Fans who want to play Resident Evil with their friends won’t be let down by these games.
When Resident Evil 4 Remake came out, it brought back Leon Kennedy and the most horrifyingly fun knife kills in a video game. However, fans of both the original Resident Evil and the newer Resident Evil may be annoyed that RE4 Remake also sticks to the single-player-only rule of the original. Like Leon’s first attempt to save Ashley Graham, RE4 Remake doesn’t have a game where players can work together to kill zombies.
Thanks to other Resident Evil games, players can work together to break heads in the most exciting ways the series has to offer. In addition to standard multiplayer options and partnerships in the main series of games, some Resident Evil games are multiplayer from the start and even have their own unique gameplay elements. What Resident Evil multiplayer games are there to choose from?
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009)
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3
Fans of the Resident Evil series who want more character growth instead of a straight-forward Resident Evil story might enjoy Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, which is a collection of short stories. The Darkside Chronicles looks at Jack Krauser and Leon Kennedy’s friendship from a different angle as they try to find out more about the T-Virus. It also revisits some of the most famous moments from previous games.
Some examples are reliving Claire Redfield and Leon’s journey to protect Sherry from the monster “G” in Raccoon City, Steve Burnside and Claire’s attempt to leave Rockfort Island, and getting a better sense of Krauser’s thoughts while he was with Leon on the main mission. As a rail shooter, The Darkside Chronicles is a more straight action game, and you can play with a friend right from the start.
The Darkside Chronicles: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
The Darkside Chronicles is like a normal arcade shooter because it is a rail shooter with a co-op mode. Two players can work together to complete tasks more quickly and move on to more story-based parts because multiplayer is available in all chapters right away. Sadly, the game isn’t very fun to play again after finishing all the parts with a friend, especially since rail shooters don’t have a lot of different ways to play.
Resident Evil: Revelations (2012)
Platforms: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
In Resident Evil 4, Leon S. Kennedy saves Ashley Graham from the Los Iluminados. In Resident Evil: Revelations, the original series’ main characters, Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, look for remains of a bioterrorist group on the Queen Zenobia submarine.Like most Resident Evil games, players have to survive hordes of zombies while using fewer weapons and more strategic moves.
On the other hand, Revelations is more constricted because it takes place in a submarine. Revelations’ best multiplayer mode is the faster-paced Raid Mode, where up to two players try to beat hordes of upgraded enemies in different single-player situations that have been changed.
Revelations: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
In its campaign mode, Revelations doesn’t allow co-op like other recent Resident Evil games where partners play as the main characters. The arcade-style Raid Mode is where most of the multiplayer action takes place. Players get loot at the end of each level based on how well they did, and Raid Mode ends when players get too swamped in the stage they’re on. Technically, Raid Mode can be played again and again, but players may not enjoy it as much after a while.
Resident Evil: Resistance (2020)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Resident Evil: Resistance was released online at the same time as Resident Evil 3 Remake. It is shared like Left 4 Dead and Evolve, but has a distinct Resident Evil feel to it. The game is basically a dungeon simulator, with one player controlling monsters and setting up traps for another player team to find their way through. The story of the game took place right before the Raccoon City Destruction Incident, in which the Umbrella Intelligence Division kidnapped groups of citizens to see how strong they were against the T-Virus project’s many tests.
The game’s choices for both Survivors and Masterminds come from different characters with ties to Raccoon City and Umbrella Corporation. This gives the overall story of the series a bit more depth. Capcom ended support for the system in 2020, even though the game’s gameplay loop let players compete in a lot of different custom scenarios. This was because the game didn’t have any specialized servers and instead used average matchmaking. Anyone who has a copy of the game and is ready to play with friends or deal with the servers that might not work right might have a great time with it, especially when they get a match.
Resistance: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Resistance’s 4v1 gameplay has a lot of promise, but the game’s constant reliance on timed rounds means that players don’t get to fully enjoy its many unique mechanics. The Mastermind is the only one who can set traps, call monsters, and even lock doors to stall the Survivors as much as possible. This gives Resident Evil a unique dungeon-building feel. Other than being able to kill zombies, Survivors’ special skills are the only thing that makes Resident Evil close to being an RPG.
Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps (2016)
Platforms: PC, PS4
Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps is very different from the other games in the series. Instead of focusing on survival horror like RE7 did, it has a lot of action. In most games in the series, the bioterrorism theme is tied to the main storyline. But in Umbrella Corps, the multiplayer experience is the main focus. The story takes place over two time periods. In “The Experiment,” a single player, Operative 3A-7 is sent to different bioterrorism sites from 2012 to 2013 to test the new anti-zombie weapons made by the secret Umbrella Corporation. In the multiplayer part, the story takes place in 2016, when several smaller bioterrorist groups started sending agents to find Umbrella’s lost research.
For many players who liked how the series focused on story, the game was a failure because of how average the gameplay was and how inconsistent the style was. But if you want the most multiplayer-focused game in the series, you might want to play the Resident Evil game that is most like a co-op shooter. “Anti-zombie” guns are added to the game, giving players new ways to kill zombies in a way that is different from the “shoot the head” style of play seen in earlier games.
Umbrella Corps: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
In Umbrella Corps, players can live out their dream of controlling a trained mercenary and fighting other soldiers. The game gives players more weapons to use in tight areas that stress fast-paced chaos. Even though chaotic matches can be played over and over with different goals, the game’s general clunky gameplay loop can ruin its multiplayer potential. For example, while the shooter basics are pretty good, the cover system and other gadgets are too powerful for their own good.
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (2011)
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Since The Mercenaries, a mini-game in both Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, came out and focused on action over story, fans have had a sneak peek at what a Resident Evil game would be like from the point of view of just shooting things. And people who own a Nintendo 3DS can play a full version of the mode in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, which is basically a mix of tasks from both RE4 and RE5. The Nintendo 3DS makes the game very interesting from a technical point of view. The lower screen has a live inventory and a Skill Point system that lets players change how their character acts.
When the game first came out, it was criticized for having too little and boring content. However, die-hard Resident Evil fans can spend hours competing to see who can beat their favorite characters at killing zombies. A co-op Nintendo 3DS game can be fun for people who like old games, even though the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck are the most popular handheld games right now.
The Mercenaries 3D: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Because there aren’t any chat features, The Mercenaries 3D can be a drag in multiplayer. However, the simple arcade shooter mechanics make it fun to play with friends when you have some free time. Being able to move around in small spaces while shooting and dodging zombies can be hard to do with a friend, especially since the game encourages players to compete with each other in a nice way.
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)
Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PS3
Most Nintendo Wii games have been criticized for not being good at controlling the gamepad with the Wii remote. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles stands out because it has a great collection of stories. Albert Wesker, the main bad guy in Resident Evil 3, tells the story of what happened after Resident Evil 3 that brought down the Umbrella Corporation. The story takes players to different situations and “untold” events from Resident Evil 0, RE1 Remake, and RE3.
The Umbrella Chronicles is a lot like an on-rails shooter in that you can point and shoot at targets and get upgrades and other things along the way. The game’s multiple options give players some freedom, and quick-time events in cutscenes add some variety to the action. The game’s co-op mode won’t show up until you finish HUNK’s “4th Survivor” quest, which shows how he made it through a dangerous mission just hours before Raccoon City was destroyed. The Umbrella Chronicles is a great co-op Resident Evil game because it focuses on action and story, so friends can stay glued to their places without having to deal with the scary parts that can take a while to get over.
The Umbrella Chronicles: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Like other light gun games, The Umbrella Chronicles is a good Resident Evil-style action game for people who want to play around with the series without getting too stressed out. Even though the rules aren’t very deep, the story of each scenario can make up for it, especially when it comes to seeing some of the franchise’s main stories from a different point of view. This is a shame because it means that more serious gamers can’t play The Umbrella Chronicles again.
Resident Evil 5 (2009)
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
There were other Resident Evil games with co-op play before 2009, but Resident Evil 5 was the first major game with real co-op play. Years after RE4, Chris Redfield, who is now working for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Service (BSAA), is sent to the made-up African region of Kijuju to look into a terrorist danger. Chris is faced with new bioterror threats along with the return of old enemies and friends while traveling with Sheva Alomar.
Respawned Evil 5 is a fun co-op game because it was made to be played that way from the start. If a player doesn’t have any teammates, they can still use the somewhat buggy AI to handle Sheva, which adds a new level of strategy to fighting zombies. Together with another player, two (2) people can have an exciting and thrilling Resident Evil experience that can make a run of co-op playthroughs very satisfying. When Chris and Sheva can help each other with gameplay choices that the game specifically offers for pairs of players, it can make for a very exciting two-person experience, making players feel like they are actually investigating an incident.
RE5: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Being able to play as both Chris and Sheva during Resident Evil 5’s story can make for a good cooperative experience, especially since the game’s action-based mechanics are better when played with a friend. Since Sheva is handled by AI by default, if a player’s companion quits at any time, the switch is smooth.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)
Platforms: PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Capcom has been rethinking the general direction of the series since Resident Evil 6, which was a pretty action-packed game. This is because the series has been getting bad reviews for how much gunplay it has. Because it tries to go back to the scary roots of the first game, this is where Resident Evil: Revelations 2 really shines. Claire Redfield is back as the main character in this story, and Barry Burton is back as a minor character. The story starts between RE5 and RE6, when Claire, Barry, and Barry’s daughter Moira go to a TerraSave party that turns out to be very dangerous.
Revelations 2 is a more grounded take on the action-packed series before RE7 compared to the previous big co-op games.Teams may also find the multiplayer mode more interesting because of the more personal exchanges between Claire, Moira, and even Barry. People who want to play a co-op Resident Evil game without having to pay too much attention to the main series games will like Revelations 2 because it has good multiplayer features and doesn’t make you focus too much on the story because it’s a spinoff.
Revelations 2: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
There’s a good reason why Revelations 2 only has local co-op. Unlike other co-op Resident Evil games, Rev 2 lets players choose between Claire, who is good at fighting, and Moira, who is good at helping others. This means that each character has to focus on a different job to stay alive. This role-based game makes sure that each player has something to do without taking away from the fun for anyone else. This is especially true since Moira can slow down enemies, making them easier for Claire to kill.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (2012)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
In Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, two different teams enter the zombie-filled city with different goals. The game is basically a “alternate history” of the Raccoon City Destruction Incident. The six-person Umbrella Security Service was sent with HUNK on a special delivery, while Echo Six is going to look into the spread. There was a single-player storyline that told an interesting third-party story about the Raccoon City Outbreak, but the multiplayer mode is where the game really shines.
Operation Raccoon City’s main mode is four-player co-op Raccoon Mode, in which the USS and Echo Six fight each other. Heroes Mode is an additional multiplayer mode with popular characters and the ability for a player-controlled Nemesis to basically tell the other team to “get rekt.” The game’s gameplay is heavily criticized, but die-hard Resident Evil fans can count on Operation Raccoon City for a “personalized” co-op experience. For people who love fashion, the “virus-punk” or “biopunk” costumes can make the game very attractive.
Operation Raccoon City: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Even though the single-player mode isn’t very good, the thrill of becoming a pretty good fighter in the zombie-filled multiplayer mode can be very addicting. Different game modes let players get the most out of each Spec Ops or USS member’s special gear. It’s also fun to play as famous Resident Evil characters in the Heroes Mode, which is like a legacy mode. As for Operation Raccoon City, it might not be the best game in the series, but its easy-to-understand co-op options make it a fun and possibly addicting experience.
Resident Evil 6 (2012)
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
The sixth Resident Evil game, Resident Evil 6, was the “return to horror roots” game Resident Evil 7. It basically showed how most of the franchise’s main characters worked together to stop a virus from “going global.” The game still has the partner-based gameplay of RE5, but it has three campaigns with three sets of main characters each. On one end, two people need to make a vaccine for a new virus. On the other end, a BSAA agent is sent to deal with an outbreak that is getting worse, and agents have to deal with the US President turning into a zombie.
Even though both the story and the action-packed gameplay got bad reviews, Geometry Dash World really shines in the multiplayer mode, where it’s three times as fun. In any case, the game is mostly about guns and zombies, so two players can shoot as much as they want with the different weapons in the game. Also, each character’s unique skills come back as standout features: Leon’s knife skills, Chris’s military accuracy, Jake’s genetically enhanced strength, and even Ada’s enticing set of finishers. Fans should be aware that the game’s quality suffers because there is so much content, though dedicated multiplayer fans may be able to get around this.
RE6: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
RE6 is a lot like RE5 in terms of how you play with a partner, but the different stories make it more fun. With its story told from three different points of view, the game lets the player and their friend play any chapter, which means they can play as any of the people in those scenes. Being able to use different tools and the unique skills of each character can spice up multiplayer experiences that would otherwise be boring.
Resident Evil Outbreak (2003)
Platforms: PS2
People who like the Resident Evil games know that Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, and HUNK (who they don’t know) are the only ones who made it out of Raccoon City alive. Although, eight (8) more people do try to leave the city, and Resident Evil Outbreak tells the stories of these people.When these people end up together in a bar at the start of the spread, their lives start to become connected.
Like other Resident Evil games, Outbreak mostly plays the same way, with more focus on puzzles because you don’t have any tools to use against zombies. This is more fun when up to four (4) people play as different characters at the same time. This makes Outbreak feel more like a real team game where people have to work together to stay alive. Because the Virus Gauge counts down time, Outbreak is like a video game version of the “escape room” idea, forcing players to move around instead of just wandering around randomly.
Outbreak: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
Players can still play Outbreak with other people today, even though the official servers were shut down in 2007. Outbreak, which lets up to four players work together to stay alive, is one of the great games that can really be played with others. Outbreak is the most realistic survival horror co-op game in the Resident Evil series. Other games in the series are more action-packed multiplayer games.
Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
For now, Resident Evil Re:Verse is the most current multiplayer game in the series. It came out in 2022 to mark the 25th anniversary of the series. Although Re:Verse is a third-person shooter, it has a lot of Resident Evil characters that fight each other in deathmatch-style battles. In other games in the series, players can pretty much use any weapon. In Re:Verse, however, each character has their own set of weapons and skills. The fact that each character has their own unique kit makes them their own “archetype.”
The more impressive part of the game is its biohazard mode, in which virus capsules let players “transform” into bioweapons after they die. The player only comes back to life as a person after killing this form. Because the games are only five minutes long, this feature makes Re:Verse a very exciting experience. Players who want short but interesting experiences can easily set up gameplay loops.
Re:Verse: How Did It Fare In Co-Op?
With its team-based fighting that lets players play as both classic Resident Evil characters and zombies when they die, Re:Verse tries to live up to its claims of being a multiplayer game. Unfortunately, Re:Verse doesn’t use RE6’s faster-paced action mechanics. Instead, it uses the slower gameplay loop of the current remakes, which makes matches that are already pretty fast even harder. The lack of variety makes the experience repetitive, but the fact that it was designed from the start to be a multiplayer game makes it the most true to life modern co-op game in the series so far.
