Last week, the official Resident Evil account on Twitter invited fans to share their opinions on the series. Those who spoke kindly of the sixth entry drew swift backlash, a familiar pattern across many Resident Evil online spaces. Among fans, Resident Evil 6 holds the dubious honor of being the most disliked game in the franchise. Even a hint of praise is sure to ignite heated debate in any horror game forum. But is all this hate warranted?

I have wanted to tackle this topic for some time, so over the summer, I revisited Resident Evil 6 to give it another chance. My goal was to determine whether it is a hidden gem or truly deserves the criticism. After a solid 20 hours, I can confirm the backlash is earned. Not only was I reminded of why it disappoints, but I also discovered new reasons why it feels beyond saving.

So, to close out this year’s Gamers Nightmare, I want to examine why Resident Evil 6 is an irredeemable entry that deserves every ounce of hate it gets.

Comparing it with Resident Evil 5

To understand why Resident Evil 6 is an unredeemable entry, I’ll compare it to Resident Evil 5. I see the fifth game as a bridge, connecting what made the fourth game so exceptional to why the sixth entry fell flat. This is not to say that Resident Evil 5 is a great horror game. It’s a great action game but a terrible horror game. Even though it’s divisive, it has redeemable qualities for the horror elements it has while being enjoyable to play—something I can’t say about Resident Evil 6.

Welcome to the Nightmare

The best way to compare the two is to see how each entry introduces players to the game.

Resident Evil 5 begins with Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar arriving in Kijuju to meet their informant. At first glance, everything seems normal, but there’s a subtle sense that something is amiss. Soon, it becomes clear that the locals have been infected by the Plagas parasite. After navigating the narrow back alleys, Chris and Sheva reach the town square, only to be trapped by a mob of infected villagers. With limited ammo, they must fend off the infected while awaiting air support.

In contrast, Resident Evil 6 throws you directly into a chaotic warzone with little explanation of the events unfolding. Instead of feeling like a Resident Evil or even a horror game, it feels more like a Call of Duty experience. You play as Leon S. Kennedy, trudging through the level with Helena Harper until reaching a checkpoint. From there, the gameplay is largely reduced to button mashing and quick-time events, leaving little room for genuine player engagement.

Right away you could see how Resident Evil 5 did a better job of introducing players to the experience. It borrowed what worked in Resident Evil 4 while setting the stakes in a way to show that not even Chris Redfield is prepared for what is to come. In contrast, Resident Evil 6 begins with an introduction that is a malformation of every terrible video game trope from this era rolled into a single moment. You sense that something significant has happened, but it feels more like a generic shooter than a true horror game.

Surviving the Outbreak

Building upon what I said about the intro, Resident Evil 5 maintains a consistent approach in its gameplay and direction. While a few curveball moments feel slightly out of place, the game largely balances action with horror and survival elements. It’s action-heavy when compared to previous titles but it also has horror aspects and elements of survival.  Although the focus shifts more heavily toward action as the game progresses, it still retains several defining elements of the series.

Resident Evil 6, on the other hand, suffers from a core identity crisis. The Leon and Helena campaign aims to capture a survival horror feel but quickly devolves into a generic zombie shooter, shifting to action by the third mission. Meanwhile, the Chris and Piers campaign tries to recreate the intense action of its predecessor with over-the-top moments. This makes the game feel more like Call of Duty than a Resident Evil game. The Sherry and Jake campaign, however, feels redundant, essentially rehashing the Chris and Piers storyline from a different perspective. This choice adds little to the experience and ultimately feels like filler padding the game’s length.

New Characters

Both games introduce new characters while bringing back the series regulars. Both titles did a great job of allowing us to play as Chris. Resident Evil 6 also deserves praise for bringing back Leon while reintroducing us Sherry Birkin. It’s the introduction of new characters is how Resident Evil 6 falls flat while its predecessor sucessed.

Resident Evil 5 not only introduces us to Sheva Alomar but also allows us to learn about her background and build a bond with her. This depth left a lasting impact on fans, making her a memorable character in the series. In contrast, Resident Evil 6 introduces three side characters and expects players to form an emotional connection with them after just five missions. This approach falls flat, as we never really build a strong bond, and the characters vary in quality from decent to unnecessary. Helena Harper had potential but needed more time for her story to develop. Piers Nivans might as well have been called “Generic Soldier,” as that’s essentially all he is. Jake Muller feels entirely unnecessary as his presence feels shoehorned into the story for convenience.

Resident Evil: Modern Warfare

A recurring critique I have of Resident Evil 6, as you may have noticed, is that it tries too hard to emulate Call of Duty. This issue sits at the core of its identity crisis, reducing it to a generic shooter stuffed with every overused trope of that era. The same critique applies to Resident Evil 5, and the problem was not unique to the series. Franchises like Hitman, Medal of Honor, and SOCOM also abandoned their defining elements, chasing the Call of Duty formula to reach a wider audience. For some, the strategy found limited success. For others, it damaged the brand or killed the series outright.

This is not a critique of the Call of Duty series itself. I enjoyed those games back in the day and still play them from time to time. But if I want to play Call of Duty, I am not turning to Resident Evil to scratch that itch.

An Unredeemable Legacy

Every media franchise has that one installment regarded as the most reviled—not merely because it’s weak or unpopular, but because fans see it as a deep insult to the series’ legacy. For Resident Evil fans, the sixth entry holds this unfortunate distinction. It’s a product of its time, but in all the wrong ways, abandoning core elements to chase trends and encapsulating the worst tropes of the era. The result is an entry that feels irredeemable, no matter how hard some fans try to defend it.

Thankfully, Capcom has abandoned this route and returned the series back to its horror roots.

Did you ever play Resident Evil 6 and what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section. 

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.