PerformancePC Slower Than It Used to Be?DriversCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?PerformanceWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
No. You can start with Resident Evil 4 and follow its central story without first playing Resident Evil 1, 2, or 3. If you want one optional game for more context, play Resident Evil 2: it introduces Leon S. Kennedy, the protagonist of Resident Evil 4.
What you need to know before starting Resident Evil 4
Capcom’s official series timeline places Resident Evil 4 in autumn 2004, years after the fall of Umbrella. Leon is now an elite U.S. government agent sent to Europe to rescue the president’s daughter. That later rescue mission is the game’s basic setup; Capcom’s summary does not present the first three games as prerequisites.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS4 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $18.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Resident Evil 4 | $73.35 | Buy on Amazon |
Which earlier game is most useful?
Resident Evil 2: Leon’s earlier story
Resident Evil 2 is the most directly relevant optional lead-in because Leon is one of its main characters as well as the protagonist of Resident Evil 4. Playing it gives you more of his earlier story before he appears in his later government-agent role.
Resident Evil 1 and 3: broader series context
Resident Evil 1 covers the Mansion Incident, which Capcom places in 1998, two months before the Raccoon City outbreak. Resident Evil 3 begins one day before Resident Evil 2 and ends during the outbreak’s final days. Those games add background on the series and Raccoon City, but the official summaries do not make them necessary to understand the premise of Resident Evil 4.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
Rank #4
Sale
Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition
- 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
Rank #3
Sale
Resident Evil 4 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition
- Legendary Visuals - Resident Evil 4 features a breathtaking visual style and effects.
- Behind the Camera View - The camera follows you from behind and allows for intuitive and comfortable movement in this survival horror third-person shooter.
- Hordes of Enemies - Tackle creatures that defy the laws of nature, including horrific new creatures infested by a threat called Las Plagas.
- Advanced AI - Enemies are smarter than ever and will use their cunning abilities to team up and attack the player en masse.
- Mercenaries Mode - A fast-paced test of skill where you can play as fan favorites like Wesker or Hunk on a mission to wipe out hordes of enemies to earn the high score
Rank #2
Resident Evil 4 - PS5
- 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.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Resident Evil 4 - PS4
- 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.
- Reimagined Story – Resident Evil 4 dials up the original release’s key feelings of loneliness and the fear of enemies blinded by zealotry, while providing more nuanced depictions of the character motivations and relationships that defined the 2005 survival horror icon.
Choose a play order that fits your goal
- Just want to play Resident Evil 4: Start with it. Its premise is a new mission set years after the earlier events.
- Want more of Leon’s backstory: Play Resident Evil 2 first.
- Want the wider Raccoon City story: Play Resident Evil 1, then Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. The chronology is slightly different: Resident Evil 3 begins a day before Resident Evil 2, though it concludes during the outbreak’s final days.
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.
