It’s spooky season! The time for gamers to start playing their favorite horror games, and it’s likely that at least one Resident Evil falls somewhere on that list for most. As much as I enjoy playing through the Resident Evil games, both new and old, I’ve been thinking a lot about where the series left off and where it’s going to go next.
As someone who is a fan of Assassin’s Creed, I am all too familiar with the uncertainty that comes with following a long-running franchise. Speculating about the future of my favorite video game series is something that I do quite often. So, instead of spending all my time wondering, I might as well be productive and write about it.
There are a lot of Resident Evil games, and there is no telling where the series could go at this point. It’s likely that we’ll get more remakes as well as brand new mainline entries, but it’s still hard to say what any of that will look like at the time of writing this article, leaving many of us with the same question: What’s next for Resident Evil?
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Resident Evil Village, Shadows of Rose, and Separate Ways (2023)
RESIDENT EVIL 9
A ninth entry in the franchise is the obvious choice for what could possibly be next for Resident Evil. While Resident Evil Village left us with a lot of questions, the ending of the Shadows of Rose DLC left us with even more in regards to Rose’s powers and what the deal is with Chris Redfield’s “Hound Wolf Squad.”
It’s not made clear exactly how Chris plays into things, but there’s certainly more story potential for the “Winters Saga”, and this ending could be set up for a brand new game in which we play as Rose and/or Chris. Now that the Megamycete is destroyed, it’s safe to assume that our characters will have to take on a new threat. Probably one created by the Umbrella Corporation, because it always ties back to them somehow, and I don’t see that trend ending anytime soon.
CODE: VERONICA REMAKE
Out of all the possible remakes Capcom could cook up, Resident Evil – Code: Veronica most definitely deserves to be next. Code: Veronica takes place only a few months after the events of Resident Evil 2 and follows Claire Redfield on her continued search for her brother Chris Redfield.
There are many reasons why Code: Veronica deserves a proper remake. For starters, it would be cool to get another story with the Resident Evil 2 remake’s Claire, especially after seeing how that version of Leon S. Kennedy evolved in this year’s Resident Evil 4. Plus, Claire Redfield is a rare sight in mainline games, so seeing more of her never hurts.
It’s also a weirdly obscure game whose label as the fourth main installment in the franchise was engulfed by the video game juggernaut that is the original Resident Evil 4. A remake would be a great way to bring Code: Veronica back into the mainstream and allow for more people, including myself, to experience this somewhat forgotten classic.
RESIDENT EVIL 5 REMAKE
Unlike the games that have already been remade, Resident Evil 5 arguably isn’t dated enough to call for a remake. However, it’s not completely off the table, as evidence suggests that one might be on the way. The recent Separate Ways DLC for this year’s Resident Evil 4 ends with a close-up of series favorite villain Albert Wesker smirking as music from Resident Evil 5 plays. Now, if that’s not a tease, then I don’t know what is.
While a Resident Evil 5 remake might not be high on the list of priorities for fans, it’s still likely that we’ll see one sometime in the near future.
RESIDENT EVIL 1 REMAKE (AGAIN)
Okay, hear me out on this one. I’m aware that the first game technically already got a remake back in 2002 with the Resident Evil HD Remaster. It’s actually the only version of the game I’ve ever played, and I think it’s great! However, I can’t deny how awesome it would be if the OG got the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 treatment.
The fixed camera angle works very well for this game, but imagine roaming the dreaded halls of the Spencer Mansion with a third-person over-the-shoulder view. Maybe even throw in a first-person mode or give players the ability to play how they prefer by toggling between all three. Package this with a remake of Resident Evil 0 and it would be absolute perfection. That might be asking for a little bit too much though.
I know that another version of Resident Evil 1 seeing the light of day is wishful thinking, but of all the possible future projects, this is the prospect that excites me most.
CONCLUSION
Whatever direction Capcom decides to go with their flagship series, I’m sure it’ll be met with great success. Between new games and remakes of old ones, Resident Evil is doing better than ever, and it will likely keep the momentum going for years to come.
