Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise 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 to Resident Evil’s lore to new players, the remakes have played an outsized role in reinvigorating the franchise. But with a remake of Resident Evil 4 set 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's Resident Evil 2 remake was a critical and commercial success that kicked off a series bringing back some of the survival-horror franchise's biggest hits. Resident Evil 3 was released the following year to generally positive reviews, with Capcom then revealing in 2022 that the iconic Resident Evil 4 was 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 like Resident Evil 4.

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Remaking Some Resident Evil Games Could Be Difficult

resident evil 5 chris and sheva

One option for Capcom is to continue releasing Resident Evil remakes in order, moving on to Resident Evil 5's West African setting for its next release. With a story involving Resident 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 bemoaned Resident Evil 5's co-op gameplay and further shift away from survival-horror elements in favor of straightforward action. With its similarly action-oriented gameplay, a Resident Evil 6 remake 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 older Resident Evil titles that could receive the remake treatment. Yet much like Resident Evil 5 and 6, remakes of these older titles could hold limited appeal. Although a remake of Resident Evil Code: Veronica or Resident Evil Zero would appeal to some fans, both have already received remasters, and neither hold the same cultural cache as games like Resident Evil 2.

It Might Be Time for Capcom to Reboot Resident Evil

Jill Valentine running away from a Crimson Head through a hallway

It may seem like a sensible choice for Capcom to return to where it all began and remake the original Resident 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, and Resident Evil has 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 the Resident Evil remakes, 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 by Resident Evil's often-convoluted ongoing storyline. Rather than revisiting the past yet again, continuing with the soft reboot of the Resident Evil series that began with Resident Evil 7 may be the best way to ensure that the franchise has a long future ahead.

Resident Evil 4 releases for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 24, 2023.

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