Summary
IfResident Evilgames were ranked for replayability based on their critical receptions,Resident Evil 6andUmbrella Corpswould likely vie for the bottom spot. However, replayability doesn’t always correlate with gameplay quality. ManyResident Evilinstallments can be engaging and satisfying on the first playthrough but offer little incentive for a second. Additionally, some games that were highly replayable in their time are now considered challenging to revisit simply because the standards for a replayable game have been changed.
The following are examples ofResident Evilgames that are challenging to replay today, not because they are “bad games,” but for various reasons such as outdated technology, overly short gameplay, or straying too far from the franchise’s core elements.
Resident Evilgames that have been disliked by players and received low review scores have been excluded, as it’s clear that such games are inherently difficult to replay.
Having sold over 15 million copies,Resident Evil 5is far from a failure in the franchise. However, its shift toward a third-person shooter focus caused it to lose relevance over time. The excessive emphasis on action, coupled with the downplaying of horror elements, leavesRE5players questioning whether they’re truly playing a canonical title in the series.
Beyond Chris’s infamous boulder-punching scene, the game is filled with dull and vague moments that detract from both the story and gameplay. Though it isn’t as flawed asResident Evil 6, it also doesn’t reach the heights ofResident Evil 4. It remains a title stuck between a masterpiece and a disappointment—one that few players are eager to revisit.Resident Evil 5is a good game, but it’s not agoodResident Evilgame.
A more fitting title for theResident Evil 3remake would be “RE3Recap with New-Gen Visuals.” This is because the development team chose to cut significant content, offering a condensed version of the story that can be completed in just four to five hours. To make matters worse,theResident Evil 3remake has no New Game Plus modeto entice players into a second playthrough.
For a game that’s only been on the market for four years, theResident Evil 3remake has lost its appeal rather quickly. The game was undeniably a step forward in Capcom’s remake journey, as it successfully transformed the classic tank controls into a modern third-person shooter mechanic. However, once the player has had one satisfying playthrough, theResident Evil 3remake is easily shelved and rarely worth revisiting.
Revelations 2managed to avoid harsh criticism by receiving mostly average reviews. Financially, it did reasonably well, selling just under six million copies. However, the companion mechanics that the game aimed to highlight are now seen as a drawback—often, the companion feels more like a hindrance than a helpful ally. As more modern games move away from this mechanic or offer players the option to control or remove their companions, replayingRevelations 2with its mandatory companion system is far less enjoyable than it may have been at the time of its release.
Another challenge in replayingRevelations 2is its lack of the distinctiveResident Evilessence. The game feels more like a mid-budget zombie title, with borrowed supernatural elements, such as one companion’s ability to sense nearby enemies. It comes across as too generic to entice players to revisit it on current-gen devices—especially given the abundance offree-to-play zombie games available today.
4Resident Evil Code: Veronica
Challenge: Enjoying Lackluster Story and Excessive Backtracking
Code: Veronicahas remained a controversial entry in the franchise since its release. Some argue it shouldn’t be considered a main title, while others see no reason to label it as non-canon. However, these debates don’t touch on the real issue with the game—its lack of replayability.Code: Veronicais difficult to revisit due to its shallow story, low-budget voice acting, and, most significantly, its heavy emphasis on backtracking. Typically,backtracking can enhance a game’s replayability, but in the case ofCode Veronica, it merely slows down the progression.
Capcom didn’t allocate the same budget forCode: Veronicaas it did for other titles likeResident Evil 3, and this has negatively impacted the game in multiple ways. For instance, the main characters sound as though they were voiced by random individuals. But even if players can look past these shortcomings, the excessive backtracking will likely frustrate them. As the industry shifts toward fast-paced gameplay, the slow progression of this classic entry is something that only the most dedicated fans are likely to enjoy.
Dead Aimis aResident Evilspin-off designed to appeal to fans of the popular light guns of its time—a gun-shaped controller used to aim directly at the screen to shoot enemies. However, replayingDead Aimtoday is challenging not just because light guns are no longer in use but also due to its unique shooting system, which can be difficult to enjoy with modern controls.
InDead Aim, the camera shifts from third-person to first-person when the player aims their gun, which slows down the pace of gameplay. While retro game enthusiasts might argue that this mechanic adds an extra layer of fear by forcing close-range combat, it’s a feature that many modern gamers might not find appealing.
LikeDead Aim,The Darkside Chroniclesis another spin-off designed for a specific device—the Wii. Unlikethe mainResident Evilgames,The Darkside Chroniclesis a light-gun shooter without any third-person shooter elements. Players only see a crosshair on the screen, which they use to aim and shoot at enemies.
As a sequel toUmbrella Chronicles,The Darkside Chroniclescontinued Capcom’s foray into Wii gaming. However, its replayability is hampered by its shaky camera, which can cause nausea within minutes. While this camera movement was innovative at the time, it doesn’t provide the best gameplay experience by today’s standards.
The co-op mode inThe Darkside Chroniclescould be one of the few reasons for retro game fans to revisit it.
Capcom has experimented with multiplayer games several times, andRe:Verseis the closest it’s come to success. However,Re:Verseremains the hardestResident Evilgame to replay due to its chaotic deathmatch gameplay. The premise is straightforward: players choose classicREcharacters like Leon, Jill, and Chris for a free-for-all battle. The twist is that upon death, players respawn asinfamous franchise villains like Mr. X or Nemesis.
Despite its potential,Re:Versewas intended as apromotional content forResident Evil 7and wasn’t designed for long-term play. While it offered a semi-fun multiplayer experience, it quickly faded from memory. As a result, it’s now one of the last installments that die-hard fans are likely to revisit. Its downfall was almost inevitable from the start.
