For most newcomers, start with Resident Evil 2 (2019), the remake. Capcom’s official newcomer guide recommends it directly as “a great jumping-on point for the series.” If you would rather begin with first-person horror, the franchise’s origins, or a more action-focused adventure, there are good alternatives—the right choice depends on what you want from your first game.
Choose your starting game by the experience you want
| If you want… | Start with… | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| A strong all-purpose modern introduction | Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) | Capcom explicitly recommends this version to new players. It introduces Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield during the Raccoon City outbreak. |
| First-person horror and a new story thread | Resident Evil 7 biohazard | It begins Ethan Winters’ story and uses a first-person perspective for a more immediate horror experience. |
| The original mansion-era foundations | Resident Evil or its 2002 remake | This is the S.T.A.R.S. team’s mansion story and the series’ starting point. Choose it if seeing the origins matters more to you than beginning with a modernized entry. |
| A more action-forward Leon adventure | Resident Evil 4 | Set after the events of Resident Evil 2, it follows Leon on a rescue mission in a European village. It works as a taste-based alternative, not the default beginner recommendation. |
Capcom’s October 18, 2024 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.” The recommendation is clear, but it need not override a strong preference for a different perspective or era.
| # | 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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What makes Resident Evil 2 the safest default?
The 2019 remake is a modernized way into the Raccoon City story, with Leon and Claire at its center. It preserves the series’ survival-horror roots while updating presentation and gameplay, making it a useful middle ground between classic design and newer entries. PlayStation’s official introduction also identifies it as a way to experience those roots in a contemporary form.
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#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.
When to choose Resident Evil 7 and Village
Pick Resident Evil 7 biohazard if you want a first-person perspective and a fresh story beginning. It follows Ethan Winters in Louisiana. Capcom presents it as the seventh installment, and PlayStation describes its viewpoint as “Isolated View.”
After Resident Evil 7, play Resident Evil Village to continue Ethan’s story. Starting with Village is possible, but playing the preceding game gives you the story’s beginning and context.
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.
When the original Resident Evil is the better first game
The mansion story is the right starting point if you care most about the series’ origins, its S.T.A.R.S. team, and classic survival-horror design. You can choose the original game or the 2002 remake, depending on which version is available on your platform and which style you prefer.
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This is an origins-first recommendation, not Capcom’s general newcomer pick: the company’s guide names Resident Evil 2 (2019) as the starting point for new players. In other words, start with the mansion if historical foundations are your priority; choose the RE2 remake if you want the clearest general-purpose entry.
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.
Is Resident Evil 4 a good place to begin?
It can be, especially if you are drawn to a more action-oriented adventure starring Leon. The story takes place after Resident Evil 2 and sends him on a rescue mission in a European village. That makes it a reasonable entry for someone primarily interested in action, but it is not the official default recommendation for newcomers.
For the story sequence, play Resident Evil 2 before Resident Evil 4. If your main goal is to understand the broader series, the RE2 remake is the better first choice.
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.
How perspective, horror, and story differ
- Perspective: Resident Evil 7 and Village use first-person play. The RE2 and RE4 remakes are modern entries with a different perspective. Resident Evil Requiem supports both first- and third-person play.
- Horror and action: Resident Evil 7 emphasizes frightening first-person immersion. Resident Evil 4 leans more toward action. Capcom describes Requiem as combining survival horror, combat, investigations, puzzles, and resource management.
- Story connections: The RE2 remake introduces Leon and Claire in Raccoon City; RE4 follows Leon after those events. RE7 and Village form the Ethan Winters sequence.
Where Resident Evil Requiem fits
Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth main installment. Capcom announced its release for February 27, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. It blends several series elements and allows either first- or third-person play, but those features do not make it a replacement for the more direct newcomer recommendation of Resident Evil 2 (2019).
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Platform support is title- and region-dependent. Capcom’s announcement also lists Resident Evil 7 and Village for Switch 2, while identifying their earlier Nintendo Switch releases as cloud versions. Check the current listing for the specific game and device before buying; do not assume that availability or version is identical across platforms.
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 simple order if you want to keep playing
- For the classic-era story route: Resident Evil (original or 2002 remake), then Resident Evil 2 (2019), then Resident Evil 4.
- For Ethan Winters’ story: Resident Evil 7 biohazard, then Resident Evil Village.
- If you only want one game to begin: Start with Resident Evil 2 (2019), unless first-person horror, origins, or action is specifically what you want most.
These are practical entry routes, not a requirement to play every numbered title in order. PlayStation’s introduction puts it plainly: “There is no right answer here.”
Quick Recap
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