Capcom’sResident Evilfranchise has experienced a renaissance in recent years thanks in-part to remakes of some of its most iconic entries. By letting fans revisit some of their favorite titles while serving as a great introduction toResident Evil’s lore to new players, the remakes have played an outsized role in reinvigorating the franchise. But with aremake ofResident Evil 4set to release later this month, Capcom is quickly running out of fan-favorite games to give a new coat of paint, and may soon have to choose between abandoning the lucrative remakes altogether or revisiting some of the most divisive entries in the franchise’s history.
Released in 2019, Capcom’sResident Evil 2remake was a critical and commercial successthat kicked off a series bringing back some of the survival-horror franchise’s biggest hits.Resident Evil 3was released the following year to generally positive reviews, with Capcom then revealing in 2022 that the iconicResident Evil 4was next. But as this nostalgic series' timeline quickly catches up to the mainline games, Capcom will have to either justify revisiting fairly recent titles, or choose from some lesser-known entries that may lack the wide appeal of titles likeResident Evil 4.
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Remaking Some Resident Evil Games Could Be Difficult
One option for Capcom is to continue releasingResident Evilremakes in order, moving on toResident Evil 5’s West African setting for its next release. With a story involvingResident Evil 2’s Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, a remake of the fifth mainline outing could potentially appeal to fans of those iconic characters.
However, while featuring some familiar faces could work in favor of a remake, the title received criticism upon release from those who bemoanedResident Evil 5’s co-op gameplayand further shift away from survival-horror elements in favor of straightforward action. With its similarly action-oriented gameplay, aResident Evil 6remake could prove to be a tough sell for both long-time fans and newcomers more interested in a strictly horror-focused experience.
Instead of moving forward in the timeline, Capcom could also look to the series' past for inspiration. With releases on consoles ranging from Sega’s Dreamcast to the Nintendo DS, there is certainly no shortage of olderResident Eviltitles that could receive the remake treatment. Yet much likeResident Evil 5and6, remakes of these older titles could hold limited appeal. Although aremake ofResident Evil Code: VeronicaorResident Evil Zerowould appeal to some fans, both have already received remasters, and neither hold the same cultural cache as games likeResident Evil 2.
It Might Be Time for Capcom to Reboot Resident Evil
It may seem like a sensible choice for Capcom to return to where it all began and remake the originalResident Evil. While this could have broader appeal than remaking some of the series' more obscure entries, it would also bring new challenges. The first game’s slower, more deliberate pacing could turn off some players, andResident Evilhas already been remade and remastered a number of times. With the most recent revision arriving in 2015, asking fans to open their wallets again could be a non-starter.
Despite the overwhelming success of theResident Evilremakes, the best option for Capcom may just be to shelve this project entirely for now. Not only would many older titles lack the commercial draw of the existing remakes, but their reemergence could also confuse those who already feel overwhelmed byResident Evil’s often-convoluted ongoing storyline. Rather than revisiting the past yet again, continuing with thesoft reboot of theResident Evilseriesthat began withResident Evil 7may be the best way to ensure that the franchise has a long future ahead.
Resident Evil 4releases for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on June 24, 2025.
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