Mainline Resident Evil Games Ranked From Worst To Best

The release of the long-awaited Resident Evil Requiem is a perfect reason to look back and revisit the previous entries in the series, discuss which ones turned out successful and which did not, and, of course, choose the very best of them.

It’s worth noting that over the many years of its existence, the Resident Evil franchise has produced around fifty titles. Evaluating all of them would be a monumental task, so this article focuses solely on the main games and their remakes.

Do we even need to explain why this is considered the weakest mainline entry in the series? Resident Evil 6 practically lost all connection to the franchise’s core identity. Sure, the familiar characters were there, but the game veered so far into action territory that little was left of the classic Resident Evil feel. Capcom later acknowledged this misstep and made a complete U-turn back to survival horror with the next installment.

Far from the worst game ever made, but still a mediocre entry in the Resident Evil saga. On the one hand, Resident Evil Zero has its charm: it’s atmospheric and quite good-looking — especially if you play the remastered version. On the other hand, its two-character mechanic is poorly executed. Managing two separate inventories takes up way too much time, draining much of the fun from the experience.

A groundbreaking game for its time. While many fans believe that today the first Resident Evil is worth playing mainly for the memes (the project is famous for its amusing dialogue and voice acting), it still remains a strong example of exemplary game design. However, to fully appreciate it, it is better to turn to its remake, which you will find a bit further down in this list.

Fans still argue whether Resident Evil — Code: Veronica should be considered a mainline game. Most agree it deserves the title, especially given its pivotal plot developments. The game has a loyal fanbase that actively calls for a remake. And a remake (which, according to rumors, is currently in development and could arrive as early as 2027) wouldn’t hurt, considering Code: Veronica suffers from questionable design choices — such as erratic difficulty spikes and overly aggressive backtracking.

The updated Resident Evil 3 didn’t sit well with longtime fans of the original: Capcom cut a lot of content and didn’t really replace it with anything meaningful. That said, if you judge it outside the context of the classic, the remake is still a fun and competent game. A solid, cinematic action title that’s great for a few evenings of intense gameplay.

A fantastic co-op experience. While some franchise veterans dislike how much action dominates Resident Evil 5, playing it with a friend is an absolute blast. The game rarely lets you breathe: it’s packed with high-stakes combat and memorable set pieces — like that ancient temple filled with deadly sunbeams you have to dodge.

The eighth mainline entry has plenty of fans: Resident Evil Village captivates with its memorable setting, story, and colorful cast of villains. Still, it's far from perfect. Village lacks a cohesive identity — it jumps between survival horror and action, between gothic fantasy and sci-fi, not always smoothly.

If not for its underwhelming final third, Resident Evil 7 could’ve been flawless. It’s undeniably the scariest entry in the series. The decrepit Baker estate is terrifying on its own — and even more so when you're being hunted by the seemingly unkillable patriarch. The villains in RE7 retain a degree of humanity, which makes them far scarier than the typical monsters of the franchise.

Despite its outdated visuals, the classic Resident Evil 3 is still worth revisiting. It expertly balances horror and action, delivers intense moments with its relentless stalker enemy, and offers high replay value. Some cutscenes are interactive, letting players choose what happens next — a feature surprisingly absent from later mainline titles.

There’s a reason why the original Resident Evil 4 has been ported to nearly every gaming platform imaginable. It’s a phenomenal horror-action adventure, praised for its pacing, engaging plot, and iconic characters. The game constantly keeps players on their toes — switching up environments, enemies, and situations to maintain a thrilling experience.

If it weren’t for Resident Evil 4, third-person action games would hardly exist today in their current form: it was this game that popularized the over-the-shoulder camera perspective and QTEs.

The original Resident Evil 2 still holds up thanks to its clever level design, engaging puzzles, and hardcore gameplay that makes every bullet count. It also introduced an innovative mechanic: progress made with one character directly affects the second playthrough with the other. For instance, if Leon takes an item from a locker, Claire won’t be able to get it later. Oddly, Capcom never brought this mechanic back — not even in the remake.

One of the most influential games of recent years, Resident Evil 2 Remake sparked a wave of remakes of classic horror games across the industry. Capcom brilliantly modernized traditional survival horror mechanics without compromising the genre’s essence. The result is a game where old-school and modern design blend seamlessly: over-the-shoulder camera, responsive controls, and cinematic storytelling meet classic mechanics like key hunting, puzzle-solving, and the exploration of intricate level layouts.

The remake of Resident Evil is the best game in the series among those with fixed camera angles. Its visuals were ahead of their time — and still look stunning today, especially in the 2015 re-release. More importantly, it nails the core elements of survival horror: oppressive atmosphere, thoughtful resource management, and a labyrinthine mansion filled with secrets. Enemies are few, but deadly. And without full camera control, you never know what’s lurking around the corner — making it all the more terrifying.

When the Resident Evil 4 Remake launched, many players quickly hailed it as the best game in the franchise. At first, that seemed like the usual bias toward the newest release. But three years have passed — enough time to assess it more objectively. And guess what? The reimagined Resident Evil 4 still stands tall as a leading contender for the franchise’s top spot — especially when paired with the Separate Ways expansion. This is a masterful remake that doesn’t just honor the original but refines its formula to near perfection. Combat is more intense, the narrative deeper, the characters more compelling — and the added horror elements even won over veteran fans who once criticized the original for being too action-heavy.

Do you agree with this ranking of Resident Evil from worst to best? Share your own order of the mainline entries in the comments!