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ALL 15 RESIDENT EVIL GAMES RANKED FROM BEST TO WOR
All 15 Resident Evil Games Ranked from Best to Worst (2026)
PUBLISHED MAY 2026 · 15 MIN READ
// AUTHORED BY
Jachin
· Seoul, KR · Played all 15 mainline + remake entries — Platinumed every modern RE since RE2 Remake (2019)
Through Resident Evil: Requiem (2026), Capcom has released 15 mainline games and major remakes spanning 30 years. This ranking weighs Metacritic scores, franchise impact, and modern playability. RE4 still reigns supreme; RE2 Remake holds #2; RE9 lands at a strong #4.
This ranking covers the 15 mainline Resident Evil games and major remakes through Resident Evil: Requiem (2026). Spin-offs (Outbreak, Revelations, Umbrella Corps, Resistance, Re:Verse) are excluded — they deserve their own ranking. Scores cited are Metacritic where available; rankings reflect a synthesis of Metacritic, critic reviews, and franchise impact.
Top tier: must-play
#1Resident Evil 4 (2005)
METACRITIC 96 · GAMECUBE / MULTI · ACTION HORROR
The genre-defining masterpiece. Over-the-shoulder camera, tight gunplay, escalating pacing, and Leon's fight through a Spanish village remain the gold standard 20 years later. Every modern third-person shooter owes RE4 a debt. Still the highest-rated mainline RE in franchise history.
#2Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)
METACRITIC 93 · MULTI · SURVIVAL HORROR
The Metacritic best-rated game of 2019, and 15.8 million copies sold by August 2025 — making it the best-selling Resident Evil game ever. The RPD is a masterclass in level design; Mr. X's chase mechanic redefined "stalker enemy." Often the recommended entry point for new players.
#3Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023)
METACRITIC 93 · MULTI · ACTION HORROR
A remarkable achievement — modernizing the most beloved RE while preserving what made it special. Tightened parry mechanics, gorgeous RE Engine visuals, and surprisingly faithful pacing. Some prefer the 2005 original for its quirkier tone, but objectively this is the best version for first-time players.
#4Resident Evil: Requiem (2026)
METACRITIC 88 · MULTI · DUAL HORROR ACTION
The best-reviewed mainline Resident Evil since RE4 (2005). Dual-protagonist design with Grace and Leon, toggleable first/third-person camera, and the strongest boss roster in franchise history. The series' first real return to the survival horror sweet spot in 20+ years.
#5Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
METACRITIC 86 · MULTI · FIRST-PERSON HORROR
The bold reinvention — first-person perspective, isolated rural setting, no Umbrella corporate plotting for most of the runtime. RE7 saved the franchise after RE6's overextension and built the foundation everything since has stood on. Genuinely terrifying VR support.
Strong middle tier
#6Resident Evil Village / RE8 (2021)
METACRITIC 84 · MULTI · FIRST-PERSON HORROR
RE7's spiritual successor, dialing up the camp and bombast. Each castle / village segment plays like a different horror sub-genre (gothic vampires, body horror lab, doll house psychological). Lady Dimitrescu became a meme phenomenon. Slightly less unified than RE7 but more entertaining moment-to-moment.
#7Resident Evil REmake / 1 Remake (2002)
METACRITIC 91 · GAMECUBE · CLASSIC HORROR
The 2002 GameCube remake of the original 1996 game. Fixed cameras, tank controls, slow methodical exploration — a love letter to old-school survival horror, executed with technical perfection for its time. The HD Remaster on modern platforms preserves it well.
#8Resident Evil 2 (1998)
METACRITIC 89 · PLAYSTATION · CLASSIC HORROR
The original 1998 release that established Leon and Claire as series icons. Heavily superseded by the 2019 Remake mechanically, but the soundtrack and character moments still hold cultural weight. Worth playing for franchise historians; otherwise skip to the Remake.
#9Resident Evil (1996)
METACRITIC 91 · PLAYSTATION · CLASSIC HORROR
The franchise origin. Pre-rendered backgrounds, infamously stilted voice acting, and fixed camera tank controls. Historically important; mechanically dated. The 2002 REmake supersedes it for any modern playthrough.
#10Resident Evil 5 (2009)
METACRITIC 84 · MULTI · CO-OP ACTION
The pivot away from survival horror toward Hollywood action co-op. Chris Redfield and Sheva fight bioterrorism in Africa. Mechanically polished and replayable, but the tonal shift alienated many series fans. Best played co-op locally.
Mixed reception tier
#11Resident Evil 3 Remake (2020)
METACRITIC 79 · MULTI · ACTION HORROR
Faster, more action-oriented than RE2 Remake. Nemesis is a worthy stalker, but the campaign is significantly shorter (about 5-7 hours) and cut substantial content from the original. The dodge mechanic is satisfying. Worth playing on sale but feels light compared to its predecessor.
#12Resident Evil Zero (2002)
METACRITIC 75 · GAMECUBE · CLASSIC HORROR
A prequel set on a moving train. The partner-swap mechanic was novel; the inventory system was infamously frustrating (no item boxes). HD Remaster makes it more accessible but the underlying design quirks remain. For completionists.
#13Resident Evil – Code Veronica (2000)
METACRITIC 94 (DREAMCAST) · CLASSIC HORROR
Originally a Dreamcast exclusive that's later become hard to access. Critically acclaimed at release for its scale and ambition; Claire and Chris share screen time in a multi-location adventure. The lack of a modern remake or remaster keeps it in this tier despite the high Metacritic — most players just can't reasonably access it.
#14Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
METACRITIC 91 · PLAYSTATION · CLASSIC HORROR
The original Nemesis pursuit gameplay still holds up. Smaller scale than RE2 but the time pressure and Nemesis stalker created genuinely unique tension. The 2020 Remake replaces it for most players; the original is for franchise historians.
Avoid tier
#15Resident Evil 6 (2012)
METACRITIC 67 · MULTI · OVER-EXTENDED ACTION
The series' lowest point in mainline games. Four interconnected campaigns sound good in concept; in execution, each campaign is too short to be satisfying and the tonal whiplash between them undermines any single one. The fight that spawned RE7's reinvention. Skippable.
Methodology
This ranking weighs three factors:
- Metacritic / OpenCritic aggregate score — primary signal of critical reception at time of release and over time
- Franchise impact — did this game change the genre, the series, or how horror games are made?
- Modern playability — can a 2026 player reasonably acquire and play this game without significant friction?
Spin-offs (Revelations 1 & 2, Outbreak File 1 & 2, Umbrella Corps, Resistance, Re:Verse, Survivor 1 & 2, Operation Raccoon City) are excluded. The Revelations series in particular deserves a separate ranked list — they're solid mid-tier entries that don't fit cleanly with the mainline canon.
Special-edition versions (Director's Cut, Dual Shock Ver., HD Remasters) are folded into their main entries rather than ranked separately.
// QUICK PICKS FOR NEW PLAYERS
If you have ~$60 total budget: Buy RE2 Remake on sale ($15-20) + RE4 Remake on sale ($25-30). Wait for RE9 to discount.
If you want the latest entry: Buy Resident Evil: Requiem at full price. It's the best mainline RE in 20+ years.
If you want to understand why the franchise matters: Play RE4 (2005), then RE2 Remake (2019), then RE7 (2017). Three games, three eras, three distinct horror experiences.
Disagree with this take? Tell me why — I update articles based on community feedback.