5. Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 is one of those games that receives tons of criticism in online forums and websites but still manages to be one of the best in the series. Despite the many changes the game made to the classic Resident Evil formula, it still remains one of the most entertaining in the series, and you can take your best buddy along for the ride as well. Cooperative play is heavily criticized in this title, and it’s hard to see why. Most games of this generation feature some type of multiplayer features or aspects, and Resident Evil 5 does a good job of creating a frightening atmosphere that will provide you with as many action-packed sequences as scares. The game even added two additional campaigns with Desperate Escape and Lost in Nightmares that may have very well paved the way for Resident Evil 6‘s multiple campaigns. Hate it or love it, but Resident Evil 5 still remains the best-selling title in Resident Evil’s long running history until this day.
4. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was truly a game that could do no wrong. The game introduced us to many firsts in the series back in 1999 including randomized puzzles to keep you on your toes, plenty of unlockable costumes that would continue being a big part of the series, an ammunition crafting system that has remained mysteriously absent from the series since, improved movement including ability to climb stairs easier, make quick turns and dodge enemy attacks which all continue to be incorporated in the series, and of course, Nemesis. Nemesis was an experimental version of the Tyrant monster that was programmed by Umbrella to hunt down and kill all of the remaining STARS members. Nemesis was terrifying and persistent; he was nearly as quick as you, could easily dispose of you in a single attack and could chase you through the game no matter where you ran. Nemesis was so highly regarded that he was even featured as the central antagonist of his own film as well. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is also credited for introducing us to the fan favorite Mercenaries Mode even if the rules of the game mode have changed drastically since its creation.
3. Resident Evil 4
Speaking of changing the rules of the game, Resident Evil 4 raised the bar for what a Resident Evil game could be and set the standard for future titles in the series. Playing as returning Resident Evil hero Leon S. Kennedy, players were introduced to both a camera that followed the game’s protagonist around with a third-person, over the shoulder view throughout the game and allowed free aim with laser-sighted firearms. The two new mechanics completely changed the way the game would be played from this release forward but also took away zombies for the first time ever and replaced them with infected, rampaging villagers who were scary in their own way. Resident Evil 4 was a truly revolutionary game and a title that should always remain among the best in the series.
2. Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 was many gamers’ first encounter with the Resident Evil series, as it catapulted the original title into a highly respected and successful series that would continue to pave the way for the survival horror genre in the late 1990s. While not as revolutionary as other titles in the series, it did present players with two separate campaigns that would each play out differently based on the choices you made in the coinciding game. Many times through either campaign ,one of the game’s protagonists would come across the other for a short moment before splitting up again. This was also the first time the action revolved around an entire city rather than the massive mansion of the original game. Resident Evil 2 introduced us to several of the most beloved characters in the history of the Resident Evil franchise as well as the most iconic setting in Raccoon City making it truly stand out as one of the best ever.
1. Resident Evil Outbreak Files 1 & 2
Resident Evil Outbreak isn’t the most recognizable game in the Resident Evil series, but it easily has one of the most devoted fan bases ever. Resident Evil Outbreak was released as one of the first titles for the PlayStation 2‘s Network Adapter that allowed for online gaming with other console players for one of the first times in the history of gaming. The contributions the Resident Evil Outbreak series made to online gaming is highly unappreciated, as it paved the way for some of the most popular titles of this gaming generation including Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising. The game cast you as one of eight survivors during the T-Virus outbreak of Raccoon City. Each character brought a unique skill to the group of four, and each also had a special item that would be greatly beneficial to the team. Cooperation was a key component of the game, and much of the game was randomized to keep gameplay from ever becoming repetitive. The Resident Evil Outbreak series made many innovations to the gaming universe, and it is unlikely there will ever be another game to come along and change a generation as much as these two titles have.