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Start with Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) if you want one straightforward recommendation. Capcom USA staff call it “a great jumping-on point for the series,” and PlayStation presents it as a modern way to experience the franchise’s roots. The best choice still depends on the kind of horror and story you want.
Which Resident Evil game should you play first?
Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) is the best default for most newcomers: it offers a modernized take on the series’ classic survival-horror style and an early foothold in its story. Capcom USA staff specifically recommend it to new players: “If you’re a new player, start out with Resident Evil 2 (2019). It’s a great jumping-on point for the series.”
| # | 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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That is a practical starting point, not a rule that every player must follow. PlayStation’s guide to the Resident Evil games also notes that the best place to begin depends on what you’re looking for.
Choose by the experience you want
| Start with | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) | A modern take on classic survival horror and an early story entry point. | Capcom recommends it as a jumping-on point; PlayStation describes the remake as a way to revisit the series’ roots with modern visuals and gameplay. |
| Resident Evil 7: Biohazard | First-person horror and a newer protagonist and story. | PlayStation describes it as a new beginning for the series. Capcom USA staff singled it out as especially scary, which is a staff opinion rather than a measured comparison. |
| Resident Evil 4 remake | A more action-forward rescue story, especially if you’re interested in Leon Kennedy. | Its story takes place after Resident Evil 2, according to PlayStation. |
Pick Resident Evil 2 for the classic survival-horror starting point
Choose the 2019 remake if you want a modernized introduction to the style that established the series. It is also a useful first stop if you want to follow Leon Kennedy’s story into Resident Evil 4.
#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.
Pick Resident Evil 7 for first-person horror
Choose Resident Evil 7: Biohazard if a first-person perspective and a newer central character appeal more than beginning with the older story thread. It is a distinct entry point, not a prerequisite you must complete before playing other games.
Pick the Resident Evil 4 remake for more action
If Leon is the draw and you prefer a rescue story with a stronger action focus, the Resident Evil 4 remake is a reasonable first choice. Playing Resident Evil 2 first gives context for Leon, but PlayStation’s description establishes the connection—not a requirement to play it beforehand.
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.
What order should you play after your first game?
A compact route: Resident Evil 2 to Resident Evil 4
For a short connected route, play Resident Evil 2 and then Resident Evil 4. From there, branch into whichever characters or subseries interest you.
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For Ethan Winters’ storyline, play Resident Evil 7: Biohazard before Resident Evil Village. Capcom describes Village as a sequel to the seventh installment.
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.
For a broader series route
Use the numbered releases as a guide if you want to follow the mainline games, then add spin-offs when they interest you. The series also includes offshoot stories: PlayStation places Resident Evil Revelations between 4 and 5, and Revelations 2 between 5 and 6. You do not have to complete every numbered game or spin-off before trying a later entry.
Do you need to play earlier games before Resident Evil Requiem?
No official source cited here says newcomers must finish earlier games first. Capcom identifies Resident Evil Requiem as the ninth main installment, released on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Capcom describes its story as engaging with the broader series lore and setting it in Raccoon City, so earlier games may add context, but they are not established as a prerequisite. See Capcom’s announcement and its 2025 integrated report.
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.
Capcom reported cumulative franchise game sales of 174 million units as of June 30, 2025. That is a dated sales figure, not a current 2026 total.
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Once you have picked a game, check that the edition is compatible with your platform and available in your region. Availability, format, and prices vary; the sources cited here establish the games and platform context, not current store inventory or pricing.
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.
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.
