The next entry in the long-running Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, has been announced, and fans have been waiting for the next mainline entry since the underwhelming Shadows of Rose DLC was released for Resident Evil Village in 2022. Requiem will follow newcomer Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, from one of the most underrated RE games ever, and the game will be taking fans back to where survival horror was defined: Raccoon City.
While the acclaimed remakes of Resident Evil 1, 2, and 4 (some fans enjoy Resident Evil 3 remake 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” of RE a lot. When Resident Evil 6 came out and the horror elements were completely gone, Resident Evil 7 had 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 of RE.
Resident Evil has 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.
10
Resident Evil Village Had One Iconic Scary Moment
No One Can Forget The Baby
RE Village was 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 to RE4 than the previous RE7. There’s an exception, however, thanks to one area that was probably one of the scariest moments in the game and of the whole series.
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Resident Evil Village Dimitrescu Cosplayers Rent A Real Castle
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The House Beneviento section of Village was a weaponless puzzle segment, and with that came the notorious baby monster that still likely gives players nightmares. It’s dark, it can eat Ethan Winters whole, and it’s just really unsettling.
9
Code Veronica Remains Underrated
And So Do Its Scares
Code Veronica is rumored to be getting a remake in the near future. But even without a remake, it remains one of the most underrated games in the series for its story, music, and, of course, scares.
Code Veronica is 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.
8
Revelations 2 Was A Surprise Scary Game For Co-Op
Invisible Enemies, Traps, And Gore Galore
Revelations 2 is an odd one, not because it’s bad, but because it somehow manages to still be scary, even with its co-op-focused gameplay, something RE5 and RE6 failed to do. Both Revelations games have added to the growing list of lost RE characters that should return, but the second game’s scares were almost unforgettable.
While the two Revelations games (and technically Code Veronica as 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 the Resident Evil canon.
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 2 also had lower-than-expected supplies for a game heavy in combat, creating a lot of fantastic fight-or-flight situations.
7
Resident Evil 3 Remake Might Be Controversial, But It’s Got Some Great Scares
Nemesis & The Hunters Were Standouts
After the hugely successful RE2 remake, a year later, we got a sloppy, rushed remake of RE3 that could be finished in five hours on a first playthrough. The RE3 remake lacked a lot of things that made the original special, but it still had some great moments of terror in its brief runtime.
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One Thing Resident Evil 3 Remake Does Better Than RE2
Resident Evil fans have criticized RE3’s remake as lesser than both the original game and RE2’s remake, but 3 does one thing better than 2.
Nemesis will always be scary thanks 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.
6
Resident Evil 0’s Leeches Are Nightmare Fuel
There Are So Many Leech Jump Scares
Resident Evil 0 is often brought up alongside Code Veronica as 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 stop 0 from having disgusting enemies.
The game’s leech men are waiting around a lot of corners for a surprise startle, accompanied by some equally creepy music. RE0 makes up for its shortcomings with a great horror atmosphere and uncomfortable enemy designs.
5
Resident Evil 4 Remake Doubled Down On The Original’s Horror Elements
A Remake Much Scarier Than The Game It’s Remaking
Resident Evil 4 was 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 up being even scarier than the original in the remake.
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RE4 Remake: Should You Play The Original Resident Evil 4 First?
Both have their advantages: the original Resident Evil 4 is a timeless classic, whereas the remake updates its more controversial aspects.
RE4’s remake greatly increased the horror elements that were present in the original game. Coupled with stellar graphics and the RE Engine, RE4 remake took the bones of the original and created a horror game to remember.
4
Resident Evil 3’s Nemesis Is Still One Of The Scariest Enemies Ever
A Relentless Pursuit Across Raccoon City
Nemesis’s introduction in the original Resident Evil 3 remains one of the most iconic survival horror moments ever. 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 is RE horror at its best
Unlike in the RE3 remake, Nemesis pursues Jill relentlessly throughout 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 is RE horror at its best.
3
Resident Evil 2 Remake Modernized Survival Horror
Proof That A Scary Game Can Still Be Made
The Resident Evil 2 remake is in the competition for one 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, and a classic was reborn in 2019.
Most fans of the RE2 remake 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.
2
Resident 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 scariest RE games, but one 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 the RE1 remake.
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It’s The Perfect Time For A Resident Evil 1 Remake
Capcom has made successful remakes of every early Resident Evil game in the past few years, except for the first game which deserves a modern update.
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.
1
Resident Evil 7 Is A Horror Celebration
And It’s Absolutely Terrifying
Resident Evil 7 arguably saved the RE franchise after the action disaster of RE6, and it’s definitely the scariest RE game. These scares are often enough to bump the game up on fans’ personal lists of best RE games. 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 to RE but also to other horror media. There are references to Evil Dead, Saw, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and more. No matter what type of horror someone personally finds scary, it can be found in RE7, and that makes it the scariest Resident Evil game ever made.
Created by
Shinji Mikami, Tokuro Fujiwara
First Film
Resident Evil
Latest Film
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
First TV Show
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness
Latest TV Show
Resident Evil
First Episode Air Date
July 8, 2021
“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.