Resident Evil Village has the best replayability of the entire series

Resident Evil Village Review Source: Windows Primal

Resident Evil Village has completely and utterly sunk its hooks into me. Between PS5 and Xbox Series 10, I'm currently preparing for my sixth playthrough of the game and I easily see several more completions on the horizon.

While later Resident Evil titles like Resident Evil 5 through 7 heavily incentivized multiple playthroughs with new weapons and rewarding unlocks, none of them perfected the formula quite like the newest entry. As our resident Resident Evil nerd, I merely tin't stop playing. Here's why Resident Evil Village has the best replayability of the entire serial and why it's on rail to be the game I've beaten more times than whatsoever other.

The history of replayability in Resident Evil

Resident Evil 2 Source: Capcom

Resident Evil has always been a franchise willing to reward its virtually hardcore audience. Even the earliest games offered fun and outrageous mail service-game content. Resident Evil on PS1, for case, allowed players who completed the game to alter their outfits via a special bonus room and provided the infamous unlimited rocket launcher for players skilled enough to complete the game in under three hours. The unique challenges and unlocks in Resident Evil ane set a precedent that would continue through every single mainline Resident Evil title.

This ingenious residual of fear and fun would be part of the reason why Resident Evil became one of the virtually dearest horror franchises. Fans like myself adored these giddy alternative ways of re-experiencing games that were inherently designed to be stressful and horrifying. it was like the game was rewarding you for getting through the sometimes horrifying master game by adding some fun.

With more eyes and attending on every subsequent release, the team at Capcom seemed hellbent on ramping up the rewards with every sequel. Resident Evil 2 retained the unlimited rocket launcher unlock, but also introduced a suite of additional postal service-game bonuses like the gatling gun. Then there was the admittedly ridiculous Tofu Scenario, which tasked players with running through the streets of Racoon City as a giant brick of tofu.

With the release of Resident Evil 3, Capcom shifted the focus from weapon unlocks to a host of bonus costumes for Jill Valentine. As this entry drastically ramped upward your firepower from the get-go, rad additions similar Regina's outfit from Dino Crisis served as powerful incentives to chase the higher completion rankings. All the same, with the release of Code Veronica on Dreamcast, fans who completed this entry were treated to the first bonus game fashion the series had seen. In Battle Game, players chose from ane of five characters and completed a series of timed, arcade-influenced challenges. This post-game content had a unique collection of unlocks, which offered even more than replayability for folks who but wanted any excuse to go on playing.

Replayability redefined

Resident Evil 4 Source: Capcom

And then Resident Evil 4 dropped and things changed forever. Serving equally a spiritual reboot of the serial, Leon's escapades in Resident Evil 4 completely reimagined and ultimately redefined what a Resident Evil game was. Tense survival horror took a backseat in favor of over-the-meridian action and slick gunplay. Fans and critics seemed to concur that this was the ultimate Resident Evil feel and post-game content equally well as a staggering focus on replayability played a huge part in this.

The bonus weapons of Resident Evil ii, the extra costumes of Resident Evil three, and the bonus game way from Lawmaking Veronica (which was rebranded equally The Mercenaries) were all repurposed and re-envisioned with Resident Evil four. This incredible title essentially served as a tribute to the greatest parts of all the Resident Evil games that came before it.

Resident Evil 5 Source: Capcom

The massive success of Resident Evil 4 certainly went to the heads of the team with the releases of Resident Evil 5 and 6. Understanding the overwhelming praise the series received for its shift to more action-oriented gameplay, Resident Evil v doubled down on wild, Michael Bay-esque action sequences and almost completely abased any shred of its survival-horror roots.

While this was admittedly a big criticism for some, Resident Evil 5 set the new gold standard for replayability in the series. With fully upgradable weapons, a universal character inventory, amazing co-op, and collectible treasure, Resident Evil five quickly became ane of my nigh played games of all time, despite my complaints regarding its genuinely dumb storytelling and graphic symbol building. Resident Evil 6 doubled-downward on RE5's activeness-focused double-down and ultimately ending upwards disappointing many long-fourth dimension fans, leading to the much-needed refresh that came with Resident Evil seven.

What makes the replayability of Resident Evil Hamlet so incredible?

Resident Evil Village Dimirescu Daughters Source: Capcom

Much like Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village serves as the greatest hits for the serial. I even encounter Resident Evil Village as the spiritual reboot of Resident Evil four. With a compelling residuum of survival horror, inventory management, and over-the-top action, Resident Evil Village manages to recapture some of the potent magic that fabricated Resident Evil 4 such a defining moment. And just like the 2005 classic, the latest entry boasts a robust catalog of engaging and heady endgame content including unlimited ammo, Challenge Points, and The Mercenaries.

Challenge Points and The Actress Content Shop

Resident Evil Village Extra Content Shop Source: Windows Cardinal

I really enjoyed my commencement playthrough of Resident Evil Village, just even deep into my initial run, I didn't quite see myself inclined to finish the story 5 more times. That immediately changed when I completed the game and unlocked Challenges, Challenge Points, and the Extra Content Shop.

Supplemental playthroughs were at present being rewarded in ways the series had never seen before. A massive drove of over seventy Challenges incentivizes weapon experimentation, speed runs, and gathering collectibles. Completing these Challenges provides Claiming Points, which can be used to buy new weapons, unlimited ammo, and extras like concept art. With tangible rewards for basically every additional playthrough, I plant myself obsessed with trying to tackle every Claiming available.

New Game+ and higher difficulties

Resident Evil Village Review Source: Windows Primal

While the Challenges certainly provide enough of reasons to replay Resident Evil Hamlet, the biggest hook for me was the robust options for New Game+. All collectibles, weapons, upgrades, and resources conduct over betwixt runs, giving you lot this ever-increasing sense of power. Recall those obnoxious daughters early on in the castle? Well, now you tin make quick work of them with one bullet from your M1851 Wolfsbane. What about the horrific encounter with Lady Dimitrescu? No sweat. A few well-placed shots from your grenade launcher should wrap that fight up rather hands.

Resident Evil Village doesn't shy away from letting the player completely break the game and because of this, it stands firmly as the most fun entry since Resident Evil 5. Fifty-fifty the higher-level difficulties similar Hardcore and Village of Shadows permit you to bring over outrageous weapons, making these otherwise grueling achievements more obtainable for the boilerplate player. And if you decide yous want to feel a truly terrifying challenge, you can simply turn off unlimited ammo in the options or even start a completely fresh run with no existing equipment (which, afterward, is a Challenge you tin can complete).

The Mercenaries and its new rogue-like elements

Resident Evil Village The Mercenaries Source: Windows Central

For players who desire even more than mail-game activeness, the arcade-inspired bonus game manner The Mercenaries delivers a frantic manner to re-feel some of Resident Evil Hamlet's well-nigh iconic locations. For the uninitiated, The Mercenaries is a timed collection of claiming maps where players are tasked with eliminating enemies as fast every bit possible. The updated accept on this long-running Resident Evil forgoes character pick in favor of a new skill arrangement that adds some balmy rogue-like elements to the experience.

As this mode adds even more challenges that can unlock wild extras like a double-sided lightsaber to the story mode, I found myself playing The Mercenaries far more than in Resident Evil Village than I had with previous entries. If yous're someone like me who loves the feeling of perfecting each run, you'll also spend way too much time with this post-game content.

Why I can't end playing Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village Monsters Source: Capcom

Resident Evil Village is hands 1 of the best games of 2022 so far and I'm honestly a fleck surprised by how much fun I'm still having even six runs in. Like Resident Evil five, this isn't necessarily one of my favorite Resident Evil entries, but it's worth applauding Capcom for how much intendance they put into rewarding the time investments of its players. I'g non typically a hardcore completionist when it comes to virtually of the games I play, simply the perfectly balanced amount of additional content and unlocks has me all-in on Resident Evil Village.

While I've beaten well-nigh Resident Evil titles several times each, I've never put this many playthroughs into any other game so close to launch. Then in one case once more, I tip my wide-brimmed hat to this team for delivering the best replayability the serial has ever seen and realistically, some of the best replayability I've ever enjoyed in a video game.

How many times have you lot finished the game? Sound off in the comments below. Resident Evil Village is at present available on Xbox One, Xbox Serial X|S, PS4, PS5, Stadia, and PC. And for even more scares, be sure to bank check out our list of the best Xbox horror games.

Village of Shadows

Resident Evil Village Standard Reco

Resident Evil Village

Ane playthrough just isn't plenty!

If you're looking to experience the latest chaper in the Ethan Winters story, Resident Evil Village cranks upward the action, scares, and replayability. Don't miss one of the best games of the year!

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