil 4 remake is that it's different enough from the 2006 version that it doesn't completely replace it as the definitive way to enjoy the game. Its improvements in gameplay and narrative structure are remarkable, and fan-favorite characters like The Merchant and Ada Wong have never felt more alive.
1 Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)
When Capcom remade the original Resident Evil for the GameCube, they were able to expand upon the base game in meaningful ways that redefined the entire adventure. When they decided to remake Resident Evil 2 nearly twenty years later, they used this same philosophy to recreate the game you remember from 1998 while making it bigger, better, and more terrifying in every way imaginable.
Resident Evil 2 features two campaigns - starring Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield - that intersect with each other as you play through them. Navigating Raccoon City's claustrophobic police station can be horrifying, and it's eventually made worse with the implementation of an unkillable creature known as Mr. X.
Both campaigns feature memorable characters, well-hidden jump scares, and unlimited replayability that help make Resident Evil 2 remake the definitive Resident Evil experience.