All the Resident Evil games ranked from best to worst

There have been more Resident Evil games than times Milla Jovovich dodged an enemy's attack in slow-motion. This statement is probably not 100% accurate but it sets up our article nicely, where we attempt the monumental task of ranking all the Resident Evil games from best to worst. Yes, all 25 of them.

There are many different opinions on which Resident Evil games are the best, and which are the worst. Biohazard purists will likely go with the first few titles, while others believe Resident Evil 4 is still the best. With that in mind, let's get started.

Please note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are that of the author, and does not necessarily align with the opinions of all Ginx staff.

1. Resident Evil 7

Capcom saved, revitalized, and pushed the franchise to new heights with Resident Evil 7. Released in January 2017, Resident Evil 7 is the latest mainline entry in the franchise, where Capcom took just as big a risk as they did with Resident Evil 4, and it paid off.

The first-person perspective took horror to the next level, and then some. It might not be the most popular opinion out there, but without Resident Evil 7, the franchise could very well have stayed in a mediocre state, as both RE5 and RE6 were huge disappointments.

With Resident Evil 7, Capcom showed off the powerful RE Engine, released a full Virtual Reality (VR) experience which requires (not an official requirement) adult diapers to play. The game raised the bar in all aspects, combined with an interesting, and surprisingly coherent story. One of the things we love the most about Resident Evil 7 is the protagonist, Ethan Winters, who isn't a "supercop" or a highly-trained individual.

The supporting cast, from Eveline to Mia, and the entire Baker family, just screamed quality. Capcom created a masterpiece in Resident Evil 7, which is probably why Resident Evil 8 rumours suggest the game will be a follow-up, also starting Ethan Winters, and with Chris Redfield playing a central role.

• Read more: Resident Evil 8 - Five things we want to see from Capcom

Resident Evil 7, with its first-person view amping up the horror, its interesting characters, setting, and amazing VR experience, takes the number one spot for our list of all the Resident Evil games.

2. Resident Evil 4

Since it's initial release in 2005 on the GameCube, Capcom has ported Resident Evil 4 to just about every platform imaginable. Many fans consider Resident Evil 4 to be on top of the best Resident Evil games list. Capcom took a huge leap with the fourth mainline entry in the franchise, dropping the fixed-camera for an over-the-shoulder, third-person perspective.

At the time of release, Resident Evil 4 was one of the best-looking games out there. It took the franchise in a completely new direction, blending action-orientated gameplay with horror. It features protagonist, Leon S. Kennedy, starting out on a mission to save the U.S. President's daughter from a mysterious cult.

The characters, enemies, and excellent locations all made Resident Evil 4 a special, thrilling title. Capcom wouldn't reach the same heights again for over a decade, with the next two mainline entries not even coming close to Resident Evil 4. To this day, it is simply one of the most thrilling games ever made.

3. Resident Evil 2 Remake

After the release of Resident Evil 7, Capcom went on a bit of a "remake" spree, starting with Resident Evil 2 Remake. While the original, released all the way back in 1998 for PlayStation, was always considered one of the best games in the franchise, the 2019 remake exceeded expectations.

Capcom managed to capture the iconic Raccoon City Police Department (RCPD) in all its splendour, improving on every single aspect of the original. Best of all, Capcom didn't try to reinvent the wheel or mess with this one, keeping everything fans loved of the 1998 classic, and just improving upon it all.

Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield star in this masterpiece, just like they did in the original. The title was nominated for multiple Game of the Year Awards, and received high praise from fans, as well as critics.

The Resident Evil 2 Remake offered fans a lot of replayability, fantastic gunplay, an updated survival-horror experience, and much more. However, the standout has to be Mr X, aka the Tyrant.

Unlike Nemesis in the recently released Resident Evil 3 Remake, the Tyrant has this incomprehensible presence. It really feels as if Mr X is stalking you around every corner. He is intimidating, and arguably one of the greatest Resident Evil characters of all time, pushed to new heights thanks to the RE Engine, and Capcom's excellent design choices.

4. Resident Evil HD (2015 Remaster)

Back in 1996, Capcom released a game which would change the face of horror titles forever. We are, of course, talking about Resident Evil, which received a fresh coat of paint for the GameCube in 2002, followed by an HD remaster for current-gen systems in 2015.

Very few games can stand up to the iconic Resident Evil, with its immense atmosphere, excellent survival-horror mechanics, cheesy dialogue, and sheer brilliance.

You can play with either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, each with their own strengths, and weaknesses. Making your way through the iconic mansion (and the underground Umbrella lab), you meet horrifying creatures, including more zombies than you can handle, a giant snake, and the Tyrant.

With multiple endings, extremely satisfying (and sometimes a bit frustrating) gameplay for the time, as well as the iconic characters, Wesker, and the Tyrant, Resident Evil HD is no doubt one of the best Resident Evil games ever created. It might not hold up too well against recent remakes, but one has to give credit where credit is due.

Resident Evil is where the survival-horror genre really got started. It spawned 24 other games, several films, and for this, it will never be forgotten.

5. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

Many gamers starting their Resident Evil journey in the current-gen, might never have even heard about Resident Evil - Code: Veronica. The game was released all the way back in 2000, first on Dreamcast, then later on the PS2, as well as ports on PS3, Xbox 360 and GameCube.

Capcom recently asked which other Resident Evil games people would like to see get the "remake" treatment in a survey, with Code: Veronica currently leading the way. This comes as no surprise, as Resident Evil - Code: Veronica is one of the best games in the franchise.

The game takes place three months after the events of Resident Evil 2. It follows the story of both Claire and Chris Redfield, who try to survive an outbreak at a remote prison island, and a research facility in Antarctica. The first half of the game is spent playing as Claire, while the second half is spent playing with Chris, and it never stopped surprising us through over 13 hours of gameplay.

Unlike its predecessors, which used pre-rendered backgrounds, Code: Veronica utilized real-time 3D environments with dynamic camera movement, and it worked brilliantly for the time.

Code: Veronica set itself apart with a lengthy survival horror experience, great enemy variety (who can forget those giant spiders?), exciting boss battles, and much more. It is an experience we would recommend to this day if you have an old system to play it on. Best of all, it made Albert Wesker, augmented with superhuman powers, the badass villain he is today.

The other 20 Resident Evil games, ranked

We've explained our top five picks in detail, and now it is time to head down the rabbit hole. As we move down on this list, you might find some titles you have never heard of. We continue the ranking from 6 to 25 below.

There are failed multiplayer experiments of which Umbrella would be proud, on-rails shooters, light gun shooters, and even an action-adventure title for the Game Boy Colour called Resident Evil Gaiden. Sorry, Capcom, we didn't forget about Gaiden...

6. Resident Evil (1996)

7. Resident Evil 2 (1998)

8. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)

9. Resident Evil Zero (2002)

10. Resident Evil: Revelations (2011)

11. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)

12. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)

13. Resident Evil Outbreak (2003)

14. Resident Evil 5 (2009)

15. Resident Evil 6 (2012)

16. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009)

17. Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica (2001)

18. Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2 (2004)

19. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (2011)

20. Resident Evil: Dead Aim (2003)

21. Resident Evil: Survivor (2000)

22. Umbrella Corps (2016)

23. Resident Evil Survivor (2000)

24. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (2012)

25. Resident Evil Gaiden (2001)

Closing Thoughts

Some fans of specific Resident Evil games might start foaming at the mouth when seeing these rankings, almost as if they've been infected with a virus straight from the Umbrella labs. Others might agree, or hopefully, at least agree on some of these rankings. Keep in mind these are our ranking for the Resident Evil games, from best to worst. You are welcome to disagree and send Mr X after the writer, just don't send the new Nemesis, cause he can easily be dodged to death...