Summary
While it’s neither the first nor the only name in horror games, there’s little debate that theResident Evilfranchise is the face of the genre within the medium. For nearly 30 years, Capcom’s survival-horror juggernaut has delighted fans across multiple mainline entries and spin-offs and even undergone a phoenix-like resurrection following the disappointingResident Evil 6. Since the release of the seventhResident Evil, the series has displayed a willingness to step outside its own parameters to deliver fans with some unexpected thrills, but there’s still some uncharted territory within the horror genre for the series to tackle.
TheResident Evilfranchise has always been synonymous with zombies and also somewhat body horror-adjacent given the series' typical inclusion of biological weapons, but there are plenty of examples ofResident Evilgames that dip their toes into other horror subgenres.Resident Evil Villagefamously uses a “carnival of horror"approach to its gameplay, with each of the Four Lords' regions representing a different horror trope. Still, with the future of the franchise wide open following a much-needed reinvention and some incredible remakes of classic games, there’s an opportunity forResident Evilto continue branching out into new horror concepts.
RELATED:The Next Resident Evil Game Should Focus on One Thing Above All Else
Cosmic Horror Resident Evil
TheResident Evilseries has gone to some pretty dark and gruesome places in the course of its long history, but that horror is always firmly rooted on planet Earth. The idea of a cosmic horror-themedResident Evilis both an enticing prospect and one that has had success in other franchises, particularlyDead Space. Rather than facing off against biological weapons born from unchecked scientific experimentation, the protagonists could go head-to-head with eldritch horrors unearthed by nefarious corporations sticking their noses where humans were never meant to tread.
Notable Films to Use as Inspiration:
Home Invasion/Realistic Horror Resident Evil
In a move that could turn the classic framing of the originalResident Evilon its head, the series could tackle the concept of home invasion, transforming the traditional mansion/home setting into a safe space to defend rather than a labyrinth to escape. Alternately,Resident Evilcould take a page out of the book ofgames likeCondemned: Criminal Originsand have the protagonist track down real-life horrors such as a serial killer. Truthfully,Resident Evil 7dabbles in this with the Baker estate’sTexas Chain Saw Massacreaesthetic, proving the concept has some value within the context of the series.
Cronenberg-ian Body Horror Resident Evil
Resident Evilhas already dabbled in the realm of body horror, with the games practically centered around the idea of human experimentation gone awry, but rarely has that horror ever been turned inward on the protagonist. AnewResident Eviltitlethat sees the protagonist explore their relationship with the human body as it degrades and begins to transform into something horrific could provide a sense of pervading existential dread that few horror games can achieve. In the process, the “resident” inResident Evilbecomes the hero trapped in their own body as it betrays them.RE4leans into this subtly as Leon, Ada, and Ashley are infected, too.
Ghastly/Spectral Horror Resident Evil
Last is another horror concept that previousResident Eviltitles have dabbled in, though only recently. BothResident Evil 7andResident Evil: Villagefeature self-contained sections where protagonist Ethan Winters must evade interaction with ghastly or spectral entities. Games likePhasmophobiaand films likeParanormal Activityhave proven that the cheap thrills and jump scares often associated with ghosts are effective at bringing in an audience, but aResident Eviltitle that uses ghosts and malevolent spirits to full effect has the potential to provide fans with a truly chilling experience.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a long-running survival horror franchise developed by Capcom. Spread across numerous mainline and spin-off entries, the series is known for it’s third and first-person action horror, zombie-related monsters and references, and challenging puzzles.
