As Zach Cregger’s horror film adaptation of Resident Evil earns critical acclaim for its playful tone, Capcom fans are discovering they have plenty of ways to dive into the sprawling video game franchise. With dozens of titles spanning decades, sorting through the saga can feel overwhelming—so journalists at Gamer24h.com have compiled an updated ranking of all 11 core mainline games, including this year’s newly released Resident Evil Requiem, to help players navigate the series’ undeniable ups and downs.
The film, which critics have praised for its delightfully playful approach, deliberately avoids much of the established lore and characters that define the actual video game franchise. Instead it tells an original story set within the universe—a decision widely seen as wise given how complicated the game saga has become over time. For viewers inspired to explore the source material after watching the movie, however, there are numerous entry points available across both mainline entries and spinoffs.
A Ranking of the Core Games
To capture the bulk of the story without diving into bonus worldbuilding, players need only worry about 11 core games. The ranking groups each title together with its remake, focusing on where those games fit within the overall Resident Evil narrative rather than treating remakes as standalone releases.
We’ve put together an updated ranking of the main Resident Evil series, complete with this year’s Resident Evil Requiem. Note that we’re grouping games and their remakes together as one here, as we’re focused on where those games fit into the Resident Evil story overall.
Gamer24h.com editorial staff
The list begins at the bottom with Resident Evil 5, a title some fans defend as an underrated gem that shines in co-op play. The ranking’s author, however, describes it as a torturously clumsy third-person shooter that has aged like raw fish, preferring to be mauled by zombie dogs rather than replay it.
The Middle of the Pack
Resident Evil 6 lands just above its predecessor. The writer identifies as an “apologist” for the title, arguing that it actually captures the series’ tone by taking the B-movie energy of the original games to their silliest peak possible. While it plays terribly and features storylines described as absolute duds, protagonist Leon Kennedy’s arc earns praise as underappreciated wackiness.
Resident Evil 0 follows with a strong elevator pitch that the game itself never fully fulfills. Opening aboard a train, it elongates the puzzle-box nature of its predecessors before devolving into what amounts to a fan-servicing complement to the GameCube’s excellent Resident Evil remake.
Code: Veronica is one of those games whose legacy will likely be defined by its upcoming remake. At the time, it was hailed as a crowning achievement for a series seemingly at its peak. Return to it now and you’ll have to fight through some tough controls to enjoy Claire Redfield’s story.
Gamer24h.com editorial staff
Resident Evil Code: Veronica ranks next, with critics expecting an upcoming remake to trigger a proper critical reappraisal soon. The original required players to push through difficult controls to enjoy Claire Redfield’s story.
The Upper Tiers
Resident Evil Village occupies an uneven but charming spot on the list, capable of ranking either very high or very low depending on player preferences. Its dollhouse sequence earns praise as one of the finest hours in the entire series, while its Frankenstein factory segment falls flat—part of what makes the amusement park-style story so eclectic.
The 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3 lands above Village even though it didn’t elevate the original’s stock as much as 2019’s Resident Evil 2 did. The original Nemesis gave the series a terrifying calling card through its persistently prowling antagonist, while giving Jill Valentine room to shine.
The newest entry, Resident Evil Requiem, currently sits firmly in the top tier despite needing more time for full evaluation. Its dual-hero story balances Grace Ashcroft’s personal nightmare against a wider trauma surrounding the destruction of Raccoon City through Leon Kennedy’s eyes, seamlessly shifting from survival horror to pure action.
The Series’ Best
Resident Evil 7 ranks near the top as a necessary jolt of life after two back-to-back failures in 2017. The pivot from action back to straight survival horror produced what critics call the series’ scariest game, even if Ethan Winters’s story against mold isn’t as compelling as the Raccoon City saga.
Whether you play the original PS1 version of Resident Evil or its GameCube remake, you simply can’t sleep on the series’ first entry. That’s not just because it set the stage for all things Resident Evil both narratively and in gameplay, but because it’s still the series’ most focused game.
Gamer24h.com editorial staff
The original Resident Evil rounds out the upper ranks as the series’ most focused entry. The Spencer Mansion remains a perfect puzzle box dripping with atmosphere, featuring terrifying jump scares, memorable bosses, and what critics call the best cast of characters ever assembled in a game.
Resident Evil 2 claims the top spot thanks to Capcom’s stellar 2019 remake. Before that revisit, the ranking author would likely have favored the original, but the modern version served as a welcome reminder that Leon and Claire’s journey through the Raccoon City Police Department is an all-time great horror story. It successfully widened the series’ world while keeping things intimate and terrifying, delivering what critics call one hell of an introduction for Leon Kennedy as a rookie cop immediately over his head.
Looking Ahead
With Resident Evil Requiem still fresh in the market, more time will likely be needed before players can fully determine where it stacks up against other entries. Meanwhile, upcoming remakes of Code: Veronica and other titles promise to trigger critical reappraisals that could reshape how fans view these classic games.
As the franchise continues to expand through films, games, and remakes, its core 11 mainline titles provide a foundation ranging from torturously clumsy shooters to all-time great horror stories. Whether diving in for the first time after watching the film or revisiting childhood favorites, players now have a clear guide to where every entry stands.
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