Resident Evilhas been around for over 25 years, and it hasn’t shown any signs of stopping with the plannedResident Evil 4 Remakeand the sequel toResident Evil Villagedue to be released in the future.
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The games are known for their mixture of camp characters and survival horror which is an unconventional mix but has served the series exceptionally well over its quarter of a century lifespan. However, the brandResident Evilisn’t always enough to pull in a player so good box art can often be the deciding factor between someone picking up a game or skimming past it. Regardless of whether the game itself was good,Resident Evilhas always had some interesting cover art.
10Resident Evil Director’s Cut Greatest Hits: PlayStation (NTSC)
Resident Evil Director’s Cutwas released in 1997, a year after the original game and that version was then re-released in 1998 as part of the Greatest Hits. However, the Greatest Hits release is generally viewed asthe inferior versionof the two director’s cuts by fans as it changed the soundtrack which is widely regarded as a downgrade from the original.
That aside though, the cover art for the Greatest HitsDirector’s cut of the gamewas changed from the original and depicts the first zombie encountered by the player from the now infamous Cutscene. Despite the relatively simple artwork, it perfectly encapsulates the horror of the first game and immediately lets players know what’s in store for them.
9Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5is one of the more controversial titles with many fans saying that it was where the series began to decline while others praise it for being a fun but flawed action game. There was certainly a lot of hype surrounding the release of this entry back in 2009, but it was following the legendaryResident Evil 4,so perhaps it was inevitable thatResident Evil 5would be a disappointment to many.
Resident Evil 5’s cover art varies depending on the edition but they all excel when it comes to grabbing players' attention. The original cover has the iconic 5 stylized to look like a glowing scar and the continent of Africa is behind Chris and Sheva which is a subtle addition that elevates the package. The Gold edition is eye-catching too with its cover art looking like a sketch or an oil painting and depicting Jill instead of Sheva.
8Resident Evil
The firstResident Evilgame was released in 1997, and it was responsible for the surge in popularity of the survival horror genre. While there had been 3D survival horror games beforeResident Evil, it was the first to see wide success.
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The cover art for the original game and that of the first Director’s Cut is unique, to say the least. It depicts a character who is supposed to be Richard holding a weapon that looks like it shouldn’t exist, surrounded by the shadows of some familiarenemies in the game. The cover art is iconic and helped captivate the imaginations of players who saw it on store shelves back when it was released.
7Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
Resident Evil Outbreak File #2wasn’t a sequel that fans expected or even wanted, and it was overshadowed by the release ofResident Evil 4,but it had some interesting ideas and was ahead of its time in many respects as online co-op was still relatively new and rudimentary in many games.
The cover art forOutbreak File #2differs slightly depending on the region, but it follows the same core design with the hand reaching out from the sewers after being grabbed by zombies. The artwork for this game delivered on the horror front and also helped to convey the co-op aspect.
6Resident Evil 3 Nemesis
Resident Evil 3 Nemesisis a fan favorite of the franchise, so it’s no surprise that it was remade following the success of theResident Evil 2 Remake. Nemesis was unlike any other monster before it and even to this day, he is still the most distinctive enemy of the series.
Nemesis takes his rightful place on the cover of the original game with much of his appearance being shrouded in the shadows which proves for a nightmare-inducing image. It’s clear that Capcom were fans of this cover art too after they re-imagined it for theResident Evil 3 Remakecover where Nemesis looms over Jill under a veil of darkness.
5Resident Evil 2 Remake
The originalResident Evil 2is still one of the most popular entries and its remake followed suit with it being praised almost across the board reassuring fans that the series wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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The cover art forResident Evil 2 Remakeis highly detailed and illustrates the game’s emphasis on horror and atmosphere. With the protagonists at the forefront, zombies shambling towards them, and the RPD illuminating the background, this artwork is almost a masterpiece and summarizes the feel of the game flawlessly.
4Resident Evil Revelations 2
TheResident Evil Revelationsspin-off games were solid entriesand are generally well-liked by fans with there still being some demand for a follow-up.Resident Evil Revelations 2was released in 2015 and followed the story of Claire for the first time sinceCode Veronica.
The cover art is straight out of a horror movie with an eye, which was like an unofficial logo for the Revelations games, behind prison bars. The game was partially set in a prison and had a stronger emphasis on the survival horror aspect than otherResident Evilgames released around that time.
3Resident Evil 2: PlayStation (PAL)
Resident Evil 2was released in 1998 and has since become one of the quintessential entries in the series and possibly themost celebrated survival horror gameever made.
There were two different covers for the game and while the North American variant is the more widely recognizable one, it’s the European version that stands out. It’s simple and even looks like it could be a bootleg of the original, but this design only enhances that feeling of uneasiness making it feel like something forbidden that players should be wary of.
2Resident Evil Outbreak: PlayStation 2 (PAL)
Resident Evil Outbreakand its sequel are often overlooked due to the often clunky and dated multiplayer mechanics. On the other hand, both games made a lot of innovations, and they can be incredibly fun when played with friends, although you’ll need an emulator or a Japanese PlayStation 2 to do so.
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The European version of the cover is easily the best of the two and looks like a poster for a George A Romero film. The horde of zombies with varying tints to their skin makes for original cover art when compared with otherResident Evilgames primarily because it focuses purely on the zombies, something that many games in the franchise forget are a staple of the series.
1Resident Evil 4: PlayStation 2 (PAL)
Resident Evil 4has been ported to just about every major platform since its release and so in all that time, there has been a variety of cover art for the game. It’s the European version of the game on PlayStation 2 that takes the top spot though and one look at it will make it clear why.
The bright red contrasts perfectly with the black to create an eerie image of the forest that appears at the beginning of the game. That combined with the silhouette of Dr Salvadore and his chainsaw makes for a masterpiece of cover art that wouldn’t look out of place as a poster for abig-budget horror movie.
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