8 Best Resident Evil Games for an Intense Horror Experience

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Have you ever heard about the term “Slow Poison”? That’s what the Resident Evil series is. It’s impressive how much better the game has gotten over the years. It definitely earned its spot as a top choice in horror-action games for gamers everywhere. The series has every component required to make anyone fall in love with the game.

Capcom (the developers of the Resident Evil franchise) did a great job balancing the components of horror and action. To make things more interesting, the series offers suspenseful storylines. I mean, you never know what’s and who’s about to come next. And, when I say who, brace yourself cause you’re going to come face to face with some dangerous villains. Let’s talk more about the horror and action balance.

The Right Mix of Horror and Action

Well, when it comes to action, you just can’t go all guns blazing at your opponents. You must know how to collect and save as much ammo as possible. Since the ammo is limited, the monsters and zombies sometimes will take blood, sweat, and tears to kill. And how can we forget some of the iconic action sequences we share with the villains?

Zombie hand. Halloween theme concept.

When it comes to the horror aspect of the game, it’s completely different from other games. Why am I saying this? Well, in other games, we start getting gut feelings that something is wrong or someone is about to pop out. Well, in Resident Evil, the gut feeling doesn’t work. You never know who will pop up on your screen in the blink of an eye. And the intense cinematography spices up the horror environment.

Throughout the game, there will be multiple jumpscares and rage moments. And when you play the game, dopamine leaves the chat. Moreover, the Resident Evil series is more admired for its antagonists and monsters. So let’s take a look at the iconic monsters and supervillains.

Freaky Resident Evil Enemies that Provide the Chills

So, the Resident Evil series features a wide range of creatures and monsters. However, there are some who were so iconic that they were even featured in movies and created a sense of fear among gamers.

➡️ Lickers

When things seem to be peaceful in the game, be ready. You might encounter a Licker. These creatures are blind and bloodthirsty and are the most iconic monsters in the series. Lickers are present in some installments of the RE series.

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Source: ReadyPlayerReact

Battling one is not a piece of cake cause they are fast, agile, and have a long, prehensile tongue that they can use to grab and tear their victims apart. Moreover, they deal a good amount of damage to the player. Sometimes you might encounter a couple of Lickers at once, which makes the task more challenging. Love it or hate it, but Lickers are really fun to fight.

➡️ The Queen Leech

Queen Leech is the final boss of Resident Evil 7.  The creature was a mutant leech created through experimentation on annelids with the t-Virus. It’s a massive monster and incredibly powerful which can drain the health of its victim in a flash.

The Queen Leech
Source: Fandom

The Queen Leech is very intelligent and has a wide range of attacks. Some are so powerful that they can end the fight in one shot. So good luck locking horns with her.

➡️ Nemesis

Nemesis has to be on the list of the best villains in Resident Evil. He is a hulking and powerful creature that will send chills down your spine. Moreover, nothing can stop him from going after his enemies, aka you.

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Source: GameClips

You’ll face Nemesis in Resident Evil 3, and throughout the game, he’ll not stop chasing you. Moreover, he is also equipped with a bazooka, so good luck fighting him.

➡️ Mr. X

In Resident Evil 2, while clearing the locations, when you think it’s time to relax, Mr. X will appear. And trust me, hiding from this towering tyrant is challenging, as he will come after you no matter what.

Mr. X
Source: Fandom

Do you know what’s wild? This dude doesn’t even need weapons to take down his enemies. He just uses his bare hands! And if you’re playing RE 2, you better watch out for Mr. X. He’s the ultimate bad guy, and it’s gonna take some serious effort to take him down.

Well, there are many other iconic characters in the game. But that’s a topic for another day. Now let’s talk about the thing you are here for. Below is the list of the best Resident Evil Games for an intense horror experience.

Resident Evil 4

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The plot of Resident Evil 4 is simple; you play the role of a super cop Leon S. Kennedy. You are sent to a remote village full of strange villagers, and your aim is to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter, Ashley Graham. Simple, or is it? Think again!

The game is not as straightforward as it sounds; the strange villagers will not think twice before attacking you. And you are going to face a load of them. In addition, you’ll come across different creatures through the game, and yeah, beware of the lake. Good luck facing Bitores Méndez, the major antagonist of the game.

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 4 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition Resident Evil 4 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition No ratings yet $19.56Amazon Prime

Here, we are talking about the remake of the 2005 Resident Evil 4. So if you are a millennium, then you know how fun the original version was. However, the remake adds new plot points and characters to the game.

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: March 24, 2023

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5
Source: Steam

Resident Evil 5 is considered one of the best games in the series. The story takes place in a fictional place called Kijuju, situated in the western region of Africa. The game features two protagonists, Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar, who are sent there to investigate a terrorist threat.

But the reality was completely different. Instead of terrorists, you will come face-to-face with zombies, Majini (the infected), and giant insects. The original RE 5 was remastered in 2016 with better graphics that make the game look even more awesome!

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 5 Resident Evil 5 No ratings yet $23.95

Albert Wesker is the main antagonist of the game, whose sole aim is to become the creator or a god to humanity. And only you can stop his evil plans.

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: March 5, 2009

Resident Evil 6

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Resident Evil 6 features 4 major protagonists Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Jake Muller, and Ada Wong. Each character has their own skills and abilities, which will help you on a mission to fight and find the reason behind bio-terrorist attacks across the globe.

As the story unfolds, you come to know about Ustanak, the main antagonist of the game. He is a bio-weapon you have to stop. So the fate of this world is in your hands.

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 6 Resident Evil 6 No ratings yet $26.96Amazon Prime

However, one thing to note here is that Resident Evil 6 is pretty different from the other games in the series. Instead of being all about survival horror, it’s more focused on action and has a really cinematic feel to it.

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

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Disclaimer: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is not for the faint-hearted and people with weak stomachs. The reason? The game is full of intense jumpscares and some graphic scenes. It was a massive hit and is considered one of the best horror games by many critics and gamers.

The story begins with Ethan Winters getting a message from his wife, Mia, who has been missing for 3 years. The mysterious message takes us to Dulvey, Louisiana, where Ethan gets trapped in a plantation owned by the Baker Family. So now Ethan has to escape the plantation and save himself from the clutches of the Baker Family.

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Greatest Hits - PlayStation 4 Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Greatest Hits - PlayStation 4 No ratings yet $34.88Amazon Prime

However, the Baker Family is not the only threat. You have to fight zombies, the Molded, and other creatures. And trust me; they are very visually disturbing and challenging to fight. The rest is up to you.

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: January 24, 2017

Resident Evil 2

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Resident Evil 2 takes place in the iconic Raccoon City. The game features Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who have to survive the zombie outbreak in the city and find the evil plans of the Umbrella Corp. 

As you try to survive in the city, to make your life a living hell, Mr. X will enter the story. A little background check about Mr. X. So, this guy is a tyrant with superhuman strength, intelligence, and speed. And every time he enters the story, your heart rate is going to spike. 

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 2 Remake PS4 Resident Evil 2 Remake PS4 No ratings yet $22.99Amazon Prime

To spice things up and make your survival difficult, you’ll also cross paths with multiple Lickers. There are many unexpected jumpscares waiting for you around the corner. So are you ready to make it out of Raccoon City alive?

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: January 25, 2019

Resident Evil 3

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Resident Evil 3 is another excellent remake of an older game. Once again, we will step foot in Raccoon City, but this time, we play as Jill Valentine. 

The story of Resident Evil 2 & 3 takes place at the same time. Trying to get out of Raccoon City can be a tough mission, especially when you’re up against the bone-chilling monster that is Nemesis. Shoot him, burn him, or blow him; nothing seems to work. And for Nemesis, crushing you seems to be a walk in the park. 

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil 3: Remake PS4 Resident Evil 3: Remake PS4 No ratings yet $24.50Amazon Prime

To make things worse, you will also face Lickers as well. The game will put its player on the edge of their seat; they never know who’s gonna show up. 

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: April 3, 2020

Resident Evil Village

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Well, Resident Evil is known for its deadly and fearsome villains, but then there is Resident Evil Village. The first trailer, featuring Lady Dimitrescu, went viral for multiple reasons — the excitement for a new Resident Evil game being one of them.

Unlike other RE games, RE Village offers a first-person shooter perspective. Moreover, in place of zombies, you’ll face werewolves, vampires, and other undead creatures in a mysterious village somewhere in Europe. 

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil Village (Xbox Series X) Resident Evil Village (Xbox Series X) No ratings yet $27.07Amazon Prime

You’ll get the full experience of a gothic horror atmosphere. If you’re planning on playing RE Village, it might be a good idea to give Resident Evil 7 a try first. It sets the tone for the story, and you’ll play Ethan Winters once again. This time he tries to rescue his daughter from dangerous antagonists. It’s expected to be quite an intense experience. Are you prepared for it?

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: May 7, 2021

Resident Evil: Revelations 2

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Resident Evil: Revelations 2 give you the taste of old school Resident Evil experience. The game takes place in a secret prison facility on an island in Russia. Moreover, it offers a dark environment, which makes the game more thrilling. The game progress in an episodic form. This means the game takes place in 12 episodes which were released in a span of months. 

Preview Product Rating Price
Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4) Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4) No ratings yet $20.48Amazon Prime

Claire Redfield and Moira Burton are the two main characters of this game. The antagonist is Alex Wesker, and she is a brilliant and ruthless killer. As you progress in the game, you will encounter her multiple times. You should definitely check out this game if you want to get the original taste of Resident Evil. 

Developers: Capcom

Publishers: Capcom

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Author’s Verdict 

If you ask me, then I can boast about the Resident Evil game all day long. The reason is simple; the series is a masterpiece. One tip here is that you should play the game in the right order to know more about the stories and their characters. This will definitely enhance your overall experience. Till then, enjoy the games; I’ll see you in the next one. 

Want more horror games? Check out the best PS5 horror games that will provide you with unforgettable experiences!

Ritesh Jha
Ritesh Jha
Hey there, I remember back in 2007 when I got my first computer and discovered the wonderful world of gaming through playing Mario. From then on, gaming has been a huge part of my life, and it's crazy to think that it's now my career! I love writing about all kinds of games and making sure my articles are both fun and accurate. By the way, if you ever want to challenge me to a game, I'm up for it!

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