6. Resident Evil 2 (N64)

Resident Evil 2 is, in a sense, where the modern series as we know it began. The first game was terrifying, but the production values of the original version — with its cheesy FMV sequences and questionable dialogue — put it in the realm of the straight-to-video horror genre.

That would get retconned with REmake, but RE2 upped the ante considerably in every way and established the look and feel that the series embraced from then on.

The Nintendo 64 version of the PlayStation classic is a technically incredible port in its own right, with the GameCube version being sharper, but arguably less interesting. There's also the critically acclaimed REmake 2 available on Switch via the cloud if you're looking to sample a brilliantly reimagined version of this iconic game. Here's hoping for a Switch 2 port pronto.

5. Resident Evil (GCN)

The original Resident Evil was a zombie B-movie classic which cemented the idea of survival horror in the minds of a generation, but also had a gloriously dodgy script and goofy characters that the series steered away from in subsequent entries. 

With REmake Capcom sought to realign the original with the upmarket production values of the later games, and boy did it succeed on that count. A complete overhaul of the PlayStation original, the power of the GameCube was put to use in conjunction with the beautifully repainted static backgrounds that still hold up today to produce a moody, evocative version of the Spencer Mansion we knew. 

With nods to its shlocky past, the game held surprises for veterans who knew the original inside out and arguably represents the best of the classic style, pre-RE4 entries in the venerable Biohazard series. 

For a system which looked so kid-friendly, the GameCube sure had some cracking M-rated games.

4. Resident Evil Village Gold Edition (Switch 2)

Arriving to banish the memories of the Switch 1 Cloud Version, Capcom presented a direct sequel with Resident Evil Village that continues the story of protagonist Ethan Winters. This time, he winds up in a rural village overlooked by a vast, elegant castle as he strives to locate his kidnapped daughter, Rose.

Village borrows heavily from RE4, and the results are somewhat mixed. The characters — and by extension, the story — feel pretty throwaway, and even Lady Dimitrescu, who ruled the internet for a good while there, doesn’t make an enormous impact.

This is still a great series entry, though, with excellent gameplay and pacing, and there’s one very specific moment that remains one of the scariest in the series’ history. When compared to RE7’s superb story and the wider franchise lore, however, Village is a bit of a narrative anomaly that hasn't aged as well as its predecessor.

3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition (Switch 2)

Following its release in 2017, and the Switch 1 Cloud Version in 2018 (or 2022 outside Japan), Nintendo fans finally get to experience Capcom’s soft reboot on Switch 2 natively - and it’s excellent.

The visuals remain largely consistent with the game’s initial release on PS4 and Xbox One. You’re not going to get any fancy ray-tracing here, but it’s nevertheless a gorgeous-looking game, whether you’re playing docked or handheld, making this a wonderful way to experience one of the series’ best entries.

In time, we suspect this entry will be looked upon with as much reverence as the 1996 original, and we urge you to add it to your library.

2. Resident Evil 4 (GCN)

Resident Evil 4 was a watershed moment for Capcom's survival horror.

Shedding the genre-defining fixed-camera gameplay of the previous titles, it traded a little of that survival horror for a boatload of tight, tense action and not only revitalised the series, but set the blueprint for a decade of third-person action games. So brilliant was RE4 that it's taken until relatively recently for the series to escape its shadow.

The game was designed with Nintendo's hardware in mind and despite going on to appear on practically every other home console produced since the GameCube, the original system is still one of the best places to play it, with the GameCube controller marrying the design perfectly (although the recent Switch version isn't bad, either).

The series has had its ups and downs like any other, but it's hard to argue that RE4 isn't the best it's ever been. The recent remake is excellent, but the original is still a thing of grotesque beauty.

1. Resident Evil Requiem (Switch 2)

Resident Evil Requiem sets a new benchmark for a series that has been pretty consistently great for the last decade or so.

By combining classic survival horror with the more action-focused gameplay of RE4, the result is an experience paced to perfection. Add in a lore-heavy narrative and copious easter eggs, and you've got what might be the ultimate expression of Resident Evil.

There are a few minor visual hiccups along with some inconsistency in frame rate during busier moments, but the fact that we've got a brand-new flagship RE game running well on Switch 2 should be celebrated. The lack of a Mercenaries Mode feels like a missed opportunity, but we've got our fingers crossed that it eventually shows up. An excellent video game.

So, there you are - the best Resident Evil games. Whaddayareckon, stranger? Any surprises here? A drop of REcency bias, perhaps? Think there's been a huge miscarriage of justice? Is it time to remake Resident Evil Gaiden yet? Pining for REMAKE2 or R3MAKE or REM4KE on Switch 2? Is this too many questions?...

Resident Evil FAQ

Before we wrap things up, let's answer a couple of common RE questions.

How many Resident Evil games are there?

Counting the main games and their remakes, there are currently 15 Resident Evil games. The first game birthed the entire survival horror genre on PlayStation back in 1996.

Here's the full list, including the Nintendo platform(s) you can play it on (if applicable):

  • Resident Evil - Nintendo DS (ported as RE: Deadly Silence)
  • Resident Evil 2 - N64, GameCube
  • Resident Evil 3: Nemesis - GameCube
  • Resident Evil: Code Veronica - GameCube
  • Resident Evil (Remake) - GameCube, Wii, Switch
  • Resident Evil 0 - GameCube, Wii, Switch
  • Resident Evil 4 - GameCube, Wii, Switch
  • Resident Evil 5 - Switch
  • Resident Evil 6 - Switch
  • Resident Evil 7: Biohazard - Switch (Cloud Version), Switch 2
  • Resident Evil 2 (Remake) - Switch (Cloud Version)
  • Resident Evil 3 (Remake) - Switch (Cloud Version)
  • Resident Evil Village (8) - Switch (Cloud Version), Switch 2
  • Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
  • Resident Evil Requiem (9) - Switch 2

Additionally, a bunch of spin-offs and side games have also come to Nintendo systems over the years, as you'll have seen in the ranking above. Here's the list of non-mainline RE games playable on Nintendo consoles:

  • Resident Evil Gaiden - GBC
  • Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles - Wii
  • Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles - Wii
  • Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D - 3DS
  • Resident Evil: Revelations - 3DS, Wii U, Switch
  • Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Switch

Hang on, aren't there multiple versions?

To avoid repetition, we've included only one version of each game — the highest ranking example — in this list, although we do count REmakes as separate titles.

For example, RE7 and RE8 are both available on Switch 1 as Cloud Versions, but we've only included the non-cloud Switch 2 ports in the list. (For reference, the ratings on both Cloud Versions would place them at the very bottom of the list.)

How can I change the ranking in this article?

The order above is governed by the User Ratings assigned to each entry in our games database, and is subject to real-time change even after publication. Think a game should be higher? Simply click on the star and score it out of ten to add your rating and potentially alter the ranking. Alternatively, use the search box below to find and rate any game in the series.

Our thanks to everyone who has rated the games they've played. Feel free to unleash both barrels of your thoughts below.