What are the best Resident Evil monsters? There are some truly iconic Resident Evil monsters out there, so much so that they’re among the most fearsome in the horror genre. However, not all of them feature a ghastly appearance. Some actually have a relatively innocent appearance, though many are quite clearly monsters that should rightly have you running in the opposite direction, not that it will do you much good.
Before we divulge our opinion on the best Resident Evil monsters, you should read up on the poor souls who have to deal with them; our Resident Evil Claire, Resident Evil Chris, Resident Evil Jill, and Resident Evil Leon are just a few examples, though perhaps they’re the most important given who these four face throughout their terrifying journeys.
Here are the best Resident Evil monsters:
Resident Evil Licker
Resident Evil Lickers are a standout among Resident Evil monsters thanks in large part to their appearance. They stand out from the crowd; you’re very much aware when you’re staring at a licker, with their sharp claws, inside-out appearance, and, of course, their ridiculously long tongues. Unfortunately, this also isn’t a case of a monster having a vicious appearance but being a pushover.
Lickers are incredibly dangerous, as Resident Evil 2 fans can attest to (the game in which they first appear). These things move wicked fast, so running from them isn’t really an option, especially as you could run into other enemies and, god forbid, maybe even a second Licker. Plus, they have a keen sense of hearing, so you need to walk slowly around them if you want to avoid detection.
The Lickers hold a place in Resident Evil history for a reason. Our one bit of advice to you is to either be as sneaky as a ninja or have a booming weapon, such as a shotgun or grenade launcher, to deal with them quickly.
Resident Evil Tyrant
Resident Evil Tyrants go back to the first Resident Evil game in 1996 when Jill and Chris must defeat one in the labs hidden deep within the Spencer mansion. They are the first declared bioweapon from Umbrella. As such, they’re a bit of a flagship product for the ethically corrupt pharmaceutical company.
Then, as if they don’t already have a strong legacy, you have to bring Resident Evil 2’s Mr X into the mix. The most famous of the Tyrants, Mr X, hunts down poor Claire and Leon as they try to navigate their way through the hell hole that is the RCPD. At least for Claire, she’s done with this stalker as soon as she leaves the station, but Leon, not so much. He follows the rookie cop into the sewers and beyond. A hulking mass of a terrifying being, he continues to haunt us even after all these years.
Resident Evil Nemesis
Resident Evil’s Nemesis needs no introduction. This bioweapon is one of the most fearsome monsters in the entire Resident Evil series – just ask Jill and Resident Evil 3’s Carlos. As the bioweapon that wreaks havoc on Raccoon City as he tracks down Jill in Resident Evil 3, he holds a place in the hearts of many long-time Resi fans, especially as the 2020 remake spruced him up in the most horrifying ways. He even appears in the Resident Evil movies, though we try not to think about that; they certainly don’t do this monster justice.
Though he doesn’t appear as a main villain in other RE titles, he leaves a lasting legacy, and the fact that he’s part of the Dead by Daylight Resident Evil crossover shows just how important he is in the history of the survival horror genre. Be warned, he’s one of the more formidable Dead by Daylight killers, so good luck if you have to survive the night against him.
Resident Evil dogs
Dogs. They’re cute, right? Wrong! In the world of Resident Evil they’re annoying, unsightly, ungodly, and the bane of my existence. They appear all throughout the series with slightly different appearances, but they’re fundamentally all the same. The Resident Evil dogs aren’t necessarily hard to deal with, but they’re so iconic and practically synonymous with the survival horror franchise, having been part of the original zombie lineup in 1996.
The worst thing that usually happens with these mutts is that they cause you to use one too many bullets as you try to deal with them. On occasion, you may be able to run from your problems, but if you have the spare ammo, more often than not, it’s better to put them down. They can overwhelm you quite easily or distract you long enough for a bigger and badder enemy to end your fight for survival.
Resident Evil Eveline
One of the most terrifying horror tropes is children, and Resident Evil’s Eveline is a perfect example of this. This child is a bioweapon, the main antagonist from Resident Evil 7, and her wrongdoings have a lasting impact on Resident Evil’s Ethan and his family. The ship on which Eveline is being transported crashes on the outskirts of a bog in Louisiana after she breaks free. The Baker family then takes her and Mia in, allowing Eveline to use her mold and take control of them.
She has to be on this list for the simple fact that she’s a kid who uses control and manipulation to wreak havoc on a poor family. If you play Resident Evil Village, you can see just how much of an impact she’s had, not everything is as it seems with the Winters’ patriarch.
Resident Evil Lady Dimitrescu
Mommy, step on me. Come on, every single one of you thought that the first time Resident Evil’s Lady Dimitrescu crossed your path. As a native of Resident Evil Village, she’s the most recent Resident Evil monster to debut on this list. Sure, at first glance, you might not necessarily think monster, but after you kill her daughters, steal her treasures, head to the forbidden tower of her castle, and stab her, you get to see the real Alcina Dimitrescu – then you’ll neither want to call her mommy or have her step on you.
The reason she makes it onto this list is that she’s perhaps the most intriguing of the four lords that reside in Resident Evil Village. That and so much intrigue and lore surround her; it’s baffling that she doesn’t have her own piece of DLC. Not that the Resident Evil Village DLC is bad mind you, it offers a great conclusion to the story of the Winters’ family, but Alcina has so much more to offer. Ah well, at least we get to explore her castle again in the Shadow of Rose expansion.
Unlike every other entry on this list, however, Alcina does demonstrate a caring nature, though this only applies to her three daughters – Bela, Cassandra, and Daniela. When you harm her kids, she becomes even more enraged. She’s still as evil as it gets, but her love for her children is pure.
Resident Evil Hunters
Resident Evil hunters come in three distinct forms, each of which looks absolutely ghastly. Of course, this monster type is extremely deadly, and, as an early series creature, the Resident Evil Hunter holds a special place in my heart. Honestly, it’s nostalgia that has them on this list, as I don’t think they’re in the same league as Lickers, Tyrants, Nemesis, Lady D, or Wesker. They’re as pesky as the dogs, though, and we all remember dealing with these things in the sewers throughout Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3.
Resident Evil Albert Wesker
Huh, Resident Evil’s Albert Wesker isn’t a monster? Ah, but he is dear reader. Sure, it takes a few games before we see him as a true monster, but he’s always been one. Perhaps that’s why he’s one of my favorite entries on this list, for he’s a monster through his actions in the first game and beyond, turning into a physical one at a later date. He’s the epitome of an evil human before he goes that one step further, turning himself into a bioweapon.
Plus, many fans worldwide eagerly await his return to the videogame series (maybe a Resident Evil 5 remake), and that supports the fact that he has an impressive legacy. Honestly, without Wesker, Resident Evil wouldn’t be what it is today.
Regenerador
Regeradors appear in Resident Evil 4, and you should all be happy that’s the only time you have to face them, for it’s not as simple as filling them with bullets to kill them. In fact, the first time you meet them towards the end of Leon’s time in that remote European village, you might think that they’re impossible to kill, and you’d be correct, to an extent.
You see, there’s a bit of a puzzle solution to this monster, and that’s part of what makes them so iconic – outside of bosses, it’s uncommon for there to be a puzzle aspect to enemies like this. Unless Leon has a gun equipped with the thermal scope, it’s highly unlikely you’ll shoot them in the exact spot you need to. These creatures have four different hearts, and you need to shoot them all to kill a Regenerador, but you can’t see them without a thermal scope. Yeah, we’d say that warrants them a place on this list.
With that, you know all of our contenders for the title of best Resident Evil monster. Should you want to bash even more brain munchers, check out our lists of the best Resident Evil games, horror games, and zombie games for Nintendo Switch and mobile.