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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For most newcomers, start with Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake). Capcom specifically recommends it as a jumping-on point for new players. If you would rather begin with first-person horror, the series’ original mansion-era roots, or a more action-focused adventure, there are good alternatives—but the best fit depends on what you want from your first game.
Best starting point for most players: Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Capcom’s October 18, 2024 newcomer guide says, “If you’re a new player, start out with Resident Evil 2 (2019). It’s a great jumping-on point for the series.” That makes the 2019 remake the clearest default if you want a modern entry that introduces major characters and the series’ survival-horror setup without beginning with its earliest design.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 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 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The story brings Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield to Raccoon City. The remake updates the presentation and gameplay while retaining the franchise’s survival-horror roots, making it a useful bridge between classic Resident Evil and its newer entries.
Choose by the experience you want
There is no single right answer for every player. PlayStation’s introduction to Resident Evil puts it plainly: “There is no right answer here.” Use the kind of horror, perspective, and story you prefer to choose an alternate starting point.
#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.
For first-person horror: Resident Evil 7 biohazard
Choose Resident Evil 7 biohazard if you want a first-person perspective and a new story thread. PlayStation describes it as a new beginning and highlights its “Isolated View.” It follows Ethan Winters in Louisiana, with a more directly immersive, frightening approach than the Leon-and-Claire route.
If you take this path, continue with Resident Evil Village, which carries on Ethan’s story and is a sequel to the seventh installment, according to Capcom’s official series lineup.
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.
For the series’ origins: Resident Evil or its 2002 remake
Start with Resident Evil—either the original or the 2002 remake—if seeing the mansion-era foundations matters more to you than starting with the most broadly recommended modern entry. The story follows the S.T.A.R.S. team at a mansion and establishes the series’ setting. This route gives you the origins first, but it means beginning with classic design rather than Capcom’s recommended newcomer choice of Resident Evil 2 (2019).
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For more action: Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 follows Leon after the events of Resident Evil 2, sending him on a rescue mission in a European village. It is a reasonable choice if you are chiefly drawn to a more action-oriented Leon adventure, rather than the series’ default beginner route. Capcom’s retrospective, Looking back on the Resident Evil universe, discusses the franchise’s changing direction.
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.
How the main starting options differ
| Game or route | Perspective and emphasis | Story connection | Best fit |
| Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) | Modernized survival horror; the cited introductions do not specify a single perspective. | Leon and Claire in Raccoon City. | Most newcomers; Capcom’s explicit recommendation. |
| Resident Evil 7 biohazard | First-person, frightening immersion. | Begins Ethan Winters’ story in Louisiana; continue with Village. | Players who want a first-person horror route. |
| Resident Evil or 2002 remake | Classic mansion-era design; the cited introduction does not specify a single perspective. | The S.T.A.R.S. team at the mansion; series foundations. | Players who want the origins first. |
| Resident Evil 4 | More action-focused direction; the cited introduction does not specify a single perspective. | Leon’s story after Resident Evil 2. | Players primarily interested in action and Leon. |
Perspective alone may not settle the choice: the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 are presented as modern entries, while Resident Evil 7 and Village are first-person. For a later option, Resident Evil Requiem allows first- or third-person play. Capcom describes it as combining survival horror, combat, investigations, puzzles, and resource management.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the platform and edition before choosing
Availability is not identical across games, platforms, and regions, so check the current store listing for the title and edition you want. In its Integrated Report 2025, Capcom notes platform coverage and distinguishes some Nintendo Switch releases as cloud versions; do not assume that one title’s Switch availability applies to every game.
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’s September 16, 2025 announcement identifies Resident Evil Requiem as the ninth main installment, released February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. It also lists Resident Evil 7 and Village for Switch 2, while identifying their earlier Switch versions as cloud versions. These details apply to the platforms and releases Capcom names; check local listings for current regional availability.
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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.
A quick decision
- Want the safest all-purpose starting point? Pick Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake).
- Want first-person horror and a story to continue? Start with Resident Evil 7 biohazard, then play Village.
- Want to see the series’ mansion-era beginnings? Start with Resident Evil or its 2002 remake.
- Mostly interested in a more action-focused Leon story? Consider Resident Evil 4, knowing it follows Resident Evil 2.
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.
