Start with Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019). It is the perfect synthesis of old-school puzzle-solving and modern controls. After that, the mansion awaits.
The series hit its stride with Resident Evil 2 (1998), which expanded the scope from a mansion to the entire Raccoon City Police Department. It introduced Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, and the "Zapping System" where actions in one playthrough affected the other. Shortly after, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) introduced a mechanic that would plague players' nightmares for years: a persistent enemy. Nemesis wasn't just a boss; he was a stalker who could follow the player through doors, adding a layer of panic to exploration.
A direct sequel to RE7 , Village is a bizarre, brilliant fusion of RE4 ’s action and classic gothic horror. Ethan Winters searches for his kidnapped daughter through four lords: Lady Dimitrescu (9'6" tall vampire), Heisenberg (magneto with a hammer), Moreau (fish freak), and Angie/Beneviento (the creepy doll house).