Resident Evilis one of the most outstanding survival horror franchises of all time, and its settings are a big part of this sterling reputation. EachResident Evilgame lives and dies on the back of its environmental context, which informs both tone and moment-to-moment gameplay, though some backdrops have endured the test of time better than others.
There are a few key components that make aResident Evilsetting work well. One of them is originality:iconic locales like the Spencer Mansionhelped form the backbone of bothResident Eviland survival horror as a whole due to their unique aesthetic and structure. But layout, cohesiveness, and visual design are all important factors to consider as well, and the franchise has experimented quite a bit over the years, toying around with these puzzle pieces in different ways. Not all of this experimentation has been for the best, though.
The following list will only feature majorResident Evilreleases: minor spin-offs likeDarkside Chroniclesand mobile games will be omitted. The list will also focus exclusively on the dominant location of each game, ignoring settings like the ubiquitous third-act laboratory.
S-Tier: Resident Evil’s Cream of the Crop
The bestResident Evilsettingshave a few important things in common. They all retain a strong central identity, usually carried by a core theme or contextual element, they are all visually interesting, and, perhaps most importantly, they all facilitate hard-hitting survival horror gameplay mechanics. As such, this tier favors those games that take place in one core location rather than several. The Baker House, Spencer Mansion, and Raccoon City Police Department all retain a strong visual and tonal identity throughout, but they also uphold the puzzle-box gameplay that definesResident Evil.
Moving through the Spencer Mansion or RCPD is an exercise in constant backtracking and clue-hunting, with the games urging players to form a mental map of each area. It’s within these settings that core design principles like inventory management are at their best, as players can engage in strategic thinking about which items to collect and when. Familiarity can also service horror, as the games can subvert player expectations, as seen withstalker enemies like Mr. Xand Jack Baker.
Resident Evil 7was positioned both as a new chapterand a return to form for the franchise, and its deep-Louisiana version of the Spencer Mansion plays a big role in achieving these goals.
A-Tier: Good Old-Fashioned Resident Evil
This tier is home to some truly incredible locales, including the rural Spain ofResident Evil 4and the unsettling titular village ofResident Evil Village.Such settings are certainly visually striking and jam-packed with secrets, not to mention terrifying, but they are held back from being the best of the best for various reasons. In the case ofRE4, it’s the linear and transient nature of the Spanish setting, whileVillage’s vaguely European backdropisn’t as well-defined and memorable as something like the impeccably recreated Louisiana of its predecessor.
The Queen Zenobia is a nice spin on the traditionalResident Evilescape room premise, putting players on a luxury ship instead of a gaudy mansion, and Rockfort Island’s decidedly isolated position makes up for its relative lack of visual flair. Then there are the streets ofRaccoon City that Jill explores inResident Evil 3, which are a breath of fresh air (literally) but not as cohesive as something like the RCPD or Spencer Mansion. Ultimately, while these locations hit all the right notes and definitely have unique elements, they fall just slightly short of the series' best.
B-Tier: Solid, Non-Spectacular Resident Evil Settings
Resident Evil 0just barely misses getting an A-Tier ranking. By far, the greatest strength of0’s setting is its pure originality: most of the game takes place on a moving train, which makes for a lot of visually and mechanically interesting moments. However, the train itself can often be frustrating to navigate, and the novelty wears off before players get back on solid ground. Once they do get off the train, the other settings are derivative and uninteresting by comparison.
The nondescriptBaltic Island ofResident Evil Revelations 2has similar issues. The story kicks off in a decrepit prison, which does a great job of establishing the game’s identity and focus on fear as a tangible concept, but the subsequent areas aren’t nearly as captivating. They aren’t bad by any means, but certainly more forgettable and bland.
C-Tier: Disappointing Resident Evil Locales
Resident Evil 5often gets a bad rapdespite its many clear strengths, particularly with respect to the action part of the action-survival-horror equation. However, the game fumbles a bit with its African setting, which is astonishingly ugly when viewed today. It is defined by the gray and brown tones that dominated the games of its era, though this color-grading is especially bad inRE5, as zombies will blend into the environment. This, coupled with the game’s tendency toward linear design, makes Africa amongResident Evil’s weaker settings, which is unfortunate.
Resident Evil 6’s myriad locationsaren’t quite as visually offensive asRE5’s, but they certainly feel unfocused. This game takes players all over the world, through a series of linear and short-lived environments, which never get the time or attention they need to establish their own identity.RE6’s setting is essentially the antithesis of those in the S-Tier, which are consistent, dense, and mechanically interesting.
Resident Evil 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Survival is just the beginning.Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.
