Resident Evil 2 Takes the Crown as the Series’ Top-Selling Title

Step aside, Chris Redfield—Claire and Leon are now at the top of the leaderboard. In a recent earnings report, Capcom shared updated sales figures for some of its flagship titles, revealing that the remake of Resident Evil 2 has officially surpassed Resident Evil 5 as the best-selling game in the franchise.

Previously, Resident Evil 5 was reported to have sold 19.01 million copies, including its remastered versions on PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One. However, Resident Evil 2 (2019) has now taken the lead with an impressive 19.75 million copies sold.

For many long-time fans, the success of Resident Evil 2 feels like a well-deserved recognition. The game is celebrated for striking a perfect balance between innovation and nostalgia, employing the iconic camera angle and gameplay style introduced in Resident Evil 4 while staying true to the series’ slower, exploratory roots. In contrast, Resident Evil 5 is often seen as a turning point that leaned too heavily into action, paving the way for the less favorable Resident Evil 6, which focused more on spectacle than substance.

Despite its mixed reception, it’s remarkable that the 2009 title achieved such high sales figures. This success has led to speculation that Capcom might eventually consider a remake of Resident Evil 5, even amidst reports stating that there are currently “no plans to remake RE5/RE6.”

The Resident Evil franchise dominated Capcom’s top 10 unit sales for the last quarter, claiming seven spots on the list. Pragmata took the top position with 2.51 million copies sold in its debut quarter, closely followed by the Resident Evil 4 remake (2.43 million) and Resident Evil 2 (1.42 million), both of which continue to perform well. Despite its polarizing reputation, Resident Evil 6 managed to secure the number 10 spot with 710,000 sales. Overall, Resident Evil remains Capcom’s highest-selling series, with a staggering 213 million units sold, followed by Monster Hunter at 131 million and Street Fighter at 60 million. Mega Man, though somewhat overlooked, ranks fourth, while Devil May Cry rounds out the top five, boosted by Devil May Cry 5’s 14.24 million sales.

Capcom’s recent track record of delivering well-received single-player experiences stands out in an industry increasingly focused on live-service models. The company aims to build on the positive reception of this year’s Resident Evil: Requiem and Pragmata with the upcoming Onimusha: Way of the Sword, set to launch on September 4.

And there’s even more Resident Evil on the horizon. Fans can look forward to Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil movie on September 18, along with the highly anticipated remake of Resident Evil – Code: Veronica slated for next year.