Top 10 Scariest Resident Evil Bosses

“Resident Evil” (1996) They say first impressions last a lifetime, so that’s probably why the giant snake from the first “Resident Evil” is so hard to forget. It’s a bio-weapon created in the Arklay Labs and one of the first giant mutations you face in the game – having dealt with zombies and other trivialities until then – so when it emerges from its hole (in all its T-virus infected glory) it’s a true ‘WTF’ moment… The damn thing is massive, the room is tiny and cramped (so the camera is awful), and you’re in such shock that a giant snake is bearing down on you that the infamous tank controls become even harder to use. Yeah… it’s a real check-your-pants moment. And, you have to fight it twice!

#9: El Gigante

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“Resident Evil 4” (2005) We’d forgive you for not worrying while fighting “RE4’s” Los Iluminados villagers (as they’re not as scary as zombies), but if you weren’t in a full panic when El Gigante smashed his way into the game… well… you may not have a pulse. Talk about a battle between David and Goliath?! This monstrous baddie was spawned from human test subjects using the Plaga parasite, and it grew at least four times in size – and got hella ugly too. Our first thought upon seeing this beast was: “Nope. Just nope.” He’s so far advanced from anything we’d encountered up to that point, it didn’t seem a fair fight for poor Leon. But, never fear, a friendly neighborhood dog served as a crucial distraction. Good boy!

“Resident Evil 5” (2009) Damn you Wesker… You screwed over our heroic S.T.A.R.S. team in the first game, secretly owing allegiance to Umbrella., and we’ve been waiting for revenge ever since. While we fought him in a cutscene in “Code Veronica,” we ultimately had to wait until the fifth game for the final showdown. And, boy, was it worth it! At this point in the storyline, Wesker is basically like an Agent from “The Matrix” due to bioengineering and is damn near indestructible – the dude catches rockets with his bare hands for frig’s sake – so it takes a lava pit and two rockets to finish him off. But, the feeling of FINALLY killing this backstabbing A-hole after waiting nearly 13 years is oh-so sweet.

“Resident Evil” (1996) This Terminator-esque bio-weapon is Umbrella’s second attempt at what they dubbed the ‘Tyrant,’ but this time it was made more intelligent and with less physical defects than the original. Now, yes, he’s still slower than molasses, but his thumping footsteps and devastating tentacle arm let you know he means business. When he finally goes down after what feels like 100 magnum rounds, the relief is palpable; but, in true Resident Evil fashion, he shows up again just as you’re about to be airlifted away from this nightmarish situation; and, this time he’s faster than lighting! What a cruel trick… It’ll take one precise shot from a rocket launcher to finish him off… but… if you miss… it’s game over.

#6: Del Lago

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“Resident Evil 4” (2005) “We’re going to need a bigger boat…” This famous line from “Jaws” pretty much sums up this boss encounter. Del Lago is big. Real big. And you’re in an old, decrepit dingy with a handful of spears… Seems fair, right? And, if that weren’t enough, your boat is anchored to this Plaga infected, experiment-gone-wrong salamander; and, you’re basically at the whim of its every move. Will he drag you, chase you, charge you or eat you? Well, all four if you’re not lucky! And, in the end, no matter how well Leon does against this monster, he’ll be left in such a sorry state that he’ll barely be able to continue his journey. Now, that, our friends, is the sign of an epic boss battle.

“Resident Evil” (2002) We’re just gonna say it: Lisa Trevor is the best part of the “RE1” remaster. She’s become so popular – and important – in Resident Evil lore that you’d be forgiven for not knowing that she wasn’t in the original game. Her backstory is incredibly tragic, having been abducted by Umbrella and forced to serve as a test subject for the T-Virus – after which she was confined to a prison cell beneath Arklay Mansion. To have this poor soul whiling away in the dark recesses of the mansion adds another layer of horror to the history of the Spenser Estate and the experiments done there. She’s mighty dangerous, but we can’t help but feel sorry for her as she just wants to reunite with her deceased mother.

“Resident Evil 2” (1998) Dr. Birkin has somewhat of a tragic backstory as well, as he injected himself with his own research project (the G-Virus) after failing to achieve a promotion within Umbrella; and, then he lost touch with his own humanity and family as a result. But, without a doubt, it’s his hideous appearance that makes him so memorable. Heck, even his original forms in 1998’s “RE2” gave us nightmares; but, his mutated forms in 2019’s remake is something else altogether. With 5 different forms to face, each more nightmare inducing than the last, Birkin’s battles can be both terrifying and thrilling. If we had to pick a standout battle though; His 4th form at the end of Claire’s campaign in the remake takes that honor.

“Resident Evil 7” (2017) The Baker family didn’t ask to become infected with the Mold in “RE7,” but their evolution into sick maniacs made them the perfect antagonists to revive the long-stale Resident Evil series in 2017. Jack is by far the craziest and most frightening of the bunch; and the parts when we were playing hide-and-seek with this garden equipment-wielding psychopath are among our favorite in the entire series. He was such a fresh take on a Resident Evil boss – acting more like something out of “Outlast” or “Alien Isolation” – that it completely caught us off guard while filling our hearts with terror. The sign of a good boss encounter is wanting more of it… and we certainly couldn’t get our fill of Papa Baker. Daddy’s home!!

#2: Mr. X

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“Resident Evil 2” [Remake] (2019) ‘X gon give it to ya!’ And, by give it to you, we mean a massive heart attack… Having seen this dude in the original “RE2,” we figured, “Ok, let’s pump some rounds into him and be on our way…” Except, he didn’t stay down. He came after us. And, when we thought safety was located in the next room, the SOB opened the door and followed us! As a prior version of the Nemesis T-Type in “RE3,” Mr. X is just as relentless, and his slow, steady pace had us spooked like Michael Myers (or some other classic horror villain) was chasing us. When you finally do fight him though at the end of Leon’s campaign … Get ready for a world of hurt.

“Resident Evil 3” (1999) If you thought Jack Baker or Mr. X stalking you was stressful… well… meet Nemesis. He’s basically Umbrella’s most advanced Tyrant model, having been perfected from earlier versions with insane speed, strength and intelligence; and, as if that weren’t enough, he’s decked out with a frigging rocket launcher too! He’s one of those bosses in video games that makes you think: “Nah… This ain’t fair.” And, so, to make it even less fair in 2020’s remake, Capcom equipped this lighting-quick behemoth with a flamethrower as well! Why? Well, because “too bad” that’s why… Nemesis haunted our dreams in the original “RE3” – making us sweat every time we heard the word ‘STARS’ – and he’s set to do it all over again in the remake. Bring it!