Resident Evil Requiem vs the Best of the Series
Resident Evil Requiem is the fastest-selling RE in series history (6 million units in weeks). But which past entries deserve your time and money — and which can you safely skip? Here's an honest ranking of the modern Resident Evil catalog with verdicts on each.
Ranked by overall quality and current value, not just release order.
Resident Evil Requiem (RE9)
BUYThe new gold standard. 6 million units sold (fastest in series history). Dual protagonist (Grace Ashcroft for survival horror, Leon S. Kennedy for action). Universal critical acclaim, 9.4 IMDb.
If you only buy one Resident Evil in 2026, make it this one.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFULL VERDICTResident Evil 4 Remake
BUYThe other gold standard. 93+ Metacritic, widely considered the best video game remake ever made. Modernized parry mechanic, walk-and-aim controls, expanded lake area.
Required ownership for action/horror fans. Often $30-40 on sale.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFULL VERDICTResident Evil 2 Remake
BUYThe remake that started the modern Capcom hot streak. Best entry point to the series for newcomers. Dual campaign (Leon + Claire) with interweaving stories. Mr. X stalker is genre-defining.
Regularly $15-20 on sale. Required reading for any horror fan.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFULL VERDICTResident Evil 7: Biohazard
BUYThe series reboot that brought RE back to its survival-horror roots. First-person perspective. Genuinely terrifying — many consider it the scariest mainline RE. The Baker family is iconic.
Required for narrative continuity to RE Village and Requiem. Often $10-15 on sale.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYResident Evil Village (RE8)
DEPENDSHybrid of RE7's first-person horror and RE4's action loop. 84 Metacritic. Praised for variety (werewolves, vampires, mutants), criticized for easy puzzles and uneven pacing.
Buy if you've played RE7 and want continuation. Skip if new to series.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFULL VERDICTResident Evil 3 Remake
WAITThe weakest of the modern remakes. Drastically shorter than the original (5-7 hours vs 10+). Missing iconic clock tower section. Nemesis is reduced to scripted encounters rather than the dynamic stalker of the 1999 original.
Wait for sub-$15 sale. Worth playing for completion, but don't pay full price.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYResident Evil Revelations 1 + 2
DEPENDSMid-tier mainline-adjacent entries. Revelations 1 (Jill on a cruise ship) is more atmospheric; Revelations 2 (Claire + Moira, episodic) is divisive.
Skip unless you're a completionist. Better RE games exist at the same price.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYResident Evil 5 / RE6
SKIPThe 'pure action' era of Resident Evil that nearly killed the franchise. RE5 is co-op coop fun if you have a friend; RE6 is widely considered the worst mainline entry.
Skip both unless you're doing a complete chronological replay. The remakes are vastly superior to the originals (RE5 has no remake announced).
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYResident Evil 1 (REmake)
BUYThe 2002 GameCube remake (with 2015 HD remaster) is one of the best survival horror games ever made. Tank controls and fixed camera are dated, but the atmosphere and tension hold up.
Essential if you want to understand series origins. Often under $10 on sale.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYResident Evil Code: Veronica X
WAITThe 'true' RE3 sequel narratively, never officially remade. Available on most platforms via re-release. Dated but story-essential for hardcore fans.
Wait for the inevitable Capcom remake announcement.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFinal Thoughts
If you can only buy three Resident Evil games: Requiem (the new mainline), RE4 Remake (the action peak), and RE2 Remake (the survival horror peak). Together they cover the full breadth of what the franchise does best.
If you can only buy one: Resident Evil Requiem. Newest, freshest, dual-protagonist coverage of both styles.
If you want maximum value: Wait for the next Steam or PSN sale. The modern RE catalog (RE2R, RE4R, RE7, Village) routinely hits 50-75% off, meaning you can often grab 4 entries for under $80 total.