21 Years Later, is the Resident Evil Game With 96 on Metacritic Still the Best Game in the Series?

As arguably the most beloved horror series in video game history, it’s no surprise that Resident Evil has multiple critically acclaimed games to its name. Sure, it may have some stinkers like Umbrella Corps and Operation Raccoon City to be ashamed of, but it also has seven games sitting above a 90 on the review aggregate site Metacritic. Of these top games, the RE2 remake, the original Resident Evil and its remake, and the original RE3 all sit at 91. The recent remake of Resident Evil 4 takes third place at 93, edged out by second place game Code: Veronica, which is the Resident Evil remake most fans are desperate to see next. Standing above all of these titles is 2005’s Resident Evil 4 with a 96, and it’s easy to understand why it was so celebrated.

The original Resident Evil 4 had practically everything going for it. Its third-person perspective blew critics away at the time, and went on to become the standard for similar games. Its pacing perfectly merged action and horror, which is something that is actually quite rare for the franchise. Resident Evil games tend to nail the scares early on, but devolve into action-focused romps as they go, making RE4’s consistent balance something worthy of praise. Its use of QTEs, enemy physics, and impressive visuals all stood out at the time, while Leon was more likable than ever.

However, while Resident Evil 4’s score makes sense given its impact on the industry and how fresh it felt when it debuted, there’s a case to be made that it’s not the best game in the series anymore.

How Resident Evil 4 Has Topped Itself With Its 2023 Remake

Resident Evil 4’s brilliant 2023 remake is a bit of a cheat here, but realistically, it IS better in many ways. Its drastically improved visuals, thanks to modern technology, are just the tip of the iceberg, as it offers better acting, improved combat thanks to the parry system, and auto-saves. The already-iconic merchant has even more personality in the remake, as there’s a fun rewards system tacked on to the shooting gallery, and the once-tedious water hall section has been polished up a bit. Add on some fun little side quests, and it’s clear that there are a lot of changes made in the remake—changes that arguably make it feel like a completely different (and deeper) game. Other improvements in the RE4 remake are as follows:

• Crouching improves Leon’s stealth capabilities.
• Conversations with Agent Hunnigan don’t pull players out of gameplay.
• Customizable attache cases.
• New enemies to battle.
• More collectibles to find.
• Characters like Luis are more fleshed out.

Perhaps the best case of all in favor of Resident Evil 4 remake having dethroned the original game is that it corrects two of the biggest issues players had with the iconic 2005 release. First, it offers modern third-person shooter controls. While the original RE4 was an innovator with its camera perspective, it still used the ever-frustrating tank controls, making for stiff moment-to-moment gameplay where players had to turn in place. This is fortunately gone in the RE4 remake, with shooting and movement feeling smooth and modern. The other big change is the overhaul of Ashley Graham. Gone is the sexist dialogue that was previously thrown in the direction of the president’s daughter, and smart adjustments have been made to her personality to make her more relatable. She listens to commands better than she did in the original game, and she even helps during one combat section. Plus, players get to briefly control her in a scary sequence that further adds to RE4’s expert blend of action and horror.

For Pure Horror, Resident Evil 7 and RE2 Remake Take the Cake

While the RE4 remake feels like the new “best” Resident Evil for anyone seeking a blend of horror and action, those just wanting the former may prefer some other entries. The first of these, Resident Evil 7, made a bold switch to first-person and put players in control of the deliberately inexperienced Ethan Winters. While a bit controversial at the time, first-person gameplay made Resident Evil feel truly scary for the first time in years, which felt necessary after RE6 went so far in the action direction. Going with a new protagonist who was genuinely fearful instead of borderline action heroes like Chris Redfield was another wise choice, as the main character being as fearful as the player themselves added greatly to the sense of immersion. The Baker Family is deeply unsettling compared to campy villains like Wesker, so for players who associate Resident Evil with the classic dog jumpscare and other spooky moments, this could easily be the game they see as the “best.”

Resident Evil 2 remake is another valid option for those who prioritize scares above all else. Mr. X stalking players as they try to solve puzzles and progress through the RCPD station presents a constant feeling of anxiety that can force players to make mistakes, and deciding whether to spend ammo stunning him is a difficult choice that players constantly have to make. The game feels more like traditional Resident Evil thanks to its camera perspective and the use of series’ favorites Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy, and being able to play as both characters adds significant replayability to the experience. Like Resident Evil 4 remake, it boasts modern controls, visuals, and mechanics, making for a game that feels significantly better to play than the original RE4.

While there’s no denying the original Resident Evil 4‘s influence on the series and gaming as a whole, and its extremely high Metascore makes sense given the other horror games that it was up against at the time, there are other entries in the series that have since surpassed it. How the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem stacks up to the classics mentioned above remains to be seen, but its two protagonists will see it shooting for the same horror/action blend that made RE4 so special. Given that it’s still the most critically acclaimed game in the series—even if there’s a case to be made that it’s no longer the best entry—it’s wise for Capcom to use it as an example.