Summary
While it always seemed inevitable that the immensely popularResident Evilseries would make its way onto the Switch, it’s honestly quite shocking just how many games can be played on Nintendo’s hybrid system. While many of these iconic titles played pretty well back on the original Switch, some have even been upgraded for the Switch 2 to run at a higher frame rate, giving players a much smoother and more enjoyable overall experience to complement the survival horror gameplay.
Still, these games do vary quite a bit in terms of their quality, and while all of them are still well worth playing, there are definitely some standouts for those who only want to pick up one or two games at a time. That being said, here are the bestResident Evilgames currently on Switch 2, including those which have been upgraded to run better on the new console.
BecauseResident Evil Villageis only available as a cloud version on the eShop store, it inevitably means there is always going to be a tiny bit of latency and lag baked into the experience. In all honesty, though, this is barely noticeable on the Switch 2, and despite the game receiving some minor downgrades in terms of its visuals compared to the consoles, it still manages to look downright jaw-dropping from a visual perspective.
Villagemarks the end of Ethan’s adventure in the series, as he desperately tries to rescue his daughter Rose from a crazed group of mutants who all answer to a mysterious figure known only asMother Miranda. The slower pace of the game can make it a little less replayable than some of the other titles, but it’s an absolute blast on that first playthrough, especially for those who aren’t aware of the twists and turns packed throughout the story.
Resident Evil 6received quite a bit of flak upon release due to how heavily it leaned into the action genre. Now that the series is in a much better place though, a lot of fans have begun to warm up toResident Evil 6and appreciate it for what it’s trying to be, and it’s fair to say that the game runs like an absolute dream on the Switch 2 thanks to the 60 frames per second upgrade.
When loading into the game for the first time, players will be able to choose from four different campaigns, which all feature vastly different environments to venture through andenemies to take down. While the game is definitely more chaotic than some might expect, it’s still a lot of fun to jump into for short bursts when the game is running this smoothly, and with plenty of crucial character moments and reveals featured in the stories, it’s not a game that Switch 2 owners will want to skip over.
SinceResident Evil 2is often considered to be one of, if not the best, game in the series by a lot of fans, many people doubted whether Capcom had it in them to remake the survival horror classic while still retaining what made it so special. While the remake does admittedly leave out some key features, specifically the zapping system, it’s still pretty incredible what Capcom managed to pull off here. The game uses its very tight corridors and lack of resources to always make players feel on edge, especially when going up against the multiplegruesome bosseswho come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
This is anotherResident Evilgame which can only run on the cloud for the Switch, but outside of some slight blurriness and slowdown every here and there, it’s still a more than optimal way to play the critically acclaimed remake. It’s also a fantastic starting point for anyone who has never tried outResident Evilbefore.
The seventh mainline game in this series essentially acted as a giant reboot to get the franchise back on track after it had gotten a little too action-oriented. As a result,Resident Evil 7takes things back to basics by setting players in one giant building, which they are free to explore by collecting keys and resources throughout their playthrough. The cloud version ofResident Evil 7is currently available on the eShop, and it runs extremely well given how demanding the game is in terms of its visuals.
While thefirst-person viewdefinitely ramps up the tension, Switch 2 players will also be able to connect a pair of headphones, either wired or through Bluetooth, to make the moment-to-moment gameplay even more immersive. The first game in the Winters Saga is an entry that most fans look back on very fondly, and while this is still only the cloud version of the game, this can honestly be easy to forget given how well the game runs on Nintendo’s latest system.
Following hot on the heels of the immensely popularResident Evil4, the fifth game in the series doesn’t change up the core gameplay formula all that much from its predecessor, though there is still one major mechanic it adds, that being co-op. Chris is accompanied on his journey through Kijuju by Sheva, with there being many points in the game where both players must work together in order to solve puzzles or even beat specific boss enemies.
It’s undoubtedlythe greatest co-op game in the franchise, and now that it’s been bumped up to a locked 60 frames per second for the Switch 2, it’s a great way to experience the game. ConsideringResident Evil 5wraps up a lot of the loose ends that had been established in previous games, longtime fans will be able to get the most out of it, but the co-op gameplay is so fun that even those who don’t care much about the story will still find a lot to love here.
So many people citeResident Evil Revelations 2as one of the best games in the modern era ofResident Evildue to its focus on survival horror, rather than trying to go into the action genre. However, while it did release for the first Switch, it ultimately didn’t perform all that well, often struggling to even maintain 30 frames per second whenever a lot of enemies appeared on-screen at once.
This is far from the case for the Switch 2, though, with the game maintaining a solid 60 the entire way through. This is a much-appreciated upgrade, considering this is a game where enemies can kill Claire, Moira, and the other playable characters in no more than a few attacks, so having quick reflexes and being able to react in time is extremely important.Revelations 2features some truly unique gameplay systems alongside plenty of eerie environments to explore and also tons oficonic characters, including Claire Redfield and even Barry Burton.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say that the remake of the firstResident Evilgame still stands as the best remake ever made, and it’s honestly hard to disagree when seeing the game in action. The amount of effort Capcom poured into making the Spencer Mansion as realistic and believable as possible is honestly staggering, and even on a smaller screen, players will still be able to pick out even the smallest of details, such as the blood splattered across the walls or the creepy faces staring out of the paintings.
Of course, the firstResident Evilgame is also much more of a slow burn than many of the entries that came after, meaning it doesn’t need to suffer from any random frame drops from an abundance of enemies being on-screen. Even 20 years after release, theResident Evil remakeis still one of the most immersive, terrifying, and memorable horror games out there, and it’s a real joy to play on the Switch 2.
At a time when theResident Evilformula started to get a little worn out,Resident Evil 4came along and gave the franchise a second wind. With a new over-the-shoulder perspective and enemies who are much more aggressive than the average zombie,Resident Evil 4perfectly blends action and horror together to create what has become one of the most beloved games of all time. The game runs a lot better on the Switch 2 than it did for the original system, being locked at a buttery 60 frames per second, not only in dock mode, but even on handheld too.
The game also has great replay value, not only because of the unlockables which can be earned through subsequent playthroughs, but alsoThe Mercenaries mode, where players can assume control of key characters who are seen in the main story. SinceResident Evil 4also features a self-contained storyline, it means that anyone, regardless of their prior experience with the series, can jump in and enjoy what the game has to offer, with the Switch 2 now being one of the best systems to play it on.
