Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If Resident Evil 5 and 6 weren’t your kind of game, start with Resident Evil 2 (the remake) for a strong survival-horror direction. Try Resident Evil 7 biohazard for a different, first-person horror setting; choose Resident Evil 4 if you still want action with a more focused premise. If Resident Evil 7 works for you, Resident Evil Village continues Ethan Winters’ story.
These recommendations use Capcom’s official game premises and chronology, not a measured ranking or personal playtest. What someone dislikes about 5 and 6 varies, so the best alternative depends on whether the issue is horror emphasis, action, perspective, or story.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Which Resident Evil game should you try first?
Resident Evil 2 is the clearest general starting point if you want the series to lean more toward survival horror. Capcom’s official history describes Leon and Claire trying to survive a city devastated by the t-virus. The current remake reimagines the 1998 game, giving newcomers a modern-format version to consider.
If you want a more distinct horror setting, try Resident Evil 7 biohazard. Its story follows Ethan Winters as he searches for his wife, Mia, at the Baker residence in Louisiana. Capcom describes the house as where Ethan takes his first steps into survival horror. Recommending it to someone who disliked the broader action direction of 5 and 6 is an editorial match, not a Capcom rating.
#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.
Capcom describes the Resident Evil series as survival horror and says the original game was released in 1996. Its official history places Resident Evil 2 and 3 around the Raccoon City outbreak. Capcom’s Resident Evil Portal and official series history provide the franchise overview and game premises.
Choose by what you want from the next game
| What you want | Game to try | Why it may fit |
|---|---|---|
| A stronger survival-horror direction | Resident Evil 2 (remake) | Its official premise centers on Leon and Claire surviving the t-virus outbreak in Raccoon City. |
| A markedly different horror setting | Resident Evil 7 biohazard | Ethan’s search for Mia leads to the Baker residence, a distinct setting from the Raccoon City stories. |
| Action with a focused story premise | Resident Evil 4 | Leon confronts a dangerous cult and mind-controlling parasites. It remains an action-oriented choice, not the most horror-focused pick. |
| A follow-up to Ethan’s story | Resident Evil Village | It follows the Baker House incident and has Ethan trying to save his daughter. |
| More of the Raccoon City story | Resident Evil 3 (remake) | Capcom places its story around the events of Resident Evil 2 and identifies it as a remake of the 1999 game. |
These descriptions come from Capcom’s official history. The suggested fit is an editorial judgment based on each premise; Capcom does not rate these games by how closely they match a player’s preferences.
Rank #2
- 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.
How to decide between the recommendations
- If survival-horror emphasis matters most: Start with Resident Evil 2, or choose Resident Evil 7 if the Baker residence premise appeals more.
- If you want action but not the same broad premise: Consider Resident Evil 4, with the caveat that it is still action-oriented.
- If story continuity matters: Play Resident Evil 7 before Village, since Village continues Ethan’s story after the Baker House incident.
- If you want the Raccoon City storyline: Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 are the relevant remake-era options in Capcom’s history.
Camera perspective and action intensity can also affect whether a game suits you, but the official pages cited here establish premises and chronology rather than a detailed comparative rating. Check the current local store listing before buying: platforms, editions, and regional availability vary by game. Capcom’s lineup lists games and platform categories.
Quick Recap
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.
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.
Rank #3
- 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.
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.
