Every Mainline Resident Evil Game, Ranked From Least Scary To Scariest

Highlights

• Resident Evil 6: Not scary, feels dull, goes too big, and lacks excitement, even when played with a friend.
• Resident Evil 3 Remake: More action-focused, lacks scares, bosses don’t intimidate much, commendable for not mimicking the
  RE2
  remake.
• Resident Evil 5: Co-op campaign relieves tension, less scary but offers a fine linear experience with capable characters.

The Resident Evil franchise is one of the most iconic horror game series ever created, but how scary is it? Is it really so terrifying that players will not want to even boot up the game?

Ultimately, the horror varies from game to game. Some leave players shaking in their boots, while others don’t even make them jump once. However, scary or not scary is not indicative of the game’s quality. Except for one game, just about every mainline Resident Evil game is a classic. To find a good measure of which entries will give players the most nightmares and ultimately find out what the scariest Resident Evil game is, read on below.

Updated on April 30, 2024, by Jason Wojnar: To some, horror can be one of the coziest gameplay experiences out there. There’s something to be said about getting the adrenaline rush of being scared in a safe environment where players know they are not in any real-life danger. This is why it’s important to know which Resident Evil games will provide the most scares. The updated version of this list more clearly defines why each entry is so scary and also reveals what critics thought of the game on average.

A game’s terror does not always correlate to a high Metacritic score

17 Resident Evil 6

Metacritic: 67

• It’s just an action extravaganza
• Loadouts remove the tension of resource management

Resident Evil 6 is not only tame in terms of scares, but it will also likely bore players throughout the campaign. It goes too big and ends up feeling dull despite attempts at epic set pieces. Even playing with a friend will not make the action much more exciting.

In the massive 20-hour campaign players are not likely to feel scared even once, despite some segments seeing the heroes take on hordes of freakish monsters. Thankfully, Capcom learned its lesson after this title and toned down the scope of the action for Resident Evil 7.

16 Resident Evil 3 Remake

Metacritic: 79

• Nemesis isn’t as threatening as Mr. X
• More action-focused than Resident Evil 2 Remake

While not considered as good as Resident Evil 2’s remake, the Resident Evil 3Remake is still a fantastic title from 2020. However, it leans more into the action than its predecessor. The segments where players run away from Nemesis are very on rails, a far cry from the dynamic behavior of Mr. X from the Resident Evil 2 Remake.

The bosses also do not intimidate a lot with their design. Play it on a higher difficulty for a more tense journey that will make it at least a little scarier. Despite the lack of scares, it earns commendation for not simply trying to do what the Resident Evil 2 remake did.

One almost feels like they have to deduct scary points for its uninspired multiplayer mode; Resident Evil: Resistance. While a separate game in the menu, players received it for free for purchasing the remake.

15 Resident Evil 5

Metacritic: 83

• Co-op relieves much of the tension
• Leans more into action than Resident Evil 4
• Notable for still being scary while taking place in the daytime

Things are almost always less scary with friends by one’s side. However, the scares were a worthy tradeoff in Resident Evil 5’s case. It offers one of the finest linear co-op campaigns available.

It makes more sense narratively, too. Chris Redfield already has plenty of experience dealing with BOWs so he would not feel the same way he did when he went to the Mansion back in the first Resident Evil. He’s more capable now, and less terrified to face these fearsome foes.

14 Resident Evil 0

Metacritic: 83

• Controlling two characters at once feels like a gimmick
• Inventory management between the two is more frustrating than scary

This list is not about the quality of a game, but when an old-fashioned Resident Evil game does not have scares, it deflates the whole experience. Resident Evil 0 for the GameCube introduces a new mechanic of controlling two different characters and switching between them on the fly.

Unfortunately, it just ends up making puzzles and item management more frustrating. Worst of all, the game simply is not that scary. Playing it reminds players that the series was certainly ready for the change that came shortly afterward with Resident Evil 4.

13 Resident Evil: Revelations

Metacritic: 82

• A return to the survival horror roots
• the downsized visuals assuage some of the terror

At a time when the numbered games were action-packed affairs, Resident Evil: Revelations felt like a life raft for fans of classic Resident Evil. It still maintained the over-the-shoulder camera but the story’s smaller scope and setting shifted the gameplay’s focus back to puzzles and more intimate enemy encounters.

Having initially come out on the Nintendo 3DS, the technological limitations of the handheld did hold it back in some respects. The title is not so much terrifying as it is a refreshing mixture of the old and the new. All the same, one can still expect a few gross-out moments and jump scares throughout the story.

12 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Metacritic: 91

• Nemesis is intimidating
• The most action-focused game with tank controls

Of all the Resident Evil games utilizing tank controls, Resident Evil 3 is the most action-packed. It is also one of the least celebrated of the PS1 trilogy, but it is still a must-play for any fan of the series.

Seeing more of Raccoon City is enough reason alone to play through this game’s story. It also includes segments absent from the remake. Resident Evil 3 lacks the tension of the prior two entries, however, even though Nemesis is an iconic monster.

11 Resident Evil 4

Metacritic: 96

• Enemies gang up on Leon
• Some scary enemy designs

Some fans are still sore over the changes Resident Evil 4 made to the franchise, becoming more action-oriented. Even so, the fourth mainline entry is one of the greatest games of its generation and still holds up more than 15 years later.

Though it lacks the terror of earlier games, there is still a layer of tension permeating through the whole campaign. The enemy AI and the sheer amount of enemies on the screen feel overwhelming at times. Resident Evil 4 was later released in VR, a change that so heavily modifies the experience that it is an entirely new experience.

10 Resident Evil – CODE: Veronica

Metacritic: 94

• The bandersnatch is terrifying
• The latter arctic environment is isolating

While not numbered, CODE: Veronica is still considered a part of the mainline franchise since it pushes the story forward and takes place after Raccoon City’s destruction. It is also the biggest of the games using the classic formula, taking about 12 hours to beat.

Some of the creative enemy designs are effective, especially the Bandersnatch. The second half of the game takes place in an arctic environment, where the isolation helps contribute to the terror that the player feels.

9 Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Metacritic: 75

• Player two is almost defenseless
• Players have to rely on each other to progress

Even though Revelations 2 is a cooperative game, that does not make this entry any less scary. If anything, the second player will be even more frightened throughout the adventure since they have fewer combat abilities. Unlike the fifth and sixth games, Player two either controls Moira Burton or Natalia Korda, neither of whom can use firearms.

They have some means of fighting back, but this makes both players rely on each other more since player one has to protect player two so they can use their abilities to solve puzzles and progress through the story.

8 Resident Evil 4 Remake

Metacritic: 93

• Changes the original game’s meta
• Impressive graphics make the environments more grotesque

Some consider Resident Evil 4 a perfect game and they questioned the necessity of a remake. However, the 2023 reimagining of the classic 2005 title does a lot to justify its existence with subtle gameplay tweaks and dramatic visual upgrades. It also adds additional drama to the story while still maintaining the tongue-in-cheek moments and Leon Kennedy’s bravado.

Even though players have more tools up their sleeves and can move and shoot, the game manages to be more difficult and scarier than the original. Part of what adds to the fear is how old tricks no longer work. The knife is breakable and a finite resource, for example.

After release, this remake received an update granting full PSVR 2 support. The free patch allows players to go through the whole game in VR.

7 Resident Evil Village

Metacritic: 84

• Classic monsters like werewolves
• Donna Beneviento’s sequence with the dolls is particularly terrifying

Resident Evil Village is notably less terrifying than its predecessor. It still manages to be scarier than more than half the games on this list, but it won’t keep fans awake at night the same way the next games do. Still, anyone with a particular fear of vampires, werewolves, and witches might beg to differ.

Despite these types of creatures feeling somewhat incongruous in the series, Resident Evil Village ultimately ends up tying into the series’ lore in interesting ways. The Story of Rose DLC wraps up a lot of hanging threads and makes players wonder just where the series will go next.

With the release of PSVR 2, players now have a new way to experience the game in a manner similar to Resident Evil 7’s VR Mode. The game’s bigger scale and more action-packed moments make VR feel like a whole new experience even to those well acquainted with the game. The method of managing the inventory and having to manually reload weapons makes the game harder and scarier in this mode.

6 Resident Evil 4 VR

Metacritic Score Unavailable

VR breathes new life into many games, and it did so for Resident Evil 4. The fourth mainline entry in the series is not super scary, but putting players directly into Leon Kennedy’s shoes absolutely enhances the scares.

Many people reading this might know Resident Evil 4 like the back of their hand, but playing it in VR is a whole new ball game. It is just unfortunate players need a whole VR headset to play it.

5 Resident Evil 2

Metacritic: 89

• The Licker is a legendarily scary enemy introduced here
• Mr. X and William Berkin are terrifying
• The two different scenarios add unpredictable elements to a second playthrough

The first sequel was directed by Hideki Kamiya, who went on to make action games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. Resident Evil 2 is very much a survival horror title, retaining the slow pace and tension of the debut entry but moving onto a bigger setting. The police department building is so iconic and scary even if its labyrinthine design doesn’t make sense for a police station.

New iconic enemies were introduced here, mainly the absolutely grotesque-looking licker. The creative use of two campaigns makes the game significantly longer than most PS1 games. To see all possible scenarios, one has to beat the game four times, meaning the game has fantastic replay value.

4 Resident Evil

Metacritic: 91

• Claustrophobic environments
• Resources are especially scarce

Players shouldn’t let the quaint visuals fool them. The original Resident Evil from 1996 is still one of the scariest games to play today. The lack of resources, mysterious setting, and gruesome sound effects create a terrifying atmosphere regardless of graphics. Whether one plays it on the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, or even the Nintendo DS with its unique puzzles designed around the touch-screen mechanics, they are in for a scary time.

The iconic moment when the dogs jump through the windows is still an incredibly effective jump scare. Even knowing it is coming does not make the abrupt ambush any less scary. All in all, it’s a great horror game, and it’s no wonder it spawned such a huge franchise.

Resident Evil
is also available on the Sega Saturn. A lesser-known version is
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence
for the Nintendo DS, which utilizes the touch-screen feature for some unique puzzles.

3 Resident Evil Remake

Metacritic: 91

• Improved visuals make the mansion scarier
• Lisa Trevor’s subplot is both scary and tragic

The Resident Evil remake came out only six years after the original, but Shinji Mikami saw an opportunity to do things he could not do with the original game due to technical limitations. It feels like a director’s cut on par with the Richard Donner cut of Superman II or the Final Cut of Blade Runner.

Not only is Resident Evil on the GameCube terrifying, but the graphics are also gorgeous. The HD re-release for modern consoles helps the visuals shine as well as preserve the game and make it more accessible for modern gamers. One of the scariest additions to the remake is the character of Lisa Trevor. The encounter with her is unsettling, and her story is simply tragic.

2 Resident Evil 2 Remake

Metacritic: 91

• Behind-the-shoulder camera means less environmental awareness
• Mr. X dynamically chases players through the police station

Resident Evil 2Remake was desired by fans for years before it was announced. After all, why only remake the first game if the second is considered equally as iconic? The finished product surpasses all expectations, delivering everything fans wanted and more. They mixed the gameplay of Resident Evil 4 with the fright and tension of the original games, making the timeless classic a whole new experience.

The most notable part of the campaign is Mr. X. He dynamically chases Leon and Claire through the police station, being wildly unpredictable at times. On a first playthrough, it is difficult to know from where he will attack. The RE Engine’s visual fidelity significantly lends to the terror. The only slight drawback is how the campaigns don’t feel that much different depending on which one players go through first, which is a significant change from the original PS1 game.

1 Resident Evil 7

Metacritic: 86

• First-person gameplay makes everything more intimate
• New characters add a new layer of mystery to the plot

After the bombastic action of Resident Evil 6, the series went back to its roots with a smaller, more intimate setting in Resident Evil 7. It also is played from the first-person perspective. By introducing a new protagonist, the game puts players into the shoes of an inexperienced everyman thrown into a waking nightmare.

Being hunted by the Baker family is an unforgettably scary experience that will haunt players long after they put down the controller. Furthermore, everything is heightened tenfold for those playing in VR. Though the visual fidelity decreases when playing through PSVR, it is a worthy tradeoff to be fully immersed in the world. Some might not even have the stones to finish it.