Tier List for Co-Op Resident Evil Games

The Resident Evil series is a wild ride — kinda like opening a mystery box that’s been buried in your backyard since who knows when. It’s got its ups, downs, and weird sideways, and hey, that’s just part of the charm. Over the years, this franchise has thrown a lot of ideas at the wall. Some stuck like gum on a hot sidewalk, others fell off like, well, gum on a hot sidewalk but with no shoes around. It’s fascinating to see how they either set trends or sometimes just chased after the next big thing like a dog on a squirrel hunt.

Folks love co-op modes — seriously, there’s a fan cry louder than a toddler at nap time for more co-op in Resident Evil games. It was a thing, then it wasn’t, and it kinda makes you go, “Wait, why?” But, looking back, there are top-notch co-op moments that deserve a bit of a treasure hunt through the franchise’s history.

Resident Evil 5 and 6 are like those underrated movies you swear are better when shared with a friend. 5 takes you on this wild trek through Africa with our pal Chris Redfield. Yeah, it had to follow after the beloved Resident Evil 4, impossible shoes to fill. And 6, let’s be real, wasn’t exactly showered in roses, but when you dive into co-op, it’s like these games pull a sneaky disappearing act on their biggest flaws. Kinda genius, right?

Now, if we’re talking unique vibes, Resident Evil Revelations 2 deserves a nod for trying something out of left field — Claire does the shooting while Moira’s all about flashlights and puzzles. It feels like, I dunno, a buddy movie where things just work with the odd couple dynamic. And don’t get me started on Resident Evil Outbreak — playing it online with three other people back in the day? Ahead of its time.

Then there’s this middle-ground with Operation Raccoon City. Some folks say it captures the third-person shooter trend like a Polaroid snapped during a 2000s-style reunion. And The Mercenaries 3D? Part of me loves its attempt to make arcade magic happen on the 3DS, even if it kinda feels like Pokémon Snap with zombies (or not, wait, is that right?).

Let’s not forget the Chronicles duo — if you want straight up mindless shoot-’em-up chaos, that’s your jam. It’s like eating cotton candy; it’s fun but not all that filling.

And oh, Resident Evil Resistance and Umbrella Corps. Oof. Resistance showed flashes of something cool but fizzled like an old firecracker, and Umbrella Corps… well, best we just let that one fade into the past. A bit like that awkward uncle at family reunions, it’s best viewed from a distance.

So there it is. A rollercoaster of gaming highs and lows that makes the franchise something you can’t quite put down once you pick it up. Who knows what’s next for Resident Evil, but whatever happens, it’s sure to be a trip.