The next entry in the long-runningResident Evilfranchise,Resident Evil Requiem, has been announced, and fans have been waiting for the next mainline entry since the underwhelmingShadows of Rose DLCwas released forResident Evil Villagein 2022.Requiemwill follow newcomer Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, fromone of the most underratedREgamesever, and the game will be taking fans back to where survival horror was defined: Raccoon City.
While the acclaimed remakes ofResident Evil 1,2, and4(some fans enjoyResident Evil 3remake too, even though it wasn’t nearly as popular as the other three) play it quite safe when it comes to game design, the mainline series has experimented with the “brand identity” ofREa lot. WhenResident Evil 6came out and the horror elements were completely gone,Resident Evil 7had to redefine the series again and bring it back to its horror roots. Even with some games being action-focused,there have been several scary games throughout the dynamic history ofRE.
Resident Evilhas had several remakes of existing games, but they are quite a bit different from the original versions, so the original releases and remakes will be rated as separate games. This list also includes spin-offs and values how scary the titles are, not the overall quality of the game itself.
No One Can Forget The Baby
RE Villagewas primarily an action game. There were some jump scares, and some fans were shaking as they got stalked by the beloved Lady Dimitrescu, but the game was more similar toRE4than the previousRE7.There’s an exception, however, thanks to one area that was probably one of thescariest moments in the gameand of the whole series.
The House Beneviento section ofVillagewas a weaponless puzzle segment, and with that came thenotorious baby monsterthat still likely gives players nightmares. It’s dark, it can eat Ethan Winters whole, and it’s just really unsettling.
9Code Veronica Remains Underrated
And So Do Its Scares
Code Veronicais rumored to be getting a remakein the near future. But even without a remake,it remains one of the most underrated gamesin the series for its story, music, and, of course, scares.
Code Veronicais notorious for its difficulty and unexplained character switching, which can be scary in its own right, but the game has great moments of tension. One of the most notable is the plane fight with Tyrant, where he can one-hit-kill Claire by knocking her out of the plane. Seeing Nosferatu chained up in the arctic base sent literal chills down several players' spines, too.
8Revelations 2 Was A Surprise Scary Game For Co-Op
Invisible Enemies, Traps, And Gore Galore
Revelations 2is an odd one, not because it’s bad, but becauseit somehow manages to still be scary, even with its co-op-focused gameplay, somethingRE5andRE6failed to do. BothRevelationsgames have added to the growing list oflost RE characters that should return, but the second game’s scares were almost unforgettable.
While the twoRevelationsgames (and technicallyCode Veronicaas well, despite it being the “actual” third mainline entry in a lot of fans' eyes) are considered non-numbered spin-offs, they are still a big part of theResident Evilcanon.
The game featured invisible enemies that had to be identified as Natalia, who didn’t have access to weapons, traps that had to be dealt with, and a lot of great gore.Revelations 2also had lower-than-expected supplies for a game heavy in combat,creating a lot of fantastic fight-or-flight situations.
7Resident Evil 3 Remake Might Be Controversial, But It’s Got Some Great Scares
Nemesis & The Hunters Were Standouts
After the hugely successfulRE2remake, a year later, we got a sloppy, rushed remake ofRE3that could be finished in five hours on a first playthrough. TheRE3remake lacked a lot of thingsthat made the original special, butit still had some great moments of terror in its brief runtime.
Nemesis will always be scarythanks to the fundamentally powerful presence of the character. Though he only briefly actively pursues Jill, that segment of the game is one of the best. Carlos' trek through the Hunter-filled hospital also had some good spooks.
6Resident Evil 0’s Leeches Are Nightmare Fuel
There Are So Many Leech Jump Scares
Resident Evil 0is often brought up alongsideCode Veronicaas a game that doesn’t fit with the rest of the classic-era titles, and the two games have similar issues. All the same, that doesn’t stop0fromhaving disgusting enemies.
The game’s leech men are waiting around a lot of corners for a surprise startle, accompanied by some equally creepy music.RE0makes up for its shortcomings with agreat horror atmosphere and uncomfortable enemy designs.
5Resident Evil 4 Remake Doubled Down On The Original’s Horror Elements
A Remake Much Scarier Than The Game It’s Remaking
Resident Evil 4was the game that started the series' turn to action-heavy gameplay. It still had some horror elements and creepy moments, like Dr. Salvador rushing Leon down with a chainsaw, and, of course, the Regenerators, which ended upbeing even scarier than the originalin the remake.
RE4’s remakegreatly increased the horror elementsthat were present in the original game. Coupled with stellar graphics and the RE Engine,RE4remake took the bones of the original and created a horror game to remember.
4Resident Evil 3’s Nemesis Is Still One Of The Scariest Enemies Ever
A Relentless Pursuit Across Raccoon City
Nemesis’s introduction in the originalResident Evil 3remainsone of the most iconic survival horror momentsever. Just minutes later, he has another terrifying moment when he busts through the window to chase Jill in the police station.
… the sense of hopelessness he brings every time you hear him running after you isREhorror at its best
Unlike in theRE3 remake,Nemesis pursues Jill relentlesslythroughout the game, and if you choose to fight him, you’re in for a tough fight, too. His persistence throughout the game and the sense of hopelessness he brings every time you hear him running after you isREhorror at its best.
3Resident Evil 2 Remake Modernized Survival Horror
Proof That A Scary Game Can Still Be Made
TheResident Evil 2remake is in the competition forone of the best remakes ever made. It preserved almost everything fans loved about the original and brought its survival horror elements to a new generation of players, anda classic was rebornin 2019.
Most fans of theRE2remake will immediately think of Mr. X’s pursuit of Leon or Claire through the police station and his loud stomps when he’s looking for the player. But the the rest of the game’s scares can’t be ignored either. From glass breaking to navigating around Lickers in the dark,RE2’s remake has scary moments from start to finish.
2Resident Evil 1 Remake Is Still Scary, 23 Years Later
A Remake That Was Scarier In Every Way
Resident Evil 1’s remake is widely regarded as not just one of the scariestREgames, butone of the scariest games ever made. Whether it’s zombies reanimating as Crimson Heads and running at the player, the gigantic venomous snake, Yawn, curling up and striking, or the Black Tiger amplifying a fear of spiders, there’s a scare for everyone in theRE1remake.
Even 23 years later,the game can still be anxiety-inducing, and that’s the sign of a timeless horror classic. Add ammo management and limited heals and saves on top of that, and you have a stellar horror experience.
1Resident Evil 7 Is A Horror Celebration
And It’s Absolutely Terrifying
Resident Evil 7arguably saved theREfranchise after the action disaster ofRE6, and it’sdefinitely the scariestREgame. These scares are often enough to bump the game up on fans' personallists of bestREgames. Playing it in VR in the dark might be one of the most intense experiences any player can have in any game.
The game pays tribute not just toREbut also to other horror media. There are references toEvil Dead,Saw,Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and more. No matter what type of horror someone personally finds scary, it can be found inRE7, and that makes it the scariestResident Evilgame ever made.
Resident Evil
“Resident Evil” is a survival horror franchise that originated as a video game series before expanding into films, animated movies, TV shows, comics, and novels. The franchise focuses on the outbreak of a deadly virus developed by the Umbrella Corporation, leading to a global apocalypse filled with zombies and other mutated creatures. Known for its tense atmosphere, intricate puzzles, and engaging storylines, “Resident Evil” has become one of the most successful and influential franchises in both gaming and horror entertainment.
