The best Resident Evil games

7 days ago, by Enzo

For nearly three decades, the Resident Evil franchise has been one of the most iconic in video gaming. From its terrifying beginnings in the corridors of Spencer Mansion to nerve-wracking battles against hordes of infected enemies, Capcom's saga has reinvented itself while shaping the codes of survival horror. Between acclaimed remakes, cult episodes, and bold new directions, many installments have left their mark on players in their own way. In this article, we take a look back at the best games in the franchise. Get your inventories ready, we're diving back into fear.

The first game, released in 1996 on PlayStation and simply titled Resident Evil, is considered the founding father of modern survival horror. Developed by Capcom under the direction of Shinji Mikami, it immerses the player in an experience combining exploration, constant tension, and limited resource management. The immersion is based on fixed camera angles, an oppressive atmosphere, and a very limited inventory, forcing the player to make strategic choices. The game also offers two distinct campaigns, with Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, each offering variations in puzzles, weapons, and encounters.

The franchise took its first major turn in 2005. Resident Evil 4 was released on GameCube before being ported to numerous platforms. It marked a major turning point not only for the franchise, but also for the entire video game industry. Still under the direction of Shinji Mikami, Capcom completely reinvented the series: this installment abandoned classic survival horror in favor of an explosive mix of action, tension, and horror. This installment achieved the highest Metacritic score of the franchise to date, will be remade in March 2023, and will also achieve one of the highest ratings of the franchise.

Resident Evil: Code Veronica was released in 2000 on Dreamcast and is often considered one of the best “classic” episodes of the main series. Technically, it broke with the pre-rendered backgrounds of the early episodes to offer real-time 3D environments, allowing for more dynamic camera angles and smoother staging.

Fast forward to 2017, and it was time for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard to be released. This installment marks a spectacular return to the horror roots of the franchise while profoundly renewing the formula. The game introduces a first-person view for the first time, plunging the player into a terrifying immersion at the heart of the Baker farm, where Ethan Winters is trying to find his missing wife. With its suffocating atmosphere, claustrophobic environments, and more intimate storytelling, it breaks with the uninhibited action of previous episodes. The feedback has been excellent, and a sequel, Resident Evil Village, will follow in the same vein. The horror atmosphere and first-person camera are still very much in evidence.

Released in 2009 on Wii, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is a rail shooter that revisits several key events in the saga, while adding a new storyline centered on Leon and Krauser. The game offers a more cinematic presentation than its predecessor, The Umbrella Chronicles, with a deliberately unstable camera to heighten tension and immersion.

Some of the franchise's titles have also been released in virtual reality: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil 4 Remake. VR is still a niche market, but these three titles have all been well received and have all received favorable reviews.

In conclusion, it is clear that the Resident Evil franchise has stood the test of time by constantly reinventing itself for nearly 30 years, but without ever losing its DNA. Tension, exploration, and horror are still the hallmarks of these Capcom productions. From the early episodes with fixed cameras to the more action-oriented twists, from spectacular remakes to immersive first-person experiences, all the games mentioned here have left their mark on the saga and helped shape a franchise that has become a must-have.