If I had to rank the series before RE7 comes out, and know I have a few unpopular opinions I know, but I would honestly rank them from favorite to least favorite
RE4 > REmake > RE3 > RE2 > Revelations 2 > RE5 > RE6 > Dead Aim > Zero > Revelations 1 > Code Veronica > Operation Raccoon City > Survivor > Gaiden
RE4 & REmake are SOOOO close for me, it took me forever to decide I liked RE4 more. The reason for the decision is based on the Caves in REmake. I think the caves in REmake I enjoy less than any part of RE4. But know it's only a slight bit above RE4, they're super close for different reasons to me.
I also have the controversial opinion I think RE3 edges RE2 just BARELY for me. It's really close too. RE2 is very short and I feel once you leave the RPD Police Station the game doesn't make the most of its locations, which end up being either too brief (Sewers, Yard) or weirdly drawn out feeling (Lab) without making it as interesting as it could. REmake 2 could remedy it certainly. I do love the different campaign takes, A & B scenarios, and some of the monsters and music in RE2. But RE3 I like more due to it having a more enjoyable 'hub' to explore for a while in Raccoon City (I think they do some interesting level design different than any other RE game), I like Nemesis' presence and really enjoy basically all the locations (once away from Raccoon City, I really did enjoy the Clock Tower, Hospital, Park, and Factory). With variations and the ammo crafting system, I think over time I've concluded I like it more than RE2, but just by a bit.
I really liked Revelations 2 personally, I'll go more in-depth on that another time.
RE5 just barely edges over RE6 for me. It took me a long time to come to this conclusion. I actually think RE6 has higher highs than RE5, but also lower lows. I think in the end RE5 is a much more tightly designed game and benefits from it since I think doing a full run of RE5 is more fun than a full run of RE6, even if specific moments of RE6 I think are better than the best moments of RE5 (but then some of the worst moments of RE6 I think are worse than the worst moments of RE5). RE5 is also aided I actually find its cutscenes fun to watch, I think RE5 has much more enjoyable dialogue and cutscenes than RE6 had (not saying RE6 had no enjoyable dialogue or cutscenes, but I think RE5 trumps it there).
Dead Aim is underrated as hell, in my opinion. Though it starts off a bit ehhh, I actually have come to like it a lot over time.
Zero has a few drudgery moments, but I love the atmosphere and look of some areas, and there's fun to be had simply exploring and progressing in its environments. I do think the game kind of gets less interesting when you leave the church, though.
Revelations 1 has its moments I like a lot about it, but as a whole I say it's decidedly average. It feels like the most average RE game to me.
Code Veronica though has some outstanding elements, but absolutely frustrating gameplay design that actually sometimes makes me actively angry when I play it. I think Code Veronica has SO MUCH potential, but i desperately needs a remake to realize it. And a dramatically changed remake. Its concepts are good, the music is great, the setting fantastic, the villains likable, and even has some good story beats, but its smothered by frustrating gameplay design.
ORC can be fun with friends, and the DLC is leagues better than the main campaign, but it lacks polish and sort of focus and tight design. Its missing some of that RE series charm.
Survivor is okay, but it's pretty simple. Pathway stuff is kinda' cool, but outside of that it's barebones. Gaiden is... Well, a Gameboy RE game. What would you expect. It's actually kind of frustrating towards the end of it.
I need more time to process where I'd place Umbrella Chronicles, Darkside Chronicles, and Umbrella Corps on the list. Also the original RE1, not helped there's so many versions of it. I'd need to think more of where to place these on my list.
I also need to beat Gun Survivor 2, Outbreak 1, & Outbreak 2. I've played bits of them, but never beaten them (and never played the Outbreak games online, which I want to amend soon).
