Start with Resident Evil (HD Remaster) if you want the clearest introduction to the series’ original survival-horror structure and story foundation. Choose Resident Evil 4 instead if you would rather begin with faster, over-the-shoulder action. The right first game depends less on release date than on whether you want careful resource management, modern third-person combat, or a side story that assumes some familiarity with the wider series.
The short answer
Resident Evil (HD Remaster) is the best default starting point on Nintendo Switch. Nintendo describes it as a high-definition remake of the first entry, so it introduces the setting, core ideas and survival-horror rhythm without asking you to know later characters or events. It is the most direct route into the series’ foundation.
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Pick Resident Evil 4 first if fixed-camera exploration and scarce supplies sound less appealing than aiming, movement and a more action-heavy pace. Nintendo identifies its over-the-shoulder camera as a major change from earlier fixed-camera games. That makes it a particularly accessible entry for players coming from modern third-person games.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallResident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 are better considered after you have chosen a mainline starting point. The first is set between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5; the second follows Claire Redfield and Moira Burton after an attack on Terra Save. Both can be enjoyable first purchases, but their placement and character relationships make them less straightforward introductions.
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Every relevant Switch option at a glance
| Game | Switch release | What it emphasizes | Best first-player fit | Connection model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil (HD Remaster) | 21 May 2019 | Original survival-horror structure and the first entry’s story | Players who want the series’ clearest starting point | Listed as a standard Switch release, not a cloud edition |
| Resident Evil 4 | 21 May 2019 | Over-the-shoulder camera and action-focused play; Leon investigates a kidnapping after Umbrella’s dissolution | Players who prefer faster third-person action | Listed as a standard Switch release, not a cloud edition |
| Resident Evil Revelations | 28 November 2017 | Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, limited ammunition and weapons, story between 4 and 5 | Players who want a resource-conscious side story | Listed as a standard Switch release, not a cloud edition |
| Resident Evil Revelations 2 | 28 November 2017 | Claire Redfield and Moira Burton cooperating after an attack on Terra Save | Players interested in a character-led follow-up with cooperative elements | Listed as a standard Switch release, not a cloud edition |
| Resident Evil 2 Cloud | 11 November 2022 | Cloud version of Resident Evil 2 | Players with a reliable internet connection who want to test streaming first | Cloud streaming; Nintendo requires a fast, stable and permanent internet connection |
Nintendo’s 2022 series overview also lists numbered entries from Resident Evil 0 through Resident Evil Village as available on Switch, including the HD Remaster and Resident Evil 4. Exact availability, editions and eShop details can vary by country, so check your regional store page before buying.
Why Resident Evil (HD Remaster) is the safest first choice
It establishes the series’ original survival-horror grammar
The HD Remaster is built from the first game rather than from a later spin-off or sequel. That matters because it presents the design ideas that define classic Resident Evil: exploring a dangerous location, deciding when to fight, and treating ammunition and other supplies as resources rather than an unlimited combat budget. The result is a slower, more deliberate experience than Resident Evil 4.
That slower pace is useful for a newcomer. You learn why doors, rooms, puzzles, inventory decisions and backtracking matter before the series becomes more combat-driven. The game asks you to pay attention to routes and surroundings, not simply to move from one firefight to the next.
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It is the clearest story foundation
Nintendo positions the game as a high-definition remake of the first series entry. Starting there means the introductory premise and early series context arrive in their original order. You do not need to recognize later references or understand where a side story sits on the timeline.
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What may put some players off
The same qualities that make the HD Remaster a strong foundation can make it a poor match for someone expecting contemporary third-person controls and constant movement. Its survival-horror approach rewards patience. If you know you want a more immediate action game, starting here may feel like homework rather than discovery. In that case, Resident Evil 4 is the better first purchase, not a compromise you must endure later.
When Resident Evil 4 should come first
The camera and pace are more familiar to modern action players
Nintendo highlights Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder camera as a major shift from the earlier fixed-camera games. You see the space from behind Leon and aim directly into the scene, which makes encounters feel more immediate. The game is action-oriented, so it suits players who want regular combat and a faster rhythm from the opening hours.
It works as a first game if your priority is play style
The story follows Leon investigating a kidnapping after Umbrella’s dissolution. You can understand that premise without first completing the HD Remaster. Choosing Resident Evil 4 first therefore makes sense when your main question is, “Will I enjoy playing this series?” rather than, “How did the series begin?”
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What you give up by starting with 4
You begin with a later interpretation of the series rather than its original survival-horror template. That is not a problem if you prefer action, but it changes the learning order: you experience the series’ camera and combat evolution before seeing the design that came before it. If you later play the HD Remaster, its slower resource decisions may feel like a historical contrast rather than a natural progression.
Where Revelations belongs in your first-play decision
Resident Evil Revelations
Resident Evil Revelations takes place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 and stars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. Nintendo describes it as involving limited ammunition and weapons, so it belongs closer to the resource-conscious side of the series than to an unrestricted action game.
That timeline placement is the key reason not to make it the universal first recommendation. A newcomer can still play it, but its position between numbered entries makes more sense once you have decided whether the classic or action-oriented side of Resident Evil appeals to you. Choose it first when Jill and Chris are the characters you specifically want to follow, or when you want a campaign that combines a later-era setting with pressure from limited supplies.
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Resident Evil Revelations 2
Resident Evil Revelations 2 follows Claire Redfield and Moira Burton after an attack on Terra Save. Its central partnership gives it a different entry point from the first game’s foundational setup or Resident Evil 4’s Leon-focused investigation. Nintendo describes cooperative play elements, making it the logical choice for players who want to experience its character pairing with another player where the selected mode and edition support it.
It is not the clearest introduction to the whole franchise because its premise begins with an established character and an organization under attack. Start here if the Claire-and-Moira relationship or cooperative angle is more important to you than following the series from its beginning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cloud streaming versus playing without an internet connection
Resident Evil 2 Cloud has a specific requirement
The Switch version of Resident Evil 2 released on 11 November 2022 as a cloud edition. Nintendo states: “This game uses cloud streaming technology. A fast, stable and permanent internet connection is required to play it.” Nintendo also recommends using the free demo to test connection quality before buying.
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How to plan for offline play
For an offline-first library, do not choose Resident Evil 2 Cloud. Nintendo’s listings identify the HD Remaster, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 as Switch releases rather than cloud editions. Because eShop packaging can differ by region, confirm the product page does not say “cloud” before purchase and complete any download or update while you have internet access.
Choose by the experience you want
| Your priority | Start with | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Original survival-horror tension | Resident Evil (HD Remaster) | It is the high-definition remake of the first entry and best demonstrates the series’ starting structure. |
| Fast, action-focused third-person play | Resident Evil 4 | Its over-the-shoulder camera and action-oriented design are more immediate. |
| A later story with limited ammunition | Resident Evil Revelations | It sits between 4 and 5 and follows Jill and Chris. |
| Claire, Moira and cooperative elements | Resident Evil Revelations 2 | Its story begins with their response to the Terra Save attack. |
| Cloud access to Resident Evil 2 | Resident Evil 2 Cloud | Only if your connection meets Nintendo’s requirement and the demo performs well. |
Practical play orders
Order for a first-time series player
- Begin with Resident Evil (HD Remaster) to learn the original survival-horror structure and establish the first game’s story.
- Move to Resident Evil 4 if you want to see the series in a more action-focused, over-the-shoulder form.
- Play Resident Evil Revelations after 4 if its Jill-and-Chris story and limited-resource design appeal to you.
- Choose Resident Evil Revelations 2 when you want Claire and Moira’s follow-up and its cooperative elements.
This is an experience-based order, not a claim that every Switch title must be completed before another. It simply moves from the series foundation to the major camera and pacing shift, then to the side stories whose settings are already anchored by later events.
Order for an action-game player
- Start with Resident Evil 4.
- Try Resident Evil (HD Remaster) afterward if you want to understand the fixed-camera, resource-management tradition that preceded it.
- Use Resident Evil Revelations for a more resource-conscious story between 4 and 5.
- Finish with Resident Evil Revelations 2 if Claire, Moira and cooperative play are your priority.
Order for a player choosing around connectivity
- Exclude Resident Evil 2 Cloud unless the free demo works reliably on your intended network.
- Compare the standard Switch listings for the HD Remaster, 4, Revelations and Revelations 2 in your country.
- Check the displayed download size and available storage before installing; Nintendo’s UK pages list 12.1 GB for 4 and Revelations.
Common mistakes when choosing your first game
- Assuming the newest-looking camera is the best introduction. A modern perspective can be easier to control, but it does not explain the original survival-horror structure. Choose 4 for its play style, not because later automatically means better.
- Treating every entry as interchangeable. Revelations is positioned between 4 and 5, while Revelations 2 starts with Claire and Moira after an attack on Terra Save. Those premises signal a different role from the first entry’s foundation.
- Overlooking the cloud label. Resident Evil 2 Cloud is not an offline purchase. Read the regional listing and test the demo before paying.
- Ignoring regional store differences. Release dates and download specifications cited by Nintendo may come from particular country pages. Confirm your own eShop’s edition, availability and storage requirement.
Final recommendation
Buy Resident Evil (HD Remaster) first if you want one game that explains where the series began and why survival-horror resource management matters. Buy Resident Evil 4 first if you want the most immediately approachable action experience, with an over-the-shoulder camera and a faster pace. Treat Revelations and Revelations 2 as targeted choices for their characters, timeline positions and cooperative elements, and approach Resident Evil 2 Cloud only after its demo proves that your internet connection is dependable.
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