Summary
It may have stumbled a bit in the early 2010s, butResident Evilhas 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 Evilis a giant in the horror genre, leaving a profound mark on the games industry.
This is nothing new, though. EvenSilent Hill, a franchise that many once felt could usurpResident Evilas 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 fromResident Evil, includingDead Space,The EvilWithin(directed byResident Evilcreator Shinji Mikami), andThe Last of Us. The indie scene has taken notes fromREas well, with burgeoning cult classics likeSignalisandAlisaclearly drawing from the older games in the series. As developers around the globe continue to learn fromResident Evil, players can likely expect even more spiritual successors, and 2024 is jam-packed with such titles.
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, theResident Evilseries can be split into two categories: the classicREgames characterized by rudimentary combat, scarce resources, and backtracking, and the post-RE4games 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 Countrylaunched 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 forclassicResident Evilgameplayin a unique yet familiar package.Tormented Souls 2andPost Traumaare perhaps the most reminiscent of old-schoolResident Evil, featuring fixed camera angles, environmental puzzles, and visual flair that feels ripped straight out of Capcom’s early forays into horror.
Meanwhile,Hollowbodytakes 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 theirResident Evilinfluence 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 themodernResident Evilgames are some of the bestin 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:
Silent Hill 2’s revamped gameplaylooks to have quite a bit in common with the recent spate ofResident Eviltitles, 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 Darkis a reboot of one of the earliest-ever survival horror franchises, which predates evenResident Evil.
It retains its predecessors' tense atmosphere and slow combat but with a decidedly contemporary approach to presentation and gameplay. For gamers whoprefer the modernResident Evilremakes over the originals,Silent Hill 2andAlone In the Darkmay 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.
