The Best Aquatic Monsters In Resident Evil, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Aquatic monsters in Resident Evil are diverse, from infected animals to human-created beasts hiding beneath the surface.
These creatures provide some of the scariest and most memorable boss encounters throughout the franchise.
From Irving’s transformation in RE5 to Moreau’s sea creature form in Village, these aquatic foes offer intense battles.

As a seasoned survivor of the zombie apocalypse and a frequent visitor to the underwater realms of Raccoon City, I can confidently say that these aquatic horrors are some of the most terrifying creatures I’ve ever encountered – even more so than the shuffling undead hordes that roam the streets above.

Over the span of many years in the Resident Evil series, characters like Chris, Leon, and Jill, among others, have faced a variety of bio-organic weapons in their journeys. Some of these foes are easily spotted by players when they meet them, but not all; there are also aquatic creatures that lurk beneath the water’s surface, choosing to ambush when they feel it’s time to strike.

Often, these types of adversaries will be aquatic creatures that have contracted a virus, resulting in grotesque transformations. Occasionally, it may be a human who assumes the form of a colossal water creature to gain an edge against their opponent when immersed in water. Regardless, let’s explore the most memorable and entertaining aquatic monsters from the Resident Evil series, considering their impact and the excitement they brought during gameplay.

8. Ricardo Irving

Irving Turns From A Cowardly Arms Dealer To A Giant Aquatic Monster In Mere Seconds

Initially, Irving isn’t the long-limbed, kraken-like creature he transforms into in Resident Evil 5. Instead, for most of the game, he is a timid and cowardly arms dealer who mocks Chris and Sheva while hiding behind a masked figure for protection. However, when they finally track him down, Irving injects himself and transforms into a grotesque monster that plunges itself into the sea immediately.

Luckily for Chris and Sheva, they stumbled upon a ship equipped with gatling guns – making their battle against Irving particularly intense. Players must target the glowing spots on Irving’s scaly hide during this exciting fight sequence, which adds to its overall appeal as one of the more distinctive boss encounters in Resident Evil 5.

7. HAOS

A Humanoid Behemoth Who Lurks Within An Underwater Facility

In the gripping world of Resident Evil 6, I came face-to-face with a beast known as HAOS at the culmination of Chris’ campaign. While this creature resembles a human, its true nature is far from ordinary. It was strategically stationed in an underwater facility to foster its development, and given its massive tentacles, it could effortlessly navigate through the watery depths if ever set free.

In the world of Resident Evil, HAOS stands out among other monsters due to its immense size and strength. Faced with such power, Chris and Piers found themselves in a precarious situation where their only means of escape was through an unusual method: Piers injecting himself with the C-virus to inflict minimal damage on HAOS, allowing Chris to flee in an escape pod. Despite being overshadowed by the numerous bosses in Resident Evil 6’s various campaigns, HAOS remains a noteworthy aquatic monster for its grotesque appearance and the challenge it posed to our heroic protagonists as they worked tirelessly to vanquish it for good.

6. Moreau

Moreau Uses His Swamp To Outmaneuver Ethan While In His Grotesque Sea-Monster Form

Unlike the other three lords in the Village, who all have elegant and organized dwellings, Moreau resides in a murky, cluttered swamp filled with challenges for Ethan to overcome. This unusual location becomes clearer when we learn about Moreau’s horrifying true form – a monstrous sea creature that swiftly navigates through the water.

Consequently, Ethan finds himself in a very challenging predicament when the battle with Moreau starts, compelling players to strategically choose their movements between each scaffold to prevent being Moreau’s next meal. This design for an aquatic creature in Resident Evil is undeniably one of the most chilling ever created, and it earns extra kudos for the thrilling boss fight that effectively incorporates water navigation and light puzzles.

5. Hunter Gamma

The Hunter Gamma Resides In Deep Waters Before Striking Its Prey Unexpectedly

Hunter Gamma is a variant of the original Hunter specifically engineered for aquatic settings. Consequently, they’re often spotted lurking in water bodies or emerging from sewers within Raccoon City. Some of them use their elongated arms to snare prey, while others will charge at Jill and attempt to swallow her whole with their enormous jaws.

In addition to their unsettling appearance, the Hunter Gammas are not only swift but also boast durable hide, making them among Jill’s most formidable adversaries in Resident Evil 3. Although they might not receive as much acclaim as the original Hunters, the Hunter Gamma remains a significant and memorable foe from both the original Resident Evil 3 and its remake.

4. Malacoda

The Biggest B.O.W In The Series Could Have Destroyed Entire Cities If It Reached Land

In many parts of “Resident Evil Revelations”, players explore an expansive vessel named Queen Zenobia. However, during an initial playthrough, it would be surprising to learn that one of the game’s final bosses is a monstrous creature larger than the ship itself. The largest Bio-Organic Weapon (B.O.W.) in the series, Malacoda, resembles a colossal worm-like parasite that emerges from the ocean with the intention of destroying the BSAA once and for all.

What’s most disturbing about this sea-based monstrosity is that it continues growing indefinitely, meaning if Chris and Jill hadn’t stopped it in its tracks, it may have one day reached the surface and spread chaos across the entire world. The size of this beast, alongside its terrifying design, and the epic battle that accompanies it, results in it being one of the very best aquatic creatures players will face in any of the games.

3. Giant Alligator

Alligators Can Already Be Scary Enough, But Making One Triple The Size Increases The Scare Factor Considerably

From Resident Evil 2

In the game Resident Evil 2, a formidable boss named Giant Alligators makes an appearance shortly after players venture into the sewers. This massive semi-aquatic beast seems to materialize out of thin air and charges at Leon, attempting to crush him with its powerful jaws while maneuvering through the narrow tunnels of the sewer system.

What sets the striking design apart for the giant alligator is its surprising nature. Although there are subtle signs suggesting something large lies hidden in Raccoon City, the sudden appearance of such a creature without any prior indication is a terrifying sight that sends shivers down the spines of even the most experienced horror connoisseurs.

2. Neptune

A Slightly More Normal-Looking Aquatic Enemy Which Is Still Utterly Terrifying

In the first Resident Evil game, it’s tough to overlook the instant when Neptune, attempting to break through the glass while emptying water, seems poised for disaster. Despite his seemingly ordinary appearance among the aquatic monstrosities in the series, Neptune is essentially a flawed experiment, having been rejected by the scientists who exposed him to the Clay Virus.

Despite his actions being clearly hostile and aggressive, he becomes even more determined to attack the player, going so far as to harm himself in the process. Players must navigate through several stages to ultimately deliver a fatal electric shock to this massive beast, ensuring it cannot cause any further trouble.

1. Del Lago

Del Lago Is A Prime Example Of How Parasites Can Transform Innocent Animals Into Unrecognizable Monstrosities

It might surprise you, but the colossal sea monster that Leon runs into while attempting to traverse the village lake was once just a common salamander. However, when Saddler and his cult members infiltrated the village and contaminated both people and wildlife with Las Plagas, this particular salamander underwent an alarming transformation. The infection caused it to grow into a massive version of its past self, equipped with razor-sharp teeth and an insatiable hunger.

Right from the start of the game, you notice that the villagers occasionally feed Del Lago dead bodies to satisfy its insatiable hunger. This makes Del Lago one of the most challenging bosses in Resident Evil 4, as players must hurl a barrage of harpoons at it while it pulls Leon’s small boat through an intricate obstacle course. What sets Del Lago apart isn’t just its massive size but also its role as a vivid illustration of how the viruses and infections portrayed in the series can cause animals to undergo drastic transformations.

2024-12-07 11:34