10 Resident Evil Games - Ranked From Worst To Best

A series which has sold over sixty million copies worldwide, Resident Evil is one of the most lucrative horror franchises on the planet. Since it began back in 1996, the series has spanned over four generations of home consoles, producing over seventy titles in two decades, including multiple spin-offs, and numerous remakes and remasters.

To this day, Resident Evil 2 & 4 are considered some of the best examples of the genre, and though the series has evolved from chunky polygons to stunningly-rendered 3D environments, and from traditional survival horror to a more commercial action-adventure, it will likely continue to thrive long into the future, despite a few overwhelming failures along the way.

With its convoluted plot and detailed mythology, Resident Evil is one of the most beloved videogames staples on the planet. It may have dropped zombies in favour of Ganados, and even dropped the fixed camera angles in favour of a more versatile third-person perspective, but the series has undoubtedly enjoyed more successes than failures.

Resident Evil 5 may have been met with some strong criticism, and 6 completely jumped the shark, but neither could possible undo the significance of earlier entries in the franchise.

With that said, here are the ten most important Resident Evil games, ranked from worst to best.

Resident Evil has evolved considerably since it began back in 1996. In fact, each instalment has developed the concept to some extent, building on the experience gradually throughout the years. In 2005, Resident Evil 4 introduced a third person perspective, shifting the series’ emphasis away from survival horror, and accentuating gunplay more than ever before. Equally, in 2009, Resident Evil 5 introduced co-operative play, further distancing the franchise from its roots, developing the formula for an all new generation of players.

What exactly did Resident Evil 6 bring to the table? The short answer: not a lot. Honestly, the game was a mess, in terms of both gameplay and story, and though it certainly took the series in a few new directions, they weren't necessarily directions anyone wanted the series to go. For one thing, it wasn’t a horror game any more, let alone a survival horror. It was essentially just a thinly veiled cover shooter, and honestly, it barely managed to accomplish even that.

In the game, you play as Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong, Chris Redfield, and Jake Muller, four entirely separate characters whose stories interweave at various points throughout the game. The plot itself revolves around Neo-Umbrella, a mysterious organisation directly responsible for several bio-terrorist attacks on prominent cities across the globe.

The game is exceptionally long, and remarkably shallow. It isn’t particularly difficult, and it isn’t particularly scary. It might be the most accessible of the franchise, but the larger plot is utterly dependent upon previous games, so it ends up not appealing to anyone.