In addition to being an amalgam of science fiction, action, and fantasy, the Resident Evil franchise is, above all else, a horror game. It all started with Resident Evil, aka Biohazard, being released in 1996 for the Playstation. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine explored the Spencer Mansion after being chased there by wild dogs and rumors of grisly murders.
The series has since expanded into the realm of bioweapons, global conspiracies, gothic horror, ancient societies, and all manner of things to explain why the monsters in Resident Evil go bump in the night. It's certainly had a captivating and ambitious lifespan, but it never stopped at least trying to be scary--and what can be scarier than a well-placed and well-timed jump scare?
10 Surprise Werewolf When Reading The Safe Code In Resident Evil: Village
One of the more recent and creative jump scares to come from a Resident Evil game came with Village. There is a point early in the game where Ethan can find a safe inside a village house with a hint to look out the window to find the code.
The code is indeed visible through the window, but, after a couple of seconds, Ethan will also see a Lycan leap up into view and roar at the player. It will then sprint to the door, and Ethan will have to kill or avoid it to move on.
9 The Panzer Soldat From The Shadows In Resident Evil: Village
Near the very end of Village, Ethan Winters will be navigating the industrial nightmare factory of Karl Heisenberg. Ethan will at one point acquire a mold for Heisenberg's Key, and Ethan will have to return to the lowest level of the factory to forge the key. However, the area will be darker than when Ethan left it.
After the key is forged, Ethan will return to the elevator, but something will be shifting in the dark hallways of the factory, and a massive Panzer Soldat will silently wander into view. This one didn't have an audio cue like most jump scares, but it serves well to unnerve the player.
8 Testing The Waters With Leon Kennedy In Resident Evil IV
Resident Evil IV is known to be a more action-focused and less scary entry in the series, but there is one notable jumpscare the player can instigate if they go looking.
At the lake, Leon S. Kennedy can go gun-fishing. However, enough bullets in the water will prompt Del Lago, a vast fish monster, to surface and eat Leon off the pier.
7 Carlos' First Licker Encounter In Resident Evil III: Nemesis
The Lickers are a classic Resident Evil monster, and, naturally, Resident Evil III: Nemesis protagonist Carlos Ortega has to face them in his part of the story.
The introduction of the Lickers in the Remake is particularly clever. The player can see them crawling outside the windows and can hear noises from the ceiling, but it's easy to forget the Lickers in the waves of regular zombies that attack. However, the Licker makes quite a sudden entrance, and it's hard not to get scared. The Lickers actually have a few good jump scares in the Resident Evil III Remake for both Carlos and Jill, but the first is the most potent by far.
6 Arrival Of The Nemesis At The Beginning Of Resident Evil III: Nemesis
The Resident Evil III Remake opens up with a pretty strong jump scare as well. The game kicks off with Jill Valentine in her apartment trying to get ahold of herself after the traumatizing events at the Spencer/Arklay Mansion in the first Resident Evil.
Jill gets a call from Chris Redfield through a walkie-talkie, and the giant Nemesis suddenly bursts through Jill's wall and tries to kill her.
5 Jack Baker's "Welcome To The Family, Son" Ambush In Resident Evil VII
One of the most iconic jump scares and memorable lines of the series wrapped up into one, Jack Baker's entrance in Resident Evil VII: Biohazard is a terrifying moment for sure. The player just finished gunning down a crazed Mia Winters and may think they are safe.
However, Jack Baker ambushes Ethan Winters while he tries to leave the room, punching him in the face and saying, "Welcome to the family, son."
4 Mia Suddenly Attacking Ethan In Resident Evil VII
However, an even more jarring jump scare actually comes from a little earlier in the game while Ethan and Mia Winters are trying to leave the Baker House.
Mia is looking for an exit elsewhere in the house, and she can be heard screaming. When Ethan finds her, she suddenly turns rabid and tries to kill Ethan.
3 Arrival Of The Flesh-Baby In Resident Evil: Village
The most undeniably horrifying monster in Resident Evil: Village, the monstrous baby conjured by Donna and Angie in their basement is one of the most unsettling things in the entire franchise. Its first arrival from out of the dark is quite disturbing.
Its second entrance is arguably even more horrifying, as it busts through a door when Ethan and the player least expect it while emitting a distorted cry and laughter.
2 Mr. X Busting Through The Crashed Helicopter In Resident Evil II
Unlike the aforementioned baby, Mr. X himself doesn't actually have that all scary of a design. He is a pale hulking brute in a trench coat and hat. However, his arrival on the scene, a constant presence throughout the game, and invincibility all make him a thoroughly frightening foe.
His first appearance in the game sets the tenor for his stalking presence throughout the game. He suddenly bursts through a crashed helicopter to menace the player. Throughout the rest of the game, he shows up at inopportune times, and the player can hear his thunderous footsteps echo throughout the Raccoon City Police Precinct.
1 Zombie Doggies Flying Through The Windows In Resident Evil
One of the first and most memorable jump scares in Resident Evil comes from the first game while the player is exploring the Spencer/Arklay Mansion. While entering a large hallway with zombies, Jill or Chris is party to a trio of zombie dogs suddenly jumping through the window, scaring the player and letting them know that not all threats will be immediately visible.
The zombie dogs were also among the most dangerous monsters from the early games, so this was a fairly tough encounter to survive. It's a classic moment and one that is among the scariest instances from the entire series.
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