Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Raccoon City’s 1998 collapse becomes a grimy, alternate-history squad shooter where Umbrella’s cleanup crew is as dangerous as the infected. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City trades the series’ usual vulnerable survival-horror pacing for aggressive third-person firefights, putting players in the boots of the Umbrella Security Service as they erase evidence, hunt survivors, and clash with government forces. Familiar locations from the outbreak are recast as chaotic combat zones filled with zombies, Hunters, Lickers, and panicked soldiers. The tone is pulpy, bloody, and knowingly mean-spirited, especially when missions place iconic characters such as Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield in your sights.

Combat revolves around selecting a specialized operative, using firearms and grenades, and combining class abilities with a four-player squad. Each member brings a distinct role, from medic-style support and reconnaissance to demolitions and stealth, encouraging teams to cover flanks, revive allies, and coordinate against large enemy waves. Infection adds a useful wrinkle: bleeding can attract zombies, while bites can turn a wounded character into a threat unless they quickly use antiviral spray. Campaign missions mix corridor firefights, defense scenarios, boss encounters, and branching moments that allow the story to bend established Resident Evil events rather than simply repeat them.

What separates it from more traditional entries is its willingness to treat the franchise as a co-op action playground, closer to Left 4 Dead’s infected pressure and early Gears of War’s cover shooting than Resident Evil 2’s careful resource management. The alternate perspective is its biggest draw, letting players see the disaster through Umbrella operatives who are neither heroes nor innocent bystanders. Gunplay and AI can feel rough, and the game works best with human teammates rather than solo partners, but its messy energy suits players who value co-op chaos over polished horror tension. Fans curious about a noncanonical, combat-heavy detour through Raccoon City find plenty to enjoy, while survival-horror purists should approach it as a loud side story rather than a series essential.