The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Play Resident Evil 5 before Resident Evil 6 if you want the story in chronological order. Capcom says Resident Evil 6 takes place after the events of Resident Evil 5. That is a continuity recommendation—not a claim that one game is better for every player.
Why play Resident Evil 5 first?
Capcom’s description of Resident Evil 6 explicitly places it after Resident Evil 5. Starting with Resident Evil 5 therefore preserves the sequence between the two games’ stories. Capcom’s October 29, 2019 announcement states that Resident Evil 6 takes place after the events of Resident Evil 5.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Resident Evil 5 (PS4) | $21.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Resident Evil 6 - Xbox One | $27.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4) | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Capcom Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition PlayStation 5 Game | $47.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition | $27.62 | Buy on Amazon |
How do the games differ?
| Comparison | Resident Evil 5 | Resident Evil 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Story and structure | Capcom’s description centers on Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar, B.S.A.A. operatives investigating and trying to prevent the sale of a bio-organic weapon. | Capcom describes four interwoven campaigns with paired protagonists and interconnected stories, set against a global conspiracy. |
| Play alone or with a friend | Capcom says the game can be played solo or with a friend. | Capcom says the campaigns can be played alone or in co-op. |
| Campaign order | The cited Capcom description does not state an alternate campaign-order option. | Capcom says the four campaigns can be played in any order. |
The contrast is in documented scope: Resident Evil 5 is presented as one operation led by two agents, while Resident Evil 6 brings together several campaigns and stories. That distinction does not establish which game has better gameplay, co-op, tone, controls, difficulty, or overall quality. Those are preference questions, and the cited descriptions do not compare them.
Can you start with Resident Evil 6?
Yes. Capcom says its four campaigns can be played in any order, and that they are interconnected. Starting with Resident Evil 6 is an option if its multi-campaign structure appeals to you, but choosing it first means you are beginning with the sequel. Whether that matters to you is a matter of preference; Capcom’s description does not say that newcomers must play another game first.
#1 Best Overall
- Adventure horror game from Capcom
Which game should you choose?
- Choose Resident Evil 5 first if you want the story sequence to lead into Resident Evil 6.
- Choose Resident Evil 6 if you are more interested in its four-campaign structure and do not mind beginning with the sequel.
- Choose based on co-op availability if playing with a friend is your priority: Capcom describes both games as supporting co-op, but its descriptions do not establish that one offers a better co-op experience.
What platforms and editions should you check?
Release announcements and manuals can help identify versions, but they are dated information—not confirmation that a particular edition is currently sold, in stock, or available in your region.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Features new modernized third-person action game control variations as well as the return of the traditional Resident Evil 4 control schemes.
- Gold Edition extras including all of the original content, two new episodes, four new costumes, an updated Mercenaries Mode and online RE5 versus mode.
- Two playable characters in the standard campaigns, including new character Sheva Alomar, an African BSAA agent tasked with investigating the epidemic.
- New cooperatively-focused gameplay that revolutionizes the way that Resident Evil is played. Chris and Sheva must work together to survive new challenges and fight dangerous hordes of enemies.
- Quick-Select inventory system that allows items to be traded between characters. To add to the intensity, all inventory management is done in real time; items can even be assigned to the directional pad for instant access.
Rank #4
- Intense horror experience with dark narrative
- Improved images and refined game mechanics included
- Players take on the role of Leon S Kennedy
- Mission to save the president's daughter from danger
- Challenging environments and strategic combat scenarios await
Rank #3
- Initially set to be released as weekly episodes featuring hours of terrifying gameplay and dramatic cliffhangers
- Fan favourite character Claire Redfield returns to the horrors that haunted her in the past, alongside Moira Burton
- Set in what appears to be an abandoned detention facility on a remote island, horror awaits around every corner
- The Afflicted enemies are a genuine threat to your survival, able to move quickly and attack with basic weapons
- Players switch between the two characters to overcome the nightmares in single-player mode or offline co-op
Rank #2
- Starting with four distinct, yet interwoven story threads, for either solo or co-op play, both offline and online, not only does Resident Evil 6 deliver both different perspectives and gameplay styles
- Ada Wong, Resident Evil's very own femme fatale, dives into a thrilling campaign of intrigue and infiltration, featuring unique missions, gameplay and weapons. Ada is available from the start
- The most expansive Resident Evil game to date- Experience the horror through four distinct yet intertwined campaigns
- Solo or co-op - Resident Evil 6 delivers both single and two player co-op gameplay either offline or online
- Includes all the available DLC content from Resident Evil 6: Siege Mode, Predator Mode, Survivor Mode, Onslaught Mode, The Mercenaries maps, ResidentEvil.net costumes
- Resident Evil 6: Capcom’s January 2012 release announcement listed PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Its announcement gave regional console release dates in November 2012 and said the PC date was then undecided. Capcom’s current manual page lists Resident Evil 6 manuals for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
- PS4 and Xbox One: Capcom’s 2016 announcement said Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6 would be released for PS4 and Xbox One, with physical discs available in the Americas.
- Nintendo Switch: Capcom’s 2019 announcement said Resident Evil 5 and 6 were available on Switch. For North America and Latin America, it described the retail Resident Evil Triple Pack as including Resident Evil 4 on cartridge and download vouchers for 5 and 6. Before buying, confirm the listing’s region, platform, edition, code validity, and current stock; the announcement does not guarantee any of them today.
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.
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