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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesResident Evil remakes are reinterpretations, not one-size-fits-all upgrades. The changes vary by game: Capcom documents tougher zombies, altered locations and item discoveries in Resident Evil 2 (2019), and a demanding dodge system plus story and character changes in Resident Evil 3 (2020). The useful comparison is between each original and its own remake—not between one remake and the whole series.
What counts as a Resident Evil remake?
A remake rebuilds or reinterprets an earlier game; it is not necessarily a remaster that mainly refreshes resolution, textures or performance. Capcom calls the 2019 Resident Evil 2 a “reimagining” of the 1998 game and says it was built from the ground up for contemporary platforms. It launched January 25, 2019, for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Capcom’s release announcement describes that development approach.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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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 |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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Resident Evil 4 Remake Strategy Guide | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Capcom’s chronology identifies the 2002 first-game remake as a remake of the 1996 original, while the 2020 Resident Evil 3 remakes Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999). Capcom also describes Resident Evil 4 (2023) as based on the 2005 game. These entries do not all change the same things or to the same degree. Capcom’s Resident Evil timeline places the releases in context.
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Use the same questions for each pair, but only draw conclusions where there is evidence for that specific game:
#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.
- Presentation: How do character and enemy designs, environments, sound and camera perspective differ?
- Controls and combat: Are movement, aiming or defensive actions different? Do enemies put different pressure on ammunition and healing items?
- Level and encounter design: Have routes, room layouts, enemy placement or the timing of key locations changed?
- Story and characterization: Are scenes, motives, relationships, dialogue or supporting characters’ fates different?
- Content and progression: Do clues, items, unlocks, bonus modes or side stories work differently?
- Access: Are you comparing the same platform, edition and included content?
Capcom’s official retrospectives offer concrete examples for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3; they are illustrative comparisons, not exhaustive audits of every change.
Resident Evil 2 (1998) vs. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
The remake changes more than visual presentation. Capcom’s February 2021 retrospective describes differences in combat pressure, pacing, character presentation and how the player finds an item.
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.
Tougher zombies change resource decisions
Capcom notes that zombies in the remake are unusually tough: even a head shot does not always stop one. That makes a familiar corridor a resource-management problem. Players may need to decide whether to spend ammunition, risk passing an enemy, or use another route. This is a change to the feel of combat, not simply a graphics update.
Gun Shop Kendo comes at a different point
In the original, players encounter Gun Shop Kendo earlier. The remake brings them there around the middle of the game, and Capcom says the location itself was substantially changed. The altered timing affects pacing as well as the place’s presentation.
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.
Ada and the Rebecca photo are handled differently
The remake gives Ada a more spy-oriented look and equips her with an EMF Visualizer. Capcom describes it as a device that detects and projects electromagnetic fields and can remotely control some electronics. The Rebecca Chambers photo is another changed discovery: in the original, players had to examine a desk in the S.T.A.R.S. office repeatedly; the remake changes how it is obtained.
Capcom’s retrospective says the 2019 game is more than a rehash and can be enjoyed without having played the original. That makes it a reasonable starting point for someone who wants to experience this version of the story without first tracking down the 1998 release. Read Capcom’s RE2 comparison.
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
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) vs. Resident Evil 3 (2020)
One of the clearest points of continuity is also a point of difference in feel: the dodge. Capcom says the original Resident Evil 3 was the series’ first game to introduce a dodge mechanic, and the remake brings it back. But the retrospective describes the remake’s timing as tight; returning players cannot assume the action will work exactly as they remember it.
The changes are not confined to controls. Capcom also identifies altered portrayals of U.B.C.S. characters, a different fate and timing for Murphy, parasites introduced in the remake, and continuity details such as Big E posters. These examples show that the remake changes aspects of characterization and story as well as mechanics. They are examples, not a complete list of differences. Read Capcom’s RE3 comparison.
Best Value
What can be said about the first-game and RE4 remakes?
Capcom’s chronology establishes that the 2002 game remakes the 1996 Resident Evil, and its 2023 materials identify Resident Evil 4 as a remake of the 2005 game. The official comparison material cited here does not provide the same feature-by-feature breakdown for those pairs as it does for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. It would be misleading to present unverified fine-grained claims about their mechanics, scenes or level changes as though they were established by these comparisons.
Which version should you play?
Choose based on the experience you want, rather than assuming that “remake” means better in every respect. If you want the 2019 Resident Evil 2’s rebuilt presentation and documented changes to combat, pacing and discoveries, it stands on its own. If you want the historical design of the 1998 game, seek out the original. For Resident Evil 3, the same principle applies: the remake brings back dodging but changes its execution and makes story and character differences, so familiarity with the original does not make the remake identical.
Capcom reported that the 2019 Resident Evil 2 shipped 3 million units globally in its first week, and later reported 10 million units shipped globally in July 2022. Those are dated shipment milestones, not current sales totals; the first-week figure and later milestone cover different time spans. Capcom also gives the original 1998 game’s cumulative sales as 4.96 million, which should not be compared directly with either 2019 shipment figure. Capcom’s 2022 milestone announcement and its 2019 release announcement provide the dated figures.
Bundle and platform details to check
Capcom announced a digital Resident Evil Remake Trilogy bundle on November 22, 2024. It lists Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, the Resident Evil 3 Classic Costume Pack, Resident Evil Resistance, Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition and Resident Evil 4: The Mercenaries. Capcom notes that items can also be purchased individually and that Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition is not compatible with Xbox One. Bundle contents and availability can vary by storefront or edition, so check the listing for the platform you plan to use. See Capcom’s trilogy bundle announcement.
As of October 4, 2026, Capcom had announced Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 for October 16, 2026. That date was still upcoming on October 4; it should not be read as confirmation that the games had already launched. Check Capcom’s Switch 2 announcement.
Quick Recap
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