Resident Evil’s New Wave of Horror Leaning into Whimsical Tropes May Be for the Best

Capcom’s seminal survival horror series Resident Evil has undergone many changes over it’s nearly 30-year history. Evolving and mutating like Resident Evil‘s own horrifying monsters, the franchise experienced a roller coaster of fan reception with each new release. While the originals were responsible for inventing and codifying the genre, as the series progressed, it branched out from tightly contained, claustrophobic experiences to high-octane action. Later titles, notably Resident Evil 5 and 6, were accused of letting the horror take a backseat at the expense of eroding RE’s core identity, resulting in a mixed reception and a drop in interest.