“The Evil Within” – Every Chapter Ranked

While replaying “The Evil Within”, a horror classic, I was struck by just how different each chapter was. Each chapter has its own unique set pieces, locations and atmosphere – so much so that it made the overall experience fast-paced and thrilling.

There’s no doubt in my mind now that this is one of the greatest horror games of all time … but how would I rank all fifteen of its chapters? As a quick FYI, I’ll be ranking these chapters more on their gameplay rather than their story content.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Every Modern Resident Evil Game Ranked

The Evil Within 1 VS 2 – Which Game Is Better?

Resident Evil 4 – All Sixteen Chapters Ranked

“PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse” – REVIEW

Meh

15 – Chapter 8: A Planted Seed Will Grow

Chapter 8 is one of the shortest chapters in the game, if not the outright shortest. It’s complete filler – it could have been cut from the game and nothing would’ve changed.

You trudge through a dark cave and eventually run away from a huge monster. That’s it. That’s the chapter.

I was going to put this chapter in the “Bad” tier, but the bloody plate / spikes puzzle is actually quite clever. That’s the only saving grace.

Okay

14 – Chapter 12: The Ride

“The Evil Within” is a horror game far more than an action game, but towards the end it tries to dip its toes in both waters (and, more often than not, fails to pull it off).

Chapter 12, “The Ride”, is all about an action set-piece on the back of a moving bus. It’s a boring, railroaded boss fight and I hated every second of it.

It picks up at the end, however, when you have to explore a ruined highway for some medicine. Using the mounted machine gun to mow down waves of enemies was immensely satisfying.

13 – Chapter 15: An Evil Within

Unfortunately, “The Evil Within” ends with a whimper.

Chapter 15 sees you return to the very start of the game, and you have to slowly walk through a long, scripted section. Not a good start.

The massive, fleshy enemy arena is probably the highlight, and the dual Keeper fight was tough but memorable. The final boss, however, is maybe the worst in the game. I did not play through an intense survival horror game just for the finale to be a running / machine gun / rocket launcher set-piece.

On a separate note, that section where you have to avoid the spotlights can die in a barn fire.

12 – Chapter 6: Losing Grip on Ourselves

“Losing Grip on Ourselves” has the obligatory level in any survival horror game – a base-under-siege, wave of enemies defence section. I’m never a fan of the format.

The following sections are better but not by much. You get the sniper rifle and have to use it to pick off four target before proceeding, you fight two huge enemies in a cramped cemetery, and then Joseph loses his glasses during a dog-monster boss fight. Dammit, Joseph!

Good

11 – Chapter 2: Remnants

“Remnants” is not a long chapter by any means, but it’s a short but sweet second chapter to keep the pace going.

Sebastian goes to the upgrade hospital place for the first time, and you have to fight through a mandatory stealth area. I’m not usually a fan of enforced stealth sections but this one was designed well.

10 – Chapter 11: Reunion

After ten chapters of claustrophobic rooms and catacombs, “Reunion” taking place in a crumbling cityscape makes for such a cool visual.

You start in a construction site (with that slow, painful platform ride), the flooded streets (with the crocodile monsters I loathe), you briefly meet Kidman, and then you go through a flammable room where you can’t use any firearms (a gimmick I don’t like).

Considering how much this chapter has going against it, it’s a miracle I came away from it with a positive feeling.

9 – Chapter 5: Inner Recesses

This is one of those chapters which just never ends. I counted five unique sections to it, which is probably two too many. Oh well – at least most of them were good, fun sections.

You fight invisible enemies in a creepy hospital, you reunite with Joseph, you rescue Kidman from the water tank, you fight Laura for the first time, and after all that you have to “unplug” the enemies in a small arena.

I would’ve ranked “Inner Recesses” higher … but I hate that unplug gimmick. It was so clunky and wasted a lot of my ammo, and I died so many times before I figured out the groove of it.

8 – Chapter 4: The Patient

When I heard the crazy monster doctor for the first time, but first thought was “Hey, that’s Critical Role’s Liam O’Brien!”. And then I remembered I was supposed to be scared.

The underground enemy arena is gruelling but fun, the Laura escape segment is intense, but nothing can compare to when you fight that first invisible enemy. I just about soiled myself the first time they showed up.

7 – Chapter 14: Ulterior Motives

Whoever had the idea to have a defunct, suspended subway train bridging the gap between two crumbling islands … give that man a raise.

The subway portion is actually the least exciting bit of “Ulterior Motives”. The shock / goop area is tough but memorable, and the invisible / tendril-y boss is a nice late-game challenge.

I almost put this chapter in “Great”, but then it threw another “unplug” arena at me. Why have that gimmick in the game twice? It’s exactly the same as the first one!

Great

6 – Chapter 3: Claws of the Horde

Chapter 2 has you sneaking around the place, avoiding combat as much as possible. Chapter 3, on the other hand, dumps you in an area with lots of enemies and limited resources and expects you to fight back.

“Claws of the Horde” has one of the best designed areas in the game. There were a plethora of traps to turn the tides against the titular horde, and it was satisfying to get revenge on the chainsaw guy.

5 – Chapter 1: An Emergency Call

Few horror games have better openings than “The Evil Within”. The village attack in “Resident Evil 4” comes to mind … I guess the key to a memorable opening is to have a rabid chainsaw guy chasing you.

“An Emergency Call” is pure story and atmosphere rather than gameplay, but I loved every second. The visuals are gory straight off the bat, and the escape from the chainsaw guy is thrilling stuff.

4 – Chapter 13: Casualties

I found “Casualties” to be one of the hardest chapters in the game – not only do you have to tussle with The Keeper again, but the acid traps in the apartment complex kept catching me out. I had my heart in my mouth the whole time I was navigating those corridors.

There’s also a boobytrapped kitchen you have to meander through, and Kidman shoots Joseph in one of the biggest story twists.

3 – Chapter 10: The Craftsman’s Tools

A fan-favourite chapter, “The Craftsman’s Tools” perhaps best epitomizes what “The Evil Within” is all about.

This is the chapter with the best traps in the game, bar none. The spinning fan is an amazing set piece, and the area with tons of spikes and crushing traps is one of the hardest, most thrilling portions of the game.

You also fight two of the game’s best bosses in Chapter 10 – you defeat Laura for good, and you finally kill that huge monster which chased you in Chapter 8.

Amazing

2 – Chapter 7: The Keeper

One of the enduring images for anyone who’s played this game is The Keeper. The visual effect when his boss fight starts is iconic, and the fight itself is no pushover.

The catacomb section beforehand is one of the best linear portions of the game, and anytime I had to turn a gas valve (usually against a strict clock) I was drenched in sweat.

1 – Chapter 9: The Cruelest Intentions

The scariest monsters are the ones you can’t kill.

I’m a big fan of unkillable enemies in games (think Mr. X in “Resident Evil 2”), and Ruvik is perhaps the scariest one. While you’re solving brain puzzles in his mansion, he can appear at any time. It’s not scripted like I’ve seen in other horror games – which makes it ten times more terrifying.

“The Cruelest Intentions” had already cemented its place at top spot with the mansion section alone, but the second half of the level is just as thrilling. You run from swarm through a tripwire / gate maze, and then you fight a boss in a barn fire.

Not only are there some serious story revelations in Chapter 9, but the gameplay is stellar too. The best chapter of the game for sure.

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