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 prefer faster, action-focused third-person play. The two games are radically different entry points, so your preferred camera, pace and tolerance for resource scarcity matter more than release order.
The short answer
Resident Evil (HD Remaster) is the best first game for most newcomers. Nintendo describes it as a high-definition remake of the first series entry, making it the most direct way to learn the setting, tone and survival-horror design that established the franchise. Its earlier fixed-camera approach, exploration and limited-resource tension show where the series began.
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Resident Evil 4 is the better first choice for players who want modern-feeling third-person action. Nintendo identifies its over-the-shoulder camera as a major change from the earlier fixed-camera games. It is faster, more combat-driven and easier to approach if methodical exploration sounds less appealing.
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- Story-first and atmosphere: begin with Resident Evil (HD Remaster).
- Action-first and immediate accessibility: begin with Resident Evil 4.
- A later-story side route: choose Resident Evil Revelations after establishing whether you enjoy the series’ style.
- Claire-led story and cooperative elements: choose Resident Evil Revelations 2.
- The 2019–2022 cloud option: treat Resident Evil 2 Cloud as an internet-dependent alternative, not the safest first purchase for offline play.
Choose by the kind of Resident Evil you want
| If you want… | Start with… | Why | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| The original survival-horror blueprint | Resident Evil (HD Remaster) | It is a high-definition remake of the first entry. | Exploration, tension and resource management in the earlier fixed-camera tradition. |
| Fast third-person action | Resident Evil 4 | Its over-the-shoulder camera and action-oriented design represent a major shift for the series. | A more direct, combat-led introduction through Leon’s investigation. |
| A story between numbered adventures | Resident Evil Revelations | It takes place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. | Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, with limited ammunition and weapons. |
| Claire Redfield and cooperative play elements | Resident Evil Revelations 2 | Claire and Moira Burton work together after an attack on Terra Save. | A character-focused campaign with cooperative elements. |
| A cloud version of a modern classic | Resident Evil 2 Cloud | It is the Switch cloud edition released in 2022. | Streaming play that depends on a fast, stable and permanent internet connection. |
Why Resident Evil (HD Remaster) is the best story-first starting point
It establishes the foundation directly
The HD Remaster is the cleanest narrative starting line because it revisits the first game rather than dropping you into a later chapter. You encounter the series’ original premise, tone and survival-horror priorities in the order they were introduced. That makes later changes in camera design, pacing and combat easier to understand instead of feeling like disconnected design choices.
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Starting here also gives context to the franchise’s recurring characters and its broader conflict. You do not need a chronology chart before beginning: the game functions as the foundation on which the later numbered entries and side stories build.
It teaches the resource mindset
Resident Evil’s early identity is built around deciding when to fight, when to explore and when to conserve supplies. The tension comes from making progress while resources are limited, not from constant combat. If you want to understand why the series is called survival horror, this is the most representative first lesson available on Switch.
That structure can feel slower and less immediately comfortable than a modern action game. The fixed-camera tradition can also require more deliberate navigation than an over-the-shoulder view. Those are defining qualities, not technical shortcomings, but they are the main reasons some players prefer to begin with Resident Evil 4.
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Who should not start here
Choose another game first if you know you dislike cautious exploration, limited resources or a slower opening rhythm. You can still return to the HD Remaster later for the historical and narrative foundation; beginning with Resident Evil 4 does not prevent you from appreciating it afterward.
When Resident Evil 4 is the better first game
The camera changes the entire experience
Nintendo presents Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder camera as a major shift from the earlier fixed-camera games. That perspective keeps encounters more immediate and makes the game feel like a modern third-person action title while retaining the series’ horror setting.
It is action-oriented without requiring the first game
Leon investigates a kidnapping after the dissolution of Umbrella. That premise gives you a clear mission from the beginning, and the action-focused design lets you learn the game through movement, aiming and encounters rather than through the slower routines of the original formula.
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Resident Evil 4 is therefore the strongest recommendation for a newcomer who asks, “Is Resident Evil 4 the best one to start with?” The answer is yes if “best” means the most approachable third-person action entry. It is not the best answer if you specifically want the original survival-horror structure or the first game’s story foundation.
What you give up by starting with 4
You begin with a later interpretation of the series rather than its starting point. Earlier design traditions will make more sense after you have played the HD Remaster, while the reverse order lets you experience the franchise’s evolution from its origin to its action-focused turning point. Neither order is wrong; the decision is about whether you value historical progression or immediate accessibility.
Where the Revelations games fit
Resident Evil Revelations
Resident Evil Revelations takes place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. It stars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, so it is better understood as a later side story than as the ideal first chapter for someone who wants the series’ main foundation.
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Nintendo highlights limited ammunition and weapons. That makes Revelations a useful choice for players who want resource pressure but are not necessarily looking for the first game’s exact presentation. If you start here, you will get a sense of the franchise’s tension and character continuity, but you will be entering after the series has already moved beyond its opening chapter and after Resident Evil 4 has changed the camera language.
Resident Evil Revelations 2
Resident Evil Revelations 2 follows Claire Redfield and Moira Burton after an attack on Terra Save. Its defining distinction among the listed Switch choices is its cooperative-play element, which makes it the natural pick when you want a Claire-led story that can involve another player.
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Every relevant Switch release at a glance
| Game | Switch release | Story position or premise | Design emphasis | Connection requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil (HD Remaster) | 21 May 2019 | High-definition remake of the first series entry | Original-style survival horror and resource scarcity | Local Switch release; Nintendo’s cited description does not identify a cloud requirement. |
| Resident Evil 4 | 21 May 2019 | Leon investigates a kidnapping after Umbrella’s dissolution | Over-the-shoulder camera and action-oriented design | Local Switch release; Nintendo’s cited description does not identify a cloud requirement. |
| Resident Evil Revelations | 28 November 2017 | Set between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5; stars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield | Limited ammunition and weapons | Local Switch release; Nintendo’s cited description does not identify a cloud requirement. |
| Resident Evil Revelations 2 | 28 November 2017 | Claire Redfield and Moira Burton respond to an attack on Terra Save | Story-led play with cooperative elements | Local Switch release; Nintendo’s cited description does not identify a cloud requirement. |
| Resident Evil 2 Cloud | 11 November 2022 | Cloud edition of Resident Evil 2 | Streaming version rather than a local installation | Fast, stable and permanent internet connection required. |
Nintendo’s series overview also lists numbered entries from Resident Evil 0 through Resident Evil Village on Switch, including the HD Remaster and Resident Evil 4; Village is identified there as the eighth numbered entry. Availability and eShop listings can vary by country, so check the store page for your region before assuming that every title or edition is offered in the same form.
Offline play, cloud streaming and storage
Which choices are safest for offline play?
If offline access is a priority, favor the non-cloud listings: Resident Evil (HD Remaster), Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2. Nintendo’s explicit permanent-internet warning applies to Resident Evil 2 Cloud. Because eShop rules and editions are region-specific, confirm the product page says you are buying the installed Switch version rather than a cloud version.
What the cloud warning means
Nintendo states that Resident Evil 2 Cloud “uses cloud streaming technology” and requires “a fast, stable and permanent internet connection” to play. Nintendo also advises using the free demo to test connection quality before buying. That makes the demo an important compatibility check, especially on wireless networks or in homes where connection stability changes during the day.
How much storage should you plan for?
Nintendo’s cited UK product pages list a 12.1 GB download size for both Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Revelations. Treat that as a product-page specification for those listings, not a universal size for every Resident Evil release or every regional edition. Check the current eShop listing before downloading so you can allow for the exact version and any updates.
Three sensible play orders
The original-foundation order
- Begin with Resident Evil (HD Remaster) to learn the original premise and survival-horror structure.
- Move to Resident Evil 4 to experience the over-the-shoulder, action-focused shift.
- Play Resident Evil Revelations, whose story sits between 4 and 5.
- Continue with Resident Evil Revelations 2 when you want Claire and Moira’s later side story and cooperative elements.
The action-first order
- Start with Resident Evil 4 for the most immediate third-person action entry.
- Go back to Resident Evil (HD Remaster) to see the earlier fixed-camera survival-horror design and story foundation.
- Play the Revelations games afterward, using their character and timeline connections as additional context.
The multiplayer-aware order
- Start with either Resident Evil (HD Remaster) or Resident Evil 4 according to your preferred style.
- Choose Resident Evil Revelations 2 when cooperative elements are more important than following the earliest story sequence.
- Use Resident Evil Revelations as the bridge to the period between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5.
Common buying mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the newest-feeling game is the best introduction: Resident Evil 4 is more immediately action-oriented, but the HD Remaster is the clearer foundation for the original story and survival-horror design.
- Buying a cloud edition for an unreliable connection: read the title carefully and test the Resident Evil 2 Cloud demo first.
- Expecting every game to use the same camera and pace: the move from earlier fixed-camera design to Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder view is one of the series’ defining changes.
- Ignoring regional listings: Nintendo Switch availability, eShop descriptions and download specifications can differ by country.
- Starting with a side story when you want the main foundation: both Revelations games are legitimate choices, but the HD Remaster is the direct first-entry remake.
Final decision
Buy Resident Evil (HD Remaster) first if you want to understand what Resident Evil originally was: tense exploration, scarce resources and the first game’s story foundation. Buy Resident Evil 4 first if you want an over-the-shoulder action game and a faster route into the series. Pick Resident Evil Revelations for its position between 4 and 5, Resident Evil Revelations 2 for Claire, Moira and cooperative elements, and Resident Evil 2 Cloud only when your internet connection can meet Nintendo’s stated streaming requirement.
Quick Recap
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