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For a simple, uninterrupted run, play the 2002 Resident Evil remake, then Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2020), and Resident Evil 4 (2023). For closer story chronology, start Resident Evil 3 before Resident Evil 2, pause during RE3 at the hospital handoff to Carlos, play RE2, then return to RE3 and finish it. That mid-game split is optional guidance—not a sequence Capcom requires.
Two ways to play the Resident Evil remakes in order
The main choice is whether you want uninterrupted campaigns or want to align the overlapping Raccoon City stories more closely with their in-universe dates.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 Remake Strategy Guide | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Approach | Order | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronology-first | Resident Evil (2002 remake) → opening of Resident Evil 3 → Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) → finish Resident Evil 3 → Resident Evil 4 (2023 remake) | Players who want the Raccoon City events aligned as closely as practical | You stop and restart RE3; the suggested breakpoint is editorial guidance. |
| Finish each game | Resident Evil (2002 remake) → Resident Evil 2 → Resident Evil 3 → Resident Evil 4 | Players who prefer a straightforward list and complete campaigns | RE2 begins after RE3 has already started in the story chronology. |
For most newcomers, the finish-each-game order is the least fussy choice. Choose the split only if matching chronology matters more to you than keeping RE3’s campaign intact.
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Capcom’s official Resident Evil timeline dates the Mansion Incident in Resident Evil to July 24, 1998. The Raccoon City outbreak stories come later: RE3 begins on September 28, 1998, and RE2 is dated September 29. RE3 therefore starts a day before RE2, and the games cover events in the same city during the same outbreak—not two cleanly consecutive chapters.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Capcom describes RE3’s story this way: “The story starts one day before RE2: Remake and ends during the final days of Raccoon City.” That establishes the overlap, but it does not prescribe a required play order or say that players must switch games midway.
Where to pause RE3 for the chronology-first approach
GamesRadar’s March 18, 2026 chronological guide recommends playing RE3’s first half, switching to RE2, then returning to RE3 after completing RE2. It suggests stopping around the hospital sequence, when control changes to Carlos. Treat that as a practical editorial breakpoint, not a precise boundary officially set by Capcom: the official timeline confirms that the stories overlap, but not where a player should pause.
Rank #2
- 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.
How the remakes relate to the original games
The remakes retell the corresponding incidents and preserve the broad chronology, but that does not establish that every scene or story detail matches the original versions. Capcom calls its 2019 Resident Evil 2 a “reimagining” of the 1998 game and describes the 2023 Resident Evil 4 as a remake of the 2005 game. The official timeline assigns the incidents their established dates; the sources do not define a formal pair of separate “original” and “remake” continuities.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou do not need to play the original releases first to follow this sequence. They may appeal if you want to compare how the games were redesigned, but the available evidence does not establish that they are a prerequisite for understanding the remakes.
Rank #3
- 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.
What comes after the Raccoon City games
Resident Evil 4 takes place in autumn 2004, well after the 1998 incidents. In this remake-focused route, it follows RE2 and RE3 whether you play those two in simple release order or use the chronology-first split. Capcom dates Resident Evil 0 to July 23, 1998, before the Mansion Incident, and Code: Veronica to December 1998; neither is included in the four-game remake route above.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a version or bundle
Platform and edition affect what you can buy. Capcom lists the Resident Evil Remake Trilogy as a digital bundle for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). It contains Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, and additional content including Resident Evil Resistance, the RE3 Classic Costume Pack, and RE4 The Mercenaries. Capcom explicitly notes that RE4 Gold Edition is not compatible with Xbox One; check your platform’s store listing and the bundle contents before buying, particularly if you already own one of the games or add-ons.
Rank #4
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series.
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release.
- Fan-favorite Resident Evil characters - Rookie S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers and wanted criminal Billy Coen combine skills and buddy up to survive the undead and infected nightmares that await them.
- All original difficulty levels plus new Very Easy Mode for novice players
Capcom’s September 10, 2026 announcement schedules Switch 2 digital editions of RE2 Deluxe Edition, RE3, and RE4 Gold Edition for October 16, 2026, with physical editions scheduled for January 29, 2027. Those are announced dates, not confirmation that the releases are currently available. Check Capcom or the relevant store for current availability.
For individual release context, Capcom says the RE2 remake launched January 25, 2019, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The company announced the RE4 remake as a March 24, 2023 release. Platform availability and editions can vary by storefront, so confirm the listing for your system.
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