It's difficult to name a video game franchise with as much pure story content as the Resident Evil franchise. With well around 30 games in the series (if remakes and spin-offs are included), Resident Evil is known for its extremely lore-dense and ever-expanding storyline that unfolds over the course of multiple years and even decades.
Like any story-based game series, especially one this old, one might be forgiven for expecting the quality of the storytelling to fluctuate wildly. This, however, does not mean that this 27-year-old game franchise is lacking any true gems when it comes to storytelling - quite the opposite in fact. Here is a list of some Resident Evil games with the best stories in the series.
6 Resident Evil 3 - An Underrated Gem
There is a strength in simplicity, which is something fans of Resident Evil 3's story are well aware of. The game follows Jill Valentine as she attempts to escape Raccoon City as it's overrun by a zombie infection, all the while being hunted by the mysterious Nemesis. While it's a pretty short narrative, the story succeeds precisely because it doesn't veer off into wacky tangents that sometimes plague other games in the series.
Each of the characters has a single, overarching goal in mind; get the hell out of Raccoon City before it is destroyed. It's a good enough setup for any action horror game, but Nemesis also helps to elevate the story by enhancing the tension, constantly stalking the player as they attempt to complete objectives. There's some mystery, good twists, and a host of memorable characters and set pieces for Resident Evil fans to appreciate in this surprisingly underrated entry in the franchise.
5 Resident Evil 2 - Damn Good Survival Horror
For many fans, Resident Evil 2 (both the original and the remake) are the gold standard when it comes to both gameplay and story. Much like its sequel, Resident Evil 3, RE2 sees its principal characters, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield attempting to navigate the zombie-infested Raccoon City. Both characters have their own story campaigns, each with their own characters and scenarios, though by the end both coalesce into a single narrative rather seamlessly.
In comparison to the original, the much beloved RE2 Remake makes a few alterations to the story but mostly keeps it the same, choosing not to break what obviously isn't broken. The prologue is different, and there are alterations made to certain character interactions and motivations (Ada Wong and Mr. X being prime examples), however, all of it works well in the established narrative.
4 Resident Evil 7: Bio Hazard - A Return To Form
After what seemed like a dark period for the Resident Evil games, the series made an impressive comeback with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Biohazard moves the series into FPS territory, dropping players in the shoes of a faceless protagonist by the name of Ethan Winters. One of the game's primary strengths is its self-contained story with virtually all new characters.
It serves to revitalize the franchise in an intelligent way, whilst also bringing it back to its roots as a survival/action horror game series. It's quite an achievement to be both old and new at the same time, and yet Resident Evil 7 succeeds at this with flying colors.
3 Resident Evil Village - End of An Era
While it's not quite as tight as its predecessor, Village does a good job of wrapping up Ethan Winters' story as he attempts to save his infant daughter from the clutches of Mother Miranda. As a conclusion to the story which first began with Resident Evil 7, Village is a satisfying if somewhat slower-paced sequel that expands on the lore introduced in its predecessor and answers many of the questions fans had while playing it at the time. If Biohazard is like the original Resident Evil, Village is more like RE4, which has a much higher emphasis on action with sporadic moments of survival horror.
2 Resident Evil - The Original
As much praise as its sequels deserve for building up this world and for evolving the genre over the years, none of those games would exist without the solid foundation laid by the original Resident Evil in 1996. It is the first game to feature such significant characters as Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker, as well as establish the tone and message of the franchise going forward.
Like its sequel, RE features multiple characters to choose from, each with their own story within the overall narrative. It's basically a haunted house story but with a few sci-fi twists thrown in for good measure. The end result is a wonderfully original experience for its time and one that would prove to have plenty of staying power.
1 Resident Evil 4 - A Turning Point For The Franchise
Many people credit RE4 as a significant turning point for the franchise. Not only was it the first game to feature a dynamic camera that follows the player, but it also introduced a heavier focus on action compared to previous titles. RE2 protagonist, Leon S. Kennedy is sent to Spain in order to rescue the Vice President's daughter, Ashley Graham from a mysterious cult that'd kidnaped her for unknown reasons.
RE4 moves the story away from Umbrella and Raccoon city for the most part, instead choosing to work with brand-new ideas and characters. The game also takes itself decidedly less seriously than its predecessors, though in the end this only amplifies its charm.