Resident Evil 4 (2023) ranks first among the series’ major remake and HD-remaster projects, followed by Resident Evil 2 (2019) and the 2002 Resident Evil remake. This is an editorial ranking, not an official Capcom list. It focuses on distinct, substantial remake and remaster releases—not every later port, bundle, or rerelease.
What counts as a remake or remaster here?
A remake rebuilds or substantially reworks an earlier game; a remaster enhances an existing release rather than replacing it with a new remake. That distinction matters in Resident Evil: Capcom describes the 2002 GameCube Resident Evil as a ground-up remake of the 1996 original, while the 2015 Resident Evil HD Remaster revisits the 2002 game. Similarly, Resident Evil 4 HD (2011) is not the same release as the Resident Evil 4 remake (2023).
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - Nintendo Switch | $37.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection (PS4) | $22.05 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection (PS4) | $21.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil Village Gold ED - PS5 | $24.46 | Buy on Amazon |
The ranking weighs how well each project works for a current audience, how it preserves or improves the source game, and how coherent its pacing and design feel. Platform availability is a practical consideration, not a quality score. Capcom’s release information establishes the versions and their lineage; the order below is editorial judgment.
Resident Evil remakes and remasters, ranked
1. Resident Evil 4 (2023)
The strongest all-around entry in this ranking is a remake of the 2005 game. Capcom says it reworks the story and uses RE Engine visuals. Its appeal is the balance between recognizing the original’s survival-action identity and presenting it as a newly built game, rather than simply polishing the old release.
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#1 Best Overall
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series.
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release.
- Fan-favorite Resident Evil characters - Rookie S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers and wanted criminal Billy Coen combine skills and buddy up to survive the undead and infected nightmares that await them.
- All original difficulty levels plus new Very Easy Mode for novice players
It launched on March 24, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Capcom’s later product listing also includes PlayStation 4 and Apple devices; availability can vary by platform and region. Capcom reported that it passed 10 million units sold worldwide in approximately two years, calling it the fastest title in the series to reach that milestone. That is a sales result, not evidence that it is objectively the best.
2. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Resident Evil 2 is a full remake of the 1998 game, not an HD update. It earns second place for making a classic survival-horror setting feel like a modern release while keeping the original game’s central scenario and locations recognizable. Its place just behind Resident Evil 4 reflects this ranking’s preference for the latter’s overall balance, not a claim that the two share the same style.
It launched in January 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Capcom’s 2025 product details also list PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, a Nintendo Switch cloud version, and Apple devices. Those later options are distinct from the launch platforms.
Rank #2
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind the horrors in the Resident Evil mansion, as well as what led up to them, in these titles which mark the beginning of the Resident Evil timeline.
- Relive the classic horror in either its original settings or modified to modern-day standards
- Play as Albert Wesker in Resident Evil 0 - After completing the main campaign, players will be able to take control of the fan-favorite series antagonist, complete with his Uroboros powers from Resident Evil 5, to wreak havoc in the all new Wesker Mode
- Play Anywhere: Play Resident Evil Origins Collection on the go using the Nintendo Switch system's handheld or tabletop mode
3. Resident Evil (2002 remake / 2015 HD Remaster)
This is one remake followed by a remaster, not two separate remakes. Capcom describes the 2002 GameCube game as a ground-up remake of the original Resident Evil (1996). The 2015 HD Remaster updates that 2002 release with higher-resolution scenery and characters and 5.1 surround sound. The underlying game’s deliberate, classic survival-horror approach makes it less immediately modern than the two entries above, but the remake remains a major and influential reworking of the first game.
The 2015 remaster was released worldwide on January 20 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC; Capcom also lists PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and those platforms for the remaster. Capcom’s announcement specified a PlayStation 3 disc release only in Japan and Asia. In 2015, the publisher said the HD Remaster had sold more than one million units; that is a historical milestone, not a current sales total.
4. Resident Evil 4 HD (2011)
This downloadable HD release brings the original 2005 Resident Evil 4 to a later generation of hardware; it is not a remake. Its place here is partly a matter of timing: it offers an enhanced version of a landmark game, but it does not rework the experience in the way the 2023 remake does. Choose it if you specifically want the earlier release rather than the newer remake.
Rank #3
- Return to the series' origins
- Enhanced visuals
- remastered sound effects
- Wesker mode
Capcom announced Resident Evil 4 HD for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011.
5. Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster
Resident Evil 0 received an HD Remaster, not a remake. It retains the original game as its foundation, so the appeal is access to that earlier entry in a more polished presentation rather than a newly redesigned version. Its lower placement reflects that more limited scope compared with the full remakes above.
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Capcom USA announced it as a digital release. The physical Resident Evil Origins Collection for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One includes both Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster and the Resident Evil remake. Check the edition, platform, and regional availability before buying: the collection is a particular physical bundle, not a name for every version of either game.
Rank #4
- Resident Evil Zero Features
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release
- Fully remastered sound effects - 5.1 surround support provides a more experiential gaming atmosphere that best matches players' listening environments
- Relive the classic horror in either its original settings or modified to modern-day standards: Experience the horror in the classic 4:3 ratio or newly added 16:9 widescreen mode. Play with the classic control scheme, or enjoy a new alternative scheme where the character moves in the direction of the analogue stick.
6. Resident Evil 3 (2020)
Resident Evil 3 is a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999), not a remaster. It offers a modernized take on that game, but ranks below the other full remakes here because this list favors projects with a stronger overall sense of scope and design cohesion. That is an editorial comparison, not a claim about a measured score or a universal consensus.
It launched April 3, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Capcom’s later product information also lists PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, a Switch cloud version, and Apple devices.
7. Code: Veronica X HD
Code: Veronica X HD is an HD downloadable version, not a remake. It preserves an older release in a higher-definition edition, which makes it useful to players seeking that specific game but a less substantial reimagining than the projects ranked above.
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- A New Perspective – See the eighth core entry in the Resident Evil series from a new vantage point in “Third Person Mode.” In addition to the intense first-person view players enjoyed in the initial release of Resident Evil Village, they can now watch Ethan in action and experience his journey from a new angle in Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion.
- The Story Continues – “Shadows of Rose” resumes the Winters family saga 16 years after the events of Resident Evil Village. The expansion’s new tale follows Rose Winters, the daughter of main protagonist Ethan, as she struggles with her terrifying powers. Explore the warped and twisted world inside the consciousness of the Megamycete in search of a cure.
- The Mercenaries Are Back and Bigger Than Ever – The beloved battle-the-clock mode, “The Mercenaries,” returns with new features. On top of the original content, “The Mercenaries Additional Orders” introduces fan favorites as new playable characters Lady Dimitrescu, Chris Redfield, and Lord Karl Heisenberg, each with their own unique abilities. This added content for Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion also includes new levels and other improvements.
- Bonus Game – Resident Evil Village will provide access to a free multiplayer experience titled Resident Evil Re:Verse, which releases on Oct. 28, 2022 alongside the launch of Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion. An all-star cast of iconic characters face off in four to six-player deathmatch battles in classic locations.
- Familiar Faces and Fresh Foes – Resident Evil series hero Chris Redfield returns under a shroud of seemingly sinister motives. Ethan will also encounter a host of new adversaries inhabiting the enigmatic village, all with their own distinctive attacks.
Capcom announced the HD version for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which version should you play?
- For a modern remake: start with Resident Evil 4 (2023) or Resident Evil 2 (2019), depending on whether you want the remake of the 2005 action-horror game or the 1998 survival-horror game.
- For the first game’s remake: look for Resident Evil HD Remaster, which is the remastered edition of the 2002 remake—not a new remake of the 1996 original.
- For the older Resident Evil 4: choose Resident Evil 4 HD if you want the original 2005 release in its HD downloadable edition; it is separate from the 2023 remake.
- For Resident Evil 0 and the first game together: the Origins Collection is the documented physical bundle for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Confirm the specific edition and local availability before purchase.
- For Code: Veronica X: the HD version is a downloadable release announced for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360; check whether it is available for your region and platform.
Capcom’s platform listings include later platform versions for Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4, but those listings do not establish that every version is available in every region or storefront today. Verify the platform and edition with the relevant store before purchasing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
