Resident Evil 4 has been ported numerous times since its original release in January 2005. Not all the editions flourished, but since it's widely considered the best game of all time, a plethora of platforms have been made compatible. Resident Evil 4 is a gripping survival horror game played in an over-the-shoulder style, credited with inspiring TPS titans like Gears of War. It's no wonder the game's been as popular as it has.
RELATED: Resident Evil: Every Game Ranked By How Long They Take To Beat
Since there have been so many Resident Evil 4 ports, we decided to make a list ranking the top ways to play this beloved title. Not all versions were created equal, sure, but it is hard to go wrong with Resident Evil 4.
Updated July 4, 2021, by Tom Bowen: With the release of Resident Evil Village having now come and gone, fans of Capcom's hugely popular survival horror franchise are beginning to turn their attention back to the future. As well as a new Netflix television series to look forward to, there's also the highly anticipated VR port of Resident Evil 4, which is set for release at some point in late 2021. When the latter does eventually release, it will become the twelfth different version of Resident Evil 4; further cementing the game's status as one of the most heavily ported titles in the history of gaming. It certainly has the potential to be the best version yet, although there's no shortage of competition for that illustrious title.
Resident Evil 4 VR (Honorable Mention)
 |
|
| System: | Oculus Quest 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | 2021 |
| Metacritic Score: | N/A |
| User Score: | N/A |
With the first three Resident Evil games having all been remade in recent years, it came as little surprise when a Resident Evil 4 remake was announced in early 2021. What few saw coming, however, was that the game would be a VR title that will be releasing exclusively for the Oculus Quest 2 at some point in 2021.
Pre-Alpha footage of the game looks great, with players able to see through Leon's eyes like never before. If it ends up being even half as good as RE:7's VR mode, players will be in for a truly terrifying time and the game may well prove to be the definitive way to experience Capcom's survival horror classic.
Resident Evil 4: Zeebo Edition
 |
|
| System: | Zeebo |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | August 11, 2009 |
| Metacritic Score: | N/A |
| User Score: | N/A |
One of the most unlikely places people would expect to see Resident Evil 4 is on the Zeebo console. It's a 3G compatible educational device, which is sometimes used for games. Of course, Resident Evil 4 isn't nearly as graphically impressive on a Zeebo machine.
For owners of a Zeebo, it is worth downloading Resident Evil 4 anyway. The game was officially released for Zeebo on November 11, 2009. Regardless of its flaws, Resident Evil 4 is playable and beatable on the Zeebo system, which is a feat in and of itself.
Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition
 |
|
| System: | Mobile |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | July 27, 2009 |
| Metacritic Score: | N/A |
| User Score: | N/A |
Both iPhone and Android players can download a copy of Resident Evil 4 too. With the increasing popularity of mobile gaming, it is only natural that Capcom would bring this wildly popular game to mobile. There have been heavy compromises, of course, but this is still quite the technical achievement.
RELATED: Resident Evil: Every Protagonist, Ranked According To Skill
Named Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition, this version of the game has abysmal graphics, but provides the benefit of being able to play the game while on the go. The controls are tricky at times, although players who persevere will soon get the hang of it. Whether they'll be able to get used to the pixelated graphics, however, is another matter entirely.
Resident Evil 4
 |
|
| System: | PlayStation 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | October 25, 2005 |
| Metacritic Score: | 96 |
| User Score: | 9.0 |
One of the first systems to play host to Resident Evil 4 was the PlayStation 2. Although the game was initially going to be an exclusive for the GameCube (and it was for a while), the PlayStation 2 version was announced before the Nintendo GameCube version had even released.
Many of the games on PlayStation 2 look fantastic when running on an emulator, but undoubtedly, the PlayStation 2's visuals simply cannot touch those that more modern consoles are capable of. The Nintendo GameCube always had a slight edge over Sony's system in that regard.
Resident Evil 4
 |
|
| System: | Nintendo Game Cube |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | January 11, 2005 |
| Metacritic Score: | 96 |
| User Score: | 9.2 |
Before the mighty Wii there was the GameCube, the first console on which players could experience Resident Evil 4. Even though it didn't run DVDs because of its smaller disc tray and lack of compatibility, the GameCube had decent graphics for its time. Later remakes of Resident Evil 4 may have bested the original in the visuals department, but for the era, it was an incredibly impressive game.
The GameCube utilizes 24 MB of RAM, uses a Dolphin OS operating system, and has an IBM PowerPC Gekko with 486 MHz. By today's standards, the GameCube's specs are inferior, but it's worth playing Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube if only to get a feel for the history of the game for yourself.
Resident Evil 4 HD
 |
|
| System: | Xbox 360 |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | September 20, 2011 |
| Metacritic Score: | 84 |
| User Score: | 8.0 |
Lighting was said to be better on the Xbox 360, but the textures are generally considered to be superior on the PlayStation 3. For that reason, the system that many consider to be the least reliable console of all time might not be most people's first choice to play Resident Evil 4.
RELATED: Classic Games Vs. Their Remakes: What's Different About Them?
There were, however, later Xbox 360 editions that fixed the RROD (Red Ring of Death) problem; many of which are still going strong to this day. When the console is working, Resident Evil 4 HD plays well and at the very least offers a big step up in quality over the original version of the game.
Resident Evil 4 HD
 |
|
| System: | PlayStation 3 |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | September 20, 2011 |
| Metacritic Score: | 84 |
| User Score: | 8.5 |
Some might argue that the PlayStation 3's DualShock 3 wasn't as great as other controllers of the time, with Sony having made very few revisions to the controller since the PlayStation 2. If it wasn't for the Xbox 360's lower-quality textures and unreliability, its version of the game would therefore be ranked higher than its PlayStation 3 counterpart.
Most would tend to agree that the improved textures of the PlayStation 3 edition of Resident Evil 4 HD are much more of a plus than the Xbox 360's superior lighting. With that in mind, the PlayStation 3 version is the sixth-best way to play Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 4
 |
|
| System: | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | May 21, 2019 |
| Metacritic Score: | 80 |
| User Score: | 8.6 |
The most recent console to receive a port of Resident Evil 4 is the Nintendo Switch. Finally, a Nintendo console can output the game in 1080p. To the disappointment of many Nintendo fans, though, the new Resident Evil 4 port does not have motion control capabilities akin to the Wii's.
Had the Nintendo Switch added intuitive gyro controls to Resident Evil 4, it would probably be considered the best version of Resident Evil 4 to date. In the meantime, we can only pray that Nintendo adds sophisticated motion controls in a later patch, as unlikely as that may seem.
Resident Evil 4: Ultimate HD Edition
 |
|
| System: | PC |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | May 15, 2007 |
| Metacritic Score: | 79 |
| User Score: | 8.3 |
Technically, two versions of Resident Evil 4 were released for the PC. There was the original, which had poor graphics, and the Ultimate HD Edition, which is arguably the game that PC players should have gotten in the first place. Better late than never.
RELATED: The Most Dangerous Types of Video Game Zombies, Ranked
PCs have the most potential when it comes to customizing your experience. Graphics settings can be lowered and raised, and people from the gaming community can create a whole range of mods that can enhance gameplay. Playing Resident Evil 4 on PC is one of the best ways to experience the game in all its grim glory. The game works well with gamepads, but is just as playable with a mouse and keyboard.
Resident Evil 4
 |
|
| System: | PlayStation 4 |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | August 30, 2016 |
| Metacritic Score: | 82 |
| User Score: | 8.4 |
The PlayStation 4 Pro features an eight-core AMD CPU processor with 8GN of GDDDR5 Ram and supports 4K gameplay. Resident Evil 4 is not capable of running in 4K, but it does have faster speeds than previous console versions and a frame rate that is almost unwavering.
Getting a chance to play Resident Evil 4 on the PlayStation 4 Pro is a real treat and the difference in quality between the base version of the system and the Pro model really is clear to see. Without a doubt, purchasing Resident Evil 4 to see its updated graphics is definitely worth it.
Resident Evil 4
 |
|
| System: | Xbox One |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | August 30, 2016 |
| Metacritic Score: | 76 |
| User Score: | 8.3 |
With a GPU that clocks in at an astounding 6 teraflops, Xbox One X has the edge over the PS4 Pro, which clocks in at just 4.2 teraflops. The Xbox One X is a fantastic platform, and the Xbox Series consoles serve as worthy successors, offering even more raw power and some lightning-fast loading times.
Simply put, Resident Evil 4 has never looked so good on a console. Playing the remastered version for Xbox One, which can be played on the Xbox One X, is a thrill. Also, with Xbox One's award-winning peripherals, Resident Evil 4 is an incomparable experience.
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
 |
|
| System: | Nintendo Wii |
|---|---|
| Release Date: | June 19, 2007 |
| Metacritic Score: | 91 |
| User Score: | 8.9 |
Resident Evil 4 has now been ported to most of the leading consoles of the past two decades. Even though the Nintendo Wii doesn't output the best graphics, it is widely considered to be the best Resident Evil 4 port because of its phenomenal use of motion control. Using the Wiimote in combination with a Wii Nunchuck offers a near-flawless experience.
The game just feels a lot more immersive when using the Wii's motion controls. Shaking your Wii Remote will allow you to intuitively swing Leon's knife, for instance. Hopefully, Resident Evil 4 is ported to future consoles and the Wii's motion controls make a return.
NEXT: Resident Evil: Every Playable Character's Age, Height, And Birthday
