For most newcomers, Capcom USA staff recommend starting with Resident Evil 2 (2019). That is a useful official jumping-on point, not proof that every remake is better than its original. Choose by what you want: a modern first playthrough, a look at the series’ original design, or a version that lets you switch between classic and modern controls.
How to choose between a Resident Evil original and its remake
Remakes can update presentation and controls while reimagining how a game works. The best choice depends on your priorities, and the evidence supports different answers for different entries.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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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 |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Origins Collection - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $19.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 Remake Strategy Guide | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Choose a remake if you want updated presentation and more contemporary movement options.
- Choose an original if you want to experience the design and feel of the game as it first appeared.
- Compare both if the history of the series matters as much to you as a convenient first playthrough.
Capcom USA’s October 18, 2024 guide recommends Resident Evil 2 (2019) to new players as a series entry point. It is a staff recommendation, not a universal ranking of the games or a claim that the 1998 original has no value.
Resident Evil (1996) vs. the 2002 remake
Capcom describes the 2002 game as a reimagining of the PlayStation original. Its enhanced release updates in-game models and backgrounds and adapts the original 4:3 game to a 16:9 view with a scrolling camera. Crucially, it does not force you to abandon the old control style.
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- 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.
- Controls: The enhanced release retains tank controls and offers modern analog movement.
- Presentation: It includes improved models and backgrounds, plus a scrolling camera for the widescreen presentation.
- Settings: Camera and control options can be adjusted in-game.
This makes the 2002 remake a strong choice if you want an updated presentation but still want access to classic controls. Pick the 1996 original if experiencing the first game in its original form is the point. Capcom’s 2014 announcement describes the enhanced release, but its platform list should not be treated as a current availability list.
Resident Evil 2 (1998) vs. the 2019 remake
For a new player who wants a practical modern starting point, choose Resident Evil 2 (2019): Capcom USA staff specifically recommend it. The remake brings Leon and Claire back to the Raccoon Police Department, but Capcom’s producer has described the design as a balancing act rather than a one-to-one reproduction.
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.
Tsuyoshi Kanda, Producer at Capcom Co., Ltd., wrote that it was “difficult and at times contradictory to balance bringing new and fresh ideas that would modernize the game while keeping it faithful to the original” (PlayStation Blog, June 13, 2022). That is a useful way to think about the remake: a modern reinterpretation shaped by fidelity, not an identical substitute for the 1998 game.
Choose the 1998 version if you want to explore the original’s distinct historical design. The official sources cited here do not establish a complete route-by-route comparison, so a specific claim about every scenario or content difference would go beyond what they document.
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.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) vs. the 2020 remake
Capcom frames the 2020 remake as Jill Valentine’s last escape from a doomed Raccoon City, reimagined with the RE Engine. That supports treating it as a modern reinterpretation of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, rather than assuming it is the original with only visual changes.
If your goal is to experience the series’ original design history, choose the 1999 game. If you prefer a modern presentation, the 2020 remake is the version framed around that updated approach. The official material cited here does not provide a comprehensive inventory of changes, so it does not support a detailed list of differences between the two.
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 4 (2005) vs. the 2023 remake
There is not enough official comparative detail in the sources cited here to name a definitive winner on design merits. Choose the 2005 original if your priority is the game as it was originally released; choose the 2023 remake if you are seeking a remake. Those are preference-based choices, not evidence that one version is categorically superior.
Check platform and edition details before buying
Availability depends on region, format, and date. Capcom France announced a schedule for Nintendo Switch 2 editions: Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition were scheduled for digital release from October 16, 2026, with boxed versions scheduled for January 29, 2027. The announcement says the RE2 Deluxe Edition and RE4 Gold Edition include additional content.
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Those dates were in the future as of October 3, 2026, the announcement’s stated research timestamp, so they should not be read as confirmation that the releases have since arrived. The announcement is for France; edition names, dates, stock, and availability elsewhere may differ. Check current regional listings before you buy.
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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.
