Highlights
- Resident Evil's influence is felt in many newer horror titles, with games like Dead Space and The Evil Within taking inspiration.
- Classic Resident Evil fans have a buffet of retro-inspired games to enjoy in 2024, like Crow Country and Tormented Souls 2.
- Newer RE game enthusiasts can look forward to releases like Silent Hill 2 and Alone In The Dark in 2024.
It may have stumbled a bit in the early 2010s, but Resident Evil has been back in full swing for the past few years. Capcom's long-lasting horror franchise seems more popular than ever before, inspiring a number of great titles, both big and small. Indeed, Resident Evil is a giant in the horror genre, leaving a profound mark on the games industry.
This is nothing new, though. Even Silent Hill, a franchise that many once felt could usurp Resident Evil as the king of horror gaming, was birthed as a direct response to Capcom's early success in the survival horror space. Since then, several best-selling, critically acclaimed titles have taken direct inspiration from Resident Evil, including Dead Space, The Evil Within (directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami), and The Last of Us. The indie scene has taken notes from RE as well, with burgeoning cult classics like Signalis and Alisa clearly drawing from the older games in the series. As developers around the globe continue to learn from Resident Evil, players can likely expect even more spiritual successors, and 2024 is jam-packed with such titles.
Resident Evil Falling Back on Legacy Characters Already Would Be a Shame
Theories about the next Resident Evil game speculate that the series is bringing back OG characters, which could be a little disappointing.
2024 Is Seeing Many Resident Evil-Style Games, Both Big and Small
Fans of Classic Resident Evil Have a Cornucopia of Games to Choose From
Broadly speaking, the Resident Evil series can be split into two categories: the classic RE games characterized by rudimentary combat, scarce resources, and backtracking, and the post-RE4 games and remakes, which have a greater emphasis on action. Players who favor the former category are in luck this year, as 2024 is host to some great and promising retro-inspired titles, including:
- Crow Country (released May 9, 2024)
- Tormented Souls 2 (release date TBD 2024)
- Hollowbody (release date TBD 2024)
- Post Trauma (release date TBD 2024)
Crow Country launched to rapturous critical acclaim, with fans praising its delightfully retro graphical style, resource management systems, and classic combat mechanics, making it a great choice for anyone looking for classic Resident Evil gameplay in a unique yet familiar package. Tormented Souls 2 and Post Trauma are perhaps the most reminiscent of old-school Resident Evil, featuring fixed camera angles, environmental puzzles, and visual flair that feels ripped straight out of Capcom's early forays into horror.
Meanwhile, Hollowbody takes certain elements of classic survival horror, like resource management, puzzle-solving, and high-stakes combat, and sets them against a distinct sci-fi backdrop, promising to offer a fresh take on the genre's best-known narrative and aesthetic staples. All these titles have been described as being inspired by early 2000s or late 90s horror games, and their Resident Evil influence is plain to see.
Fans of Newer Resident Evil Games Have a Few Games to Look Forward To
Though some survival horror purists may disagree, many would argue that the modern Resident Evil games are some of the best in the series, boasting industry-leading fidelity, engaging combat, and cinematic flair while retaining a focus on scares, puzzles, and exploration. Fans of these games are in luck, as 2024 will see or have seen the release of:
- Alone In the Dark (released March 20, 2024)
- Silent Hill 2 (release date October 8, 2024)
Silent Hill 2's revamped gameplay looks to have quite a bit in common with the recent spate of Resident Evil titles, despite the fact that it's a remake of the classic 2001 game: it features an over-the-shoulder first-person perspective and an ostensibly greater emphasis on combat, seemingly taking some notes from modern survival horror games. Similarly, Alone In the Dark is a reboot of one of the earliest-ever survival horror franchises, which predates even Resident Evil.
It retains its predecessors' tense atmosphere and slow combat but with a decidedly contemporary approach to presentation and gameplay. For gamers who prefer the modern Resident Evil remakes over the originals, Silent Hill 2 and Alone In the Dark may be just what the doctor ordered.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a long-running survival horror franchise developed by Capcom. Spread across numerous mainline and spin-off entries, the series is known for it’s third and first-person action horror, zombie-related monsters and references, and challenging puzzles.
Summary
Capcom's survival horror franchise.
