If you're on the hunt for a list of the best Resident Evil games, you've got it. We're big horror fans here at Pocket Tactics, so we know what we're talking about when it comes to this iconic zombie-filled series. Whether you're new to the series or a veteran zombie combatant, this guide is full of plenty of great options you can play today.
If you're looking for more jumpscares and legions of undead, be sure to check out our guide to the best horror games while you're here. Or, if you're willing to try something a little different, perhaps our lists of the best games like The Witcher 3, games like Dark Souls, games like Diablo, and games like Skyrim will be more to your liking.
Here are the best Resident Evil games:
Resident Evil 4
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
We're starting this list strong. Resident Evil 4 arguably tops the list of the best Resident Evil games of all time, so it's no surprise that it happens to be one of the games we're suggesting you play on Switch. Resi 4 puts you in the shoes of Leon Kennedy, and who doesn't love this guy? You find yourself on a journey to rescue the president's daughter, facing a strange cult while you're at it.
However, we must warn you that while crazy cultists can be creepy, nothing is as horrifying as Ashley. Yes, the president's daughter has a voice so shrill and walks so slowly that you'll be wanting to leave her behind in no time. Actually, we have many times.
Resident Evil Revelations 2
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
What a game! Claire Redfield had a tough act to follow with how amazing the first Resident Evil Revelations is, yet her outing in the spinoff series is fantastic. In fact, we'd go so far as to say it surpasses its predecessor in near enough every way. The story is gripping, and the fact that you get to play as Barry is the cherry on top of this grotesque sundae.
Much like the first one, the game is split into episodes, some of which see you play as Claire, while others give you control of Barry. Both of them have an ally with them, and this is crucial as certain puzzles require teamwork to solve. If you enjoy horror and true scares, and are after an atmospheric game to play, there are very few on Switch that can offer it quite as well as Resident Evil Revelations 2.
Resident Evil
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
To be honest, we think it should be written into law that you have to play the original, so of course it's on our list of the best Resident Evil games. No excuses. It's on enough platforms at this point. There's no reason not to treat yourself to this horror classic. Seriously, there's nothing quite like working your way through the Spencer mansion.
No matter how many times you've gone through this hellhole, it compels you to come back. As with any game in the series, the one that started it all features zombies, puzzles, and some adorable pooches that deserve all the pets and cuddles you have to spare.
Resident Evil Revelations
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
The fact that we haven't had Resident Evil Revelations 3 yet is sacrilege. Then again, if we had that, we might not have RE Village, and a world without the 9-foot-tall vampire mummy isn't one I want to be in. Anyway, Resident Evil Revelations took the franchise in a fresh direction, introducing an episodic formula that works really well.
Of course, it also features Jill Valentine as a playable protagonist, and that alone is enough to make it worth playing. Oh, Jill. It's about time we had a new game with her as the star. Another fun tidbit about Revelations is that the Switch version features motion controls, adding to the entertainment factor as you snap-aim your gun around like a total badass.
Resident Evil 5
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch and Windows handhelds
Okay, you need to hear us out with this one. Yes, it's not so much zombies as it's a parasitic outbreak in Africa, but perhaps that was a necessary choice by this point, just to offer something different. Though it's not so much that people have a problem with it, it's more that you're not a lone wolf in this one. You have a partner. Again, not necessarily a bad thing. Even if it takes some of the terror away, it's that the AI is god-awful, which is why this game is great if you have a friend.
Many of the puzzles require two people to solve, and it's a fun time if you go through it with a buddy. Besides, it's worth getting to the end of this pick on our list of the best Resident Evil games just to see Chris Redfield punch a huge boulder into a lava pool in the middle of an active volcano. Only in Resident Evil.
Resident Evil Village
Portable platforms: iPhone, Nintendo Switch (cloud), Steam Deck, and Windows Handhelds
For many fans, Resident Evil Village was a return to form for the series, introducing both some exciting new mechanics and some terrifying new enemies. If you were online at any point in 2021, you probably recognize Lady Dimitrescu, who puts the 'big' in big bad, but there's a lot more to this game than you might think, carefully balancing survival and action to offer an experience that keeps you both on your toes and on the edge of your seat.
Village takes place after the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and you play as Ethan Winters, who, after a tragic twist of events, is forced into tracking down his daughter in a peculiar European setting. As you might imagine, horror ensues as Winters pushes forward to find his child and untangle the peculiar narrative that sees him once again deal with the consequences of the Umbrella Corporation's actions.
Should I play the Resident Evil cloud games on Nintendo Switch?
While there is the option to play cloud versions of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard on Switch, we don't recommend it. Much like the Kingdom Hearts cloud games, enjoying these titles depends on a strong and reliable internet connection, with no option to play them on the go. As much as we love Nintendo's handheld console, you're better off checking out these games on your Steam Deck, Windows handheld, or even your iPhone.
There you have it, our picks for the best Resident Evil games. Should you be after some more terrifying experiences, our list of the best games like Last of Us is sure to sort you out. Or, if you need a break from the never-ending waves of zombies, get off to a head start in something more casual with our Coin Master free spins and free Monopoly Go dice guides.