Resident Evil Games Ranked By How Long They Take To Beat

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Since its debut in 1996, Resident Evil has been a leading force in the survival horror and zombie game genre. The series continues to thrill players year after year with new stories and terrifying battles against memorable monsters.

How long it takes to finish a Resident Evil game really depends on the game and how you play it. Some playthroughs can be quick, especially if you just focus on the main story. But other times, exploring everything and playing through different character stories can take a lot longer, offering a more extended and frightening experience.

We used HowLongToBeat as our source for game completion times in almost all cases, with the only exception being Resident Evil Requiem.

Also, only console and PC games, no mobile Resident Evil games.

27. Resident Evil: Survivor 2 – Code Veronica

1 Hour

After the story of Code Veronica, where Claire Redfield searched for her brother on Rockfort Island with Steve Burnside, Survivor 2 was first made for arcades in Japan. It was later released for the PlayStation 2 as a light-gun shooting game.

True to its arcade roots, Survivor 2 – Code Veronica is a brief game focused on fast-paced shooting action, rather than a deep, story-driven horror experience. It’s the shortest game in the entire Resident Evil series.

26. Resident Evil: Survivor

2 Hours

Capcom doesn’t always develop its popular Resident Evil games directly; sometimes they collaborate with other studios. Resident Evil Survivor, a light-gun shooter for PC and PlayStation, is one example. The game puts you in the role of a helicopter pilot who’s lost his memory and must fight to survive while trying to piece together what happened.

I finished Survivor pretty quickly – it took me around two hours. Honestly, that’s perfect! Not every game needs to be a huge time commitment, and this one wraps up nicely before it gets boring. It definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome.

25. Resident Evil: Dead Aim

3 Hours

Dead Aim stands out in the Resident Evil series as a departure from its usual style. Unlike other games with fixed camera angles and immersive viewpoints, it’s more of an action-focused shooter. The game takes place four years after Resident Evil 2, and centers around a T-virus outbreak on an ocean liner. A small team is sent aboard to contain the situation.

Dead Aim is a short game, designed as a spin-off and action-focused shooter, typically taking around three hours to finish. Players aiming for full completion, however, can expect to spend at least another hour and a half to unlock everything.

24. Resident Evil Gaiden

4 Hours

This Resident Evil game came out for the Game Boy Color in the early 2000s. It stood out from other Resident Evil titles by using a top-down view that changed to first-person during battles. The game isn’t considered part of the main Resident Evil story and features Leon Kennedy and Barry Burton investigating a virus outbreak on a passenger ship.

This handheld game isn’t part of the main story and is shorter than the other games, with a campaign that usually takes around 4 hours to complete. However, playtime can vary depending on how carefully you play and how much you explore.

23. Resident Evil 4 – Separate Ways

5 Hours

Normally, I don’t really talk about DLC in my reviews, but “Separate Ways” is a big deal and deserves a shout-out. Seriously, it’s a pretty lengthy expansion – longer than some full Resident Evil games, and almost as long as the RE3 remake from 2020! The best part is you get to play as Ada Wong, which is rare. It fills in what she was up to during the main story, and lets you blast tons of infected creatures. Gameplay-wise, it’s pretty much the same as the original game, but with a few extra weapons and a cool grappling hook to play around with.

22. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

6 Hours

This team-based shooter is set during the outbreak in Raccoon City. Players can choose from twelve different characters, divided into two groups: the Umbrella Security Team and the U.S. Special Ops team. The story changes depending on which team you select. You can also play with up to four friends in co-op mode, battling either the Special Ops or Security Team.

Unlike other Resident Evil games with complex storylines, Operation Raccoon City is primarily an action-packed shooting game. This makes it relatively short to finish – around 6 hours – which is a good fit for its gameplay style.

21. Resident Evil 3 (2020)

6 Hours

The remake of Resident Evil 3 is one of the shortest games in the Resident Evil series, and many fans were disappointed with it. The game’s campaign felt short because a significant amount of content was removed from the original.

The story in the game is quite short, taking only about 6 hours to finish. This made Resident Evil 3 feel more like a large addition to the Resident Evil 2 remake from the previous year. Compared to the original game, several areas and boss battles were removed, resulting in a very streamlined story. However, RE3 is enjoyable during its playtime.

20. Resident Evil 2 (1998)

6 Hours

Resident Evil 2, a relatively short installment in the Resident Evil series, takes place two months after the first game. It centers on Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they struggle to survive and escape the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City.

Players experience the story through two different characters, each navigating the deserted streets of Raccoon City and the eerie halls of its police station. The game was highly acclaimed for its engaging gameplay, compelling story, and immersive environments, and was successfully reimagined with a remake in 2019.

19. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

7 Hours

The original Resident Evil 3 offered about 30 minutes more gameplay than the newer version. It also introduced Nemesis, a memorable villain who became known for relentlessly pursuing players, and helped establish the idea of ‘stalker’ enemies within the Resident Evil series.

This game tells the story of Jill Valentine as she’s chased by a dangerous enemy through Raccoon City, happening at the same time as the events of Resident Evil 2. It offers a fresh look at the disaster and brings Jill back into the Resident Evil series.

18. Resident Evil (1996)

7 hours

While the first Resident Evil shows its age today, many consider it the most influential horror game ever made. It takes about 7 hours to complete, which was a good length for a game in the 1990s. Modern players might find it a bit short, but when it first came out, it was seen as incredibly full of content.

This game was crucial in making Resident Evil a legendary name in survival horror. It also introduced players to key characters who would become series staples, including Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine, and Chris Redfield.

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2026-03-28 23:05