I Recently Marathoned the Mainline Resident Evil Games, and Here’s My Ranking (as a Casual Fan)

This year has been huge for the Resident Evil series, with both the successful launch of Resident Evil Requiem and the 30th anniversary of the franchise. Here at TopMob, we joined in the celebration! Throughout the year, our managing editor, Dalton Cooper, and I have been playing the games – though he sometimes played with friends. A key difference in our opinions stems from Dalton being a dedicated, lifelong fan, while I’m more of a casual player. He even jokingly called himself “Resident Evil-pilled”! I’ve watched Dalton immerse himself completely, playing every Resident Evil game, watching all the live-action movies, reading the books, and checking out every CG project.

Honestly, I’d rather spend my time playing games I enjoy, but a friend – a huge Resident Evil fan – convinced me to play through the entire series, all the main games and remakes. He’s written up detailed thoughts on everything, which you can check out if you’re interested. I was curious to see what I thought as someone who didn’t grow up with these games, and I’d love to hear your opinions too! I’d only played a few before this: Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6 when I was younger, and more recently the remakes of 2, 3, and 4. Everything else was brand new to me.

Before I share my list, it’s important to know that Dalton and I often disagree about games. We both enjoy many titles, but our tastes differ significantly – he loves puzzle games, while I can’t stand them. I prefer story-driven games with choices, like Dispatch, whereas he dislikes games with a lot of dialogue. Despite these differences, it’s fascinating to see where our opinions aligned and where they diverged. I also played all the games as they were released, either on PlayStation or Xbox.

Enter the real survival horror: my opinions.

1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Okay, so Resident Evil 7 is honestly my favorite game in the whole series, which I totally didn’t see coming! I’ve always had a bit of a rocky relationship with horror games, so when RE7 actually scared me, it was such a relief after playing through everything else. The Louisiana setting was just perfect – super atmospheric. And Jack Baker? He’s the scariest villain the series has ever seen, hands down. Nobody has topped him yet! The story does get a little weird towards the end, but overall, Ethan Winters’ journey in that game is just amazing from start to finish.

#1 on my list, #6 on Dalton’s list

Just a reminder that Dalton has played all of the Resident Evil games, even the side stories. He especially enjoyed Resident Evil 4, the original Resident Evil (from 2002), Revelations, and the remakes of Resident Evil 2, considering them better than Resident Evil 7.

2. Resident Evil 2 Remake

I’ve got friends who started playing with the original Resident Evil 2, and while that game is still great, I honestly think the remake is just better in every way. It’s exactly what a remake should be, a true improvement. Before RE7 came out, it was easily my favorite Resident Evil game, and it’s still a very close second. I can’t even find anything to complain about, and that’s saying something considering I usually don’t love those puzzle sections in the Raccoon City Police Department. My buddy Dalton actually ranked it higher than RE7, and I totally understand why. If anyone does, I get it completely.

#2 on my list, #4 on Dalton’s

3. Original Resident Evil 4

It’s hard to explain why Resident Evil 4 is such a great game – it really holds up! While I enjoy Ethan Winters’ story overall, I think Leon Kennedy’s adventures in Resident Evil 4 are collectively the best. It’s Dalton’s favorite game, and a lot of people feel the same way. Even now, it’s as enjoyable as when I first played it, and I wouldn’t disagree with someone who thinks the original version is better than the remake.

#3 on my list, #1 on Dalton’s

4. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Both the original Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 are excellent games, and thankfully, their remakes mostly stay true to what made them great. I personally think the Resident Evil 2 remake is an improvement over the original for today’s gamers, but I actually prefer the original Resident Evil 4. The RE4 remake has a few moments that just don’t quite feel right. Overall, though, both the original games and their remakes are all top-tier, and I consider the Resident Evil 2 remake to be the stronger of the two remakes.

#4 on my list, #7 on Dalton’s

5. Original Resident Evil 2

I was really surprised by how much fun I had with the original Resident Evil 2. I usually don’t like the old-style controls and think many games from that era haven’t held up well over time, but this one still feels great. If you first played the Resident Evil 2 remake from 2019, then trying the original feels like a complete experience. I’d recommend it to anyone, even if you’re not usually into survival horror or if you’re new to games with older graphics.

#5 on my list, #5 on Dalton’s (interesting alignment)

It’s really cool that three of the top five games on both my list and Dalton’s are the same—Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 2 Remake, and Resident Evil 4. They’re all just fantastic games!

6. Resident Evil Requiem

Released in 2026, Resident Evil Requiem is a standout title, and many fans consider it one of the best Resident Evil games ever made – especially if you view remakes as original titles. The game offers a fun contrast between playing as Leon and Grace, and the Rhodes Hill location is a fantastic setting for a Resident Evil story. While I wasn’t completely invested in the characters Zeno, Gideon, Chunk, and The Girl, the zombies themselves were surprisingly well-developed. Leon’s storyline, focusing on his recovery, is particularly strong, and Grace’s gameplay feels similar to Ethan’s in Village, though with less emphasis on the horror of RE7.

#6 on my list, #3 on Dalton’s

7. Resident Evil Zero

Okay, I have to tell you, putting together my ranking of the Resident Evil games was hilarious! I absolutely loved Resident Evil Zero. My friend Dalton was honestly shocked at how high I placed it – he thought I was being generous! But as I got to the later games, things started to click, and while we both enjoy them, it became clear I just connect with them a little more strongly. Zero was my first time meeting Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen, and their dynamic was fantastic. The gameplay felt really solid too, making it a standout for me. Seriously, I’m now officially part of the group wondering what ever happened to Billy Coen! And the rumors about a Resident Evil Zero remake? It’s instantly one of the games I’m most excited about!

#7 on my list, #10 on Dalton’s

8. Resident Evil Village

Dalton and I have very similar opinions on Resident Evil Village; I ranked it 8th and he ranked it 9th. I was particularly impacted by the major story reveal for Ethan Winters and found all its implications compelling. However, I didn’t think all the ‘Lords’ were equally well-designed, and Ethan felt more capable from the beginning. Because I played Village right before Resident Evil Requiem, I wonder if my skills with Ethan carried over to playing as Grace in Requiem, and if that influenced my opinion. It’s hard to say, but neither the Village Ethan nor Grace felt as vulnerable as the original Ethan Winters against Jack Baker in RE7.

#8 on my list, #9 on Dalton’s

9. Resident Evil 1 Remake

Dalton and I disagree on how highly the 2002 remake of Resident Evil should be ranked, though we both agree it’s a great game. I completely agree with his points – it’s the best way to play the original, the Crimson Heads are fantastic, Lisa Trevor’s story is heartbreaking, and Spencer Mansion is stunning. However, I don’t think its strengths are better than those of other games in the series. Considering its weaknesses – the controls, slower pace, limitations, and puzzles – I don’t think it holds up as well today, either the original or the remake. Having played it myself, I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point for new players.

#9 on my list, #2 on Dalton’s

10. Resident Evil 3 Remake

Dalton actually prefers the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis over the remake, and even rates Resident Evil 5 highly – games I wouldn’t personally put in the same league. However, our overall scores are pretty close, differing by only four points. I get why the Resident Evil 3 remake was criticized for its reduced content; after playing the original, I agree that removing the Clock Tower section was a significant loss. Still, I think the remake really emphasizes action, and if you approach it as a fast-paced, action-focused experience, you might enjoy it more.

#10 on my list, #14 on Dalton’s

2026-04-05 17:08