With Resident Evil 9 creeping closer, it feels like the right time to take a real look at how far this franchise has come — not just celebrating the highs but understanding the lows too. Ranking Resident Evil from worst to best isn’t about disrespecting the weaker entries, it’s about seeing how Capcom learned, adapted, and ultimately built the version of Resident Evil that RE9 will now inherit.
#10 – Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Let’s be real — this one just didn’t land. The concept was interesting: a squad-based shooter set in the chaos of Raccoon City. But it lacked the tension, horror, and survival DNA that makes Resident Evil what it is. It felt more like a generic shooter wearing an RE skin. Still, even this showed Capcom how flexible the universe could be.
#9 – Resident Evil Outbreak 1 & 2
These games were way ahead of their time. Online survival horror before most people even had stable internet. Unfortunately, clunky mechanics and communication issues held them back. The idea was brilliant — the execution just needed another decade of technology to truly shine.
#8 – Resident Evil Revelations 1 & 2
Not mainline titles, but way too good to ignore. Revelations 2 leaned into psychological horror and character-driven storytelling in a way RE9 should borrow from. Smaller scope, stronger tension — sometimes less really is more.
#7 – Resident Evil 6
Capcom swinging for the fences — and missing. RE6 tried to be horror, action, co-op, cinematic, and emotional all at once. It ended up bloated and unfocused. But without RE6 failing this hard, RE7 probably never would’ve happened.
#6 – Code: Veronica
Dark, cruel, and extremely important to the lore. It doesn’t get talked about enough, but narratively it helped shape the franchise’s deeper mythology. If RE9 digs into long-running storylines, this is where that DNA comes from.
#5 – Resident Evil 4 Remake
Action-horror at its peak. It respects the original while tightening everything mechanically and tonally. Not the scariest RE game, but one of the most confident. RE9 should borrow its polish and pacing.
#4 – Resident Evil 2 Remake
Resident Evil in its purest form. Tight environments, limited resources, constant tension. The police station alone is a masterclass in survival horror design. If RE9 leans into claustrophobia like this, we’re in good hands.
#3 – Resident Evil 3 Remake
Underrated and over-criticized. Yes, it’s shorter — but the pacing is brutal in the best way. Nemesis feels like pure pressure, Jill is a top-tier protagonist, and the intensity never lets up. RE9 could benefit from this momentum.
#2 – Resident Evil Village
Village proved Resident Evil could be terrifying and cinematic at the same time. Gothic horror, monster variety, and massive environments made it unforgettable. It showed that RE can expand without losing its identity — something RE9 must continue.
#1 – Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
This is where modern Resident Evil truly begins. RE7 saved the franchise. It brought fear back, stripped away excess, and re-centered the series on vulnerability and dread. Every expectation for RE9 is built on the foundation RE7 created at this point, Resident Evil 9 isn’t just another sequel — it’s the culmination of everything Capcom has learned across decades of trial and error. And if history tells us anything, it’s that when Resident Evil evolves, it evolves boldly.
Written by StoneyThaGreat
