It's easy to forget now, but Resident Evil 5 was one of the most highly anticipated releases of its generation during the buildup to its 2009 release. The game had the unfortunate job of following the beloved Resident Evil 4 and consequently was under a ton of scrutiny before the game had even been released. Resident Evil 5 fell short of its predecessor's quality and was therefore seen as a disappointment upon release, though once the dust settled, many people began to appreciate the third-person shooter when judging it as its own entity.
RELATED: Every Game In The Resident Evil Series Ranked On Campaign Length (& How Many Hours They Take)
Over ten years after the game's release, there are many people who have replayed the game so many times that they know it like the back of their hand. Thankfully, there's a selection of great mods available for the game that can mix up the experience.
10 Sonic And Tails
There are some mods that do an incredible job of rejuvenating and modernizing an old game's visuals, there are some that reinvent a game's level design to make it feel like an entirely different experience, and then there are some that throw Sonic and Tails into a horror game.
NoeMan2000's Nexus Mod puts the mascot platformers in place of Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar in both the story and Mercenaries mode, leading to some hilarious moments.
9 RE4 Leon (w. Jacket)
For those wanting to make Resident Evil 5 feel a bit closer to the game's predecessor, then KEVIN465M0RAN's RE4 Leon (w. Jacket) offers a great solution. As the name suggests, the mod puts Resident Evil 4's protagonist into its sequel.
Leon Scott Kennedy made his first gaming appearance in 1998's Resident Evil 2 and has since been a recurring character, with other playable appearances including Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and Resident Evil 6.
8 Doom Marine Style Heavy Metal
One of the features about Resident Evil 5 that divides fans is the game's heavy emphasis on action. Much of the horror is stripped away in the 2009 game, with over-the-top action sequences coming in to replace it, much to the dismay of some fans.
RELATED: The Scariest Resident Evil Games, Ranked
For those who love the game's explosive action, however, they can embrace it with KEVIN465M0RAN's Doom Marine Style Heavy Metal mod, which puts Chris Redfield in the gear worn by Doomguy from the iconic DOOM series.
7 Chapter 1-2 Enchanted Garden
On the other side of the coin to the action-influenced Doom Marine Style Heavy Metal mod is Chapter 1-2 Enchanted Garden. The mod changes the visuals of Chapter 1-2, turning the once-rundown village into one that is bursting with color. Walking through the modded area feels like taking a deep dive into a book of art, with everything from the ground to the sky being given a new artistic appearance.
6 Ada Wong (Mercenaries Attire)
If the aforementioned RE4 Leon (w. Jacket) mod didn't quite scratch players' Resident Evil 4 itch enough, then perhaps the Nexus mod Ada Wong (Mercenaries Attire) will do the trick.
The mod is another on this list that was uploaded by KEVIN465M0RAN and puts Ada Wong in place of Sheva. Like Leon, Ada made her first appearance in Resident Evil 2 and has been a recurring character ever since, with playable appearances in Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles, Resident Evil 6, and Resident Evil 4, among others.
5 Ultimate Jill over Sheva Mod
Ultimate Jill over Sheva Mod from moddb.com does exactly what it says on the tin and is the last character change on this list.
Rankings of the Resident Evil characters always cause a ton of debate, but for those who favor Jill Valentine over Sheva Alomar or the aforementioned Ada Wong, then they're in luck as VOTC's mod implements her in place of Sheva in both the story and Mercenaries mode. Jill is a fan-favorite who was a playable character in the very first Resident Evil game and has made a handful of other playable appearances in games such as Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
4 Evolution – SOLO VERSION
From one VOTC creation to another, Evolution – SOLO VERSION is an excellent mod that changes Resident Evil 5's level design. Changes include where the player starts a stage from and where enemies are spawned, along with a change to the music and even the removal of an A.I. companion.
RELATED: Every Enemy In Resident Evil 4 (And The Best Weapon To Use Against Them)
Mods such as Evolution – SOLO VERSION are fantastic for people who want to revisit their favorite games, but in a way that feels fresh, unique, and unexpected like the first time they played.
3 Public Assembly Hardcore Edition
Public Assembly is a Resident Evil 5 location that first appears near the very start of the game in Chapter 1-1. The area is one of the game's most memorable locations, as it's where the first large-scaled fight takes place. Public Assembly throws players into the deep end and forces them to hastily learn Resident Evil 5's gameplay mechanics if they want to stay alive, much like the village near the start of Resident Evil 4.
Public Assembly Hardcore Edition ramps the area's difficulty up a notch by adding a wide range of enemies into the mix. The mod is very tough but nonetheless enjoyable and provides a challenge that die-hard fans will relish.
2 Public Assembly Mixed Bosses
Public Assembly Hardcore Edition isn't the only mod that affects the Public Assembly area, as Public Assembly Mixed Bosses has the same idea. Rather than adding a variety of enemy types, the mod implements four different bosses, including Chainsaw Majini and the Gatling gun wielder J.J.
Unsurprisingly, the mod significantly ramps up the area's difficulty, so it should only be taken on by those ready to see the "You Are Dead" game over screen pop up a frustrating amount of times.
1 Resident Evil 5 Save Editor v2.71
Whereas most of the mods on this list make just one or two specific changes, Resident Evil 5 Save Editor v2.71 implements an incredible range of features to Capcom's game. The range of changes speak for themselves, so here are all of the listed features as detailed in the mod's description:
• Chapter Modifier
• Area Switcher
• Checkpoint modifier
• Difficulty modifier
• Player slot modifier
• Attack Reaction modifier
• Player costume, character modifier
• Ability to edit all items at once
• Rapid fire
• Infinite ammo enabler
• Mercenaries score editor
• Unlock all Mercenaries characters
• Unlock all menu items
• Alone In Africa (remove Chris)
• Alone In Africa (remove Sheva)
• Unlock all Mercenaries levels
• Unlock all Mercenaries Reunion levels
• Signature modifier
• Unlock all story stages
• All BSAA emblems
• Infinite ammo
• Item editor
• Points modifier
• Gold modifier
• Built-in checksum calculator
NEXT: Resident Evil 4: Hardest Non-Boss Enemies In The Game
