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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Start with the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 if you want the clearest follow-up to Resident Evil Requiem: it returns you to Raccoon City and gives useful background on Leon. Prefer a different kind of game? Choose Resident Evil 3 for more pursuit-focused outbreak action, Resident Evil 4 for an action-heavy Leon adventure, or Resident Evil 7 biohazard followed by Village for the newer Ethan storyline. None is required: Requiem’s director says it was designed to welcome people new to the series.
Which Resident Evil game should you play first after Requiem?
For the most direct connection, play Resident Evil 2 (2019), the remake of the 1998 game. Both are tied to Raccoon City, and Leon’s return to the city is a major link between Requiem and the earlier series. Capcom describes the original Resident Evil 2 as a survival story in a zombie-infested city; Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi has described Leon’s return as a return to where his bioterror nightmare began. Capcom’s series overview and Nakanishi’s January 2026 interview explain those connections.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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These recommendations are optional routes, not a correct or required order. Pick according to what you liked in Requiem: its Raccoon City setting, Leon’s more action-oriented sections, or the horror-centered experience.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteChoose by setting, tone, and story
| Your preference | Play next | Why it fits | Edition note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon City and Leon’s background | Resident Evil 2 | It offers survival-horror context in Raccoon City, a place central to Requiem and Leon’s history. | Look for the 2019 remake if you want the modern version; it is distinct from the 1998 original. |
| More Raccoon City pursuit | Resident Evil 3 | Capcom characterizes this entry around the terror of being constantly chased, making it an adjacent outbreak-and-pursuit choice. | Specify the remake when searching; the title also has an earlier original version. |
| Leon with a stronger action emphasis | Resident Evil 4 | Leon is central, and Capcom notes that the game introduced an over-the-shoulder perspective to enhance action. | Choose the remake or original deliberately, and check that the edition supports your platform. |
| Horror and the newer Ethan story | Resident Evil 7 biohazard, then Resident Evil Village | Village is a sequel to the seventh installment; together they carry Ethan’s storyline. | This is a separate protagonist and story route from Leon’s Raccoon City thread. |
Why Resident Evil 2 is the best all-around follow-up
Resident Evil 2 connects the setting and character history that make Requiem resonate with the series’ earlier events. The 2019 remake is the clearest starting point if you want a contemporary version of that Raccoon City survival story. Be precise when looking it up: “Resident Evil 2” can refer to the original 1998 game or its 2019 remake.
#1 Best Overall
- Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
- Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.
The remake is a contextual choice, not homework. Nakanishi said Requiem was designed to welcome players who have never played the series or learned about the Raccoon City Incident.
Pick another route if you want a different experience
Resident Evil 3 for a chased-through-the-outbreak feel
The Resident Evil 3 remake stays in the Raccoon City orbit but is the better match if you want pursuit to shape the experience. Capcom describes the game as emphasizing the fear of being constantly chased. That makes it a neighboring setting and gameplay match—not a missing chapter you need to understand Requiem.
Rank #2
- FEAR COMES HOME -- Fear, combat, exploration, and item management: these are the four pillars of survival horror, a genre that has never been more masterfully executed than in the gameplay of Resident Evil. The horror continues in the ground-breaking Resident Evil 7. Step into the new Isolated View and experience true survival horror in a world created by the all-new RE Engine.
- DEEP IN THE BAYOU - When Ethan Winters opened his inbox, the last thing he expected was to find an email from his wife; she had been missing for three years. The message was simple: "Come get me," and an address in Louisiana. This leads Ethan to a decrepit mansion in the heart of the bayou. The place has a seriously creepy vibe, but Ethan continues his search – until a stranger attacks him and knocks him unconscious. Ethan has no idea what awaits him when he wakes up...for he is now in the clutches of the Baker family.
- A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- In RESIDENT EVIL 7, we're changing the way you interact with the world. For this next major entry in the series, play from a first-person point of view, dramatically increasing your ability to become fully absorbed in the world we have created.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Resident Evil 4 for Leon and more action
If Leon is the draw but you want a more action-forward game, choose Resident Evil 4. Capcom’s overview identifies its over-the-shoulder perspective as a design shift intended to enhance action. Requiem itself contrasts Leon’s more exhilarating sections with Grace’s more horror-oriented ones, so this is a natural pick when you preferred Leon’s side of the balance.
Resident Evil 7 and Village for Ethan’s story
For a recent, horror-centered story route, play Resident Evil 7 biohazard before Resident Evil Village. Capcom calls Village a sequel to the seventh installment, and Nakanishi says Ethan’s story concludes across those two games. This route follows a different protagonist from the Leon-and-Raccoon-City thread.
Rank #3
- TERRIFYING ZOMBIES WAITING AROUND EVERY CORNER -- Driven by insatiable hunger, these creatures act on instinct, gnashing their teeth, ripping at flesh, and devouring their victims. The new immersive camera lets you feel their fangs as they sink into your flesh.
- RACCOON CITY, REBUILT IN INTRICATE DETAIL -- The characters, environments, and story have all been rebuilt from the ground up to create a terrifying world that feels both nostalgic and new.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Do you need to play older Resident Evil games first?
No. Requiem’s director says it was designed to welcome complete newcomers, including players unfamiliar with the Raccoon City Incident. Older games can add context, but there is no prerequisite series marathon before starting Requiem. Choose a follow-up based on the characters, setting, and style you want more of.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the edition and platform before buying
Remakes and originals are separate releases, and availability varies by game and platform. Capcom lists Requiem for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, but that does not establish the current platform availability of every older title or edition. Confirm the exact game and platform in the relevant store listing before purchasing. Capcom’s release announcement gives Requiem’s platform list.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Rank #4
- CLASSIC RESIDENT EVIL GAMEPLAY -- Overcome chilling encounters in a relentless fight for survival that ratchets up the intensity through nail-biting exploration and gripping puzzle-solving.
- EXPLORE RACCOON CITY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- Get even closer to the action with an over-the-shoulder camera and updated control scheme, drawing you into every bloodcurdling encounter.
- SURVIVE TOGETHER IN THE MULTIPLAYER MODE -- Bring up to four friends into the carnage with Resident Evil Resistance, a multiplayer survival horror experience included in the Resident Evil 3 package. Available as a PlayStation 4 title compatible on all PlayStation 5 devices. Includes code necessary for redemption, requires additional download not on disc.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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