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Start with Resident Evil 2 (2019) if you want one purchase that explains modern Resident Evil. It is the clearest introduction to exploration, puzzle-solving, resource management and survival-horror pacing, and Capcom staff describe it as “a great jumping-on point for the series.” Choose Resident Evil 7 biohazard for the most intense first-person horror, Resident Evil 4 (2023) for action-horror, and Resident Evil Village for the direct continuation of RE7’s story. Resident Evil 3 (2020) is best treated as a shorter, more linear follow-up to RE2 rather than your first game.
The short answer: which Resident Evil game should you buy first?
For most new players, buy the standard edition of Resident Evil 2 (2019). Its over-the-shoulder perspective, interconnected police-station exploration, limited supplies and two-character campaign structure teach the series’ core ideas without requiring knowledge of earlier games. Capcom’s own starter guidance recommends it as a new player’s entry point.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Capcom Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition PlayStation 5 Game | $46.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 4 Remake Gold Edition - Compatible for PS4 - UK PAL (EU Version) | $42.33 | Buy on Amazon |
Your best alternative depends on the experience you want:
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| What you want | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best all-round introduction | Resident Evil 2 (2019) | Balanced survival horror, exploration and modern controls. |
| Scariest first playthrough | Resident Evil 7 biohazard | First-person viewpoint and sustained horror; Capcom staff call it the scariest entry. |
| Most action and replayable combat | Resident Evil 4 (2023) | A modern reimagining of the 2005 game that retains its action-horror identity. |
| Continuation of the first-person story | Resident Evil Village | Follows RE7 and offers a Gold Edition with additional story content and a third-person mode. |
| Shorter Raccoon City follow-up | Resident Evil 3 (2020) | Shares the modern remake setting with RE2 but is more linear and compact. |
Resident Evil 2 (2019): the safest first purchase
What makes it a good starting point
Resident Evil 2 introduces the modern series without assuming that you have played the 1998 original. You investigate a ruined Raccoon City police station, manage ammunition and healing items, solve environmental puzzles and decide when avoiding an enemy is wiser than fighting. The design makes every bullet, inventory slot and shortcut matter.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Its campaign structure also demonstrates why the series is replayable. Leon and Claire provide different routes through the same disaster, with altered encounters and story details. That gives a second run a meaningful purpose rather than merely repeating identical scenes.
Which edition to buy
Choose the standard edition when you primarily want the campaign. A Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition is also announced for Nintendo Switch 2, but the announcement does not establish a universal list of its cosmetic or bonus contents. Check the regional Nintendo eShop or retailer listing before paying a premium, because included extras can vary by platform and territory.
Resident Evil 7 biohazard: the scariest choice
Why it feels different
Resident Evil 7 moves the main series into a first-person viewpoint and concentrates its early game on vulnerability, claustrophobic spaces and limited information. Capcom staff specifically describe it as “the scariest one,” making it the clearest recommendation for readers asking, “What is the scariest Resident Evil game?”
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Where it fits in the story
Resident Evil 7 begins the first-person storyline that continues in Resident Evil Village. Playing it before Village gives the later game’s characters and events their intended context. You can play it independently, but buying both makes more sense if you want a connected arc rather than a standalone horror experience.
Resident Evil 4 (2023): the best action-horror buy
What the remake changes
Resident Evil 4 (2023) is a reimagining of the acclaimed 2005 original. It preserves the original’s action-horror appeal while modernising movement, combat, presentation and the pacing between set pieces and exploration. It is generally a better first purchase than the 2005 version for players who want current controls and visuals.
The balance is different from RE2. You still search for resources and make equipment decisions, but combat is more frequent and the game gives you more ways to respond to threats. If your ideal Resident Evil includes weapon upgrades, aggressive encounters and a strong forward drive, this is the right pick.
Standard or Gold Edition?
Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition is the phrase to look for when you want the modern game in a complete package. The exact included items should be confirmed in the store listing for your platform and region; do not assume that every listing contains identical bonuses. Buy the standard edition when you only want the main campaign or when a sale makes the base game substantially cheaper.
Resident Evil Village: the first-person continuation
Why it follows RE7
Resident Evil Village continues the first-person narrative established by Resident Evil 7. Its environments and encounters are broader and more varied, moving between exploration, combat-heavy sections and set pieces. For that reason, it is usually a better second purchase after RE7 than a first exposure to the series.
What Village Gold Edition adds
Capcom states that Resident Evil Village Gold Edition adds new story content and a highly anticipated third-person mode. Those are substantive additions rather than a label alone: the extra story expands the Village package, while the third-person option lets you play the main experience from an over-the-shoulder view instead of first person.
Buy Gold when you do not already own the base game and you want both additions. If you already own the standard edition, compare the cost of the relevant upgrade or expansion with the complete Gold package before purchasing twice. If you only want the original campaign and will stay in first person, the standard edition can be sufficient.
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.
Resident Evil 3 (2020): when the shorter follow-up makes sense
Resident Evil 3 belongs to the same modern Raccoon City remake run as Resident Evil 2. It is more linear and places greater emphasis on forward momentum and set pieces. That makes it a useful follow-up after RE2, especially if you want another game in the same setting without committing to a longer, more exploratory structure.
It is a less reliable first purchase because it gives you less time to learn the series’ exploration rhythm and offers a narrower introduction to survival-horror resource management. Buy it when its price is clearly below the broader campaigns or when you specifically want the Raccoon City storyline completed.
RE2 remake or RE4 remake?
| Decision point | Resident Evil 2 (2019) | Resident Evil 4 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary mood | Uneasy survival horror and exploration | Action-horror with frequent combat |
| Perspective | Third person | Third person |
| Resource pressure | High; ammunition and inventory choices are central | Present, but balanced around a more combat-focused arsenal |
| Level structure | Interconnected spaces and backtracking | More forward-moving areas and set pieces |
| Best for | Newcomers and classic survival-horror fans | Players who want combat depth and momentum |
| Remake approach | Modernises the original’s scenario and exploration | Reimagines the 2005 original while retaining its core appeal |
Choose RE2 when you want to feel hunted and make every resource count. Choose RE4 when you want to master weapons, movement and combat under pressure. They are complementary purchases, not substitutes: many players will prefer playing RE2 first and RE4 afterward.
Gold, Deluxe or standard: how to pay for the right package
What the labels actually tell you
- Standard edition: normally the main campaign. It is the sensible choice for a first purchase when you are unsure about bonus content.
- Gold Edition: may bundle substantial expansions or modes, but the contents are title-specific. Village Gold’s documented additions are extra story content and third-person mode; do not transfer that assumption to another game.
- Deluxe Edition: usually signals bonus items or cosmetics, but the exact package must be checked on the platform store. The available Switch 2 announcement confirms an RE2 Deluxe Edition without establishing one universal extras list.
A practical buying checklist
- Identify the exact game and release year. “Resident Evil 4” can refer to the 2005 original or the 2023 remake.
- Open the platform’s product page and expand the “included” or “contents” section.
- Check whether downloadable story content is included, sold separately or already owned on your account.
- Confirm the edition matches your hardware. A Gold package on one platform may not contain identical bonuses on another.
- Compare the complete-edition price with the base game plus separate expansion price before checkout.
Platforms, Switch 2 timing and cloud versions
Capcom’s product information lists Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil Village across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and additional cloud or mobile platforms, with release dates differing by platform. Resident Evil 4 (2023) is listed for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Apple devices.
Nintendo Switch listings require particular care: entries in Capcom’s table are cloud versions, not necessarily native local installations. Confirm the network requirement and regional availability on the Nintendo store before buying.
Nintendo Switch 2 releases
Capcom announced Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition for Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement gives a digital release date of October 16, 2026 and a physical release date of January 29, 2027. Because the digital date has passed as of October 18, 2026, check the regional store for current availability; physical stock and edition contents still depend on the retailer and territory.
Which Resident Evil games work in VR?
Capcom’s official guide identifies VR versions for Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Resident Evil Village. Headset, platform and software support can differ, so verify the exact store listing for your hardware before purchasing. A game being available on your console does not by itself guarantee that its VR mode works with every headset generation.
For the strongest VR-horror starting point, choose the entry whose platform listing explicitly supports your headset and whose intensity you can tolerate. First-person RE7 and Village are the obvious choices for presence; RE4 offers a more combat-oriented VR experience where supported.
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Capcom reported more than 10 million units for the 2023 Resident Evil 4 remake over approximately two years after release. As of December 31, 2024, Capcom reported more than 15 million units each for Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Resident Evil 2, more than 11 million for Resident Evil Village and more than 10 million for Resident Evil 3.
Capcom’s Integrated Report 2025 puts cumulative Resident Evil series sales above 170 million units as of March 31, 2025. A later Capcom announcement reported cumulative series game sales above 213 million units as of June 30, 2026. These are publisher-reported sell-in or sales milestones for the series, not review scores or a guarantee that one edition is better for every player.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose when prices change
Live prices, discounts and stock vary by country, platform and date, so there is no reliable universal “correct” price for any edition. Use the following value test instead:
Rank #3
- Brand new. UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK PSN account may be required for any online features.
- Buy standard when you want only the campaign, are testing the series or find a deep discount.
- Buy Village Gold when the additional story and third-person mode are features you will actually use.
- Buy RE4 Gold only after confirming its platform-specific contents and comparing them with the cost of the base game and separate add-ons.
- Buy RE2 Deluxe only when the listed extras matter to you; the Deluxe name alone does not establish their value.
- Prefer a complete package when the base game and its important story expansion are close in price, but do not pay for cosmetic bonuses you will ignore.
A sensible play order for new players
- Resident Evil 2 (2019): learn the modern survival-horror foundation.
- Resident Evil 3 (2020): continue the Raccoon City setting with a more linear experience.
- Resident Evil 7 biohazard: begin the first-person story and experience the series at its most frightening.
- Resident Evil Village: continue that first-person arc; choose Gold if you want its added story and third-person mode.
- Resident Evil 4 (2023): finish with the modern action-horror reimagining, or play it earlier if combat is your priority.
You can also start with RE4 without losing the ability to understand its campaign, but the order above moves from foundational survival horror to first-person horror and then to the most action-focused modern remake.
Common buying mistakes
Assuming “Gold” always means the same thing
Gold is a marketing label, not a standard industry bundle. Read the itemised contents. Village Gold has clearly documented story and camera-mode additions; another Gold listing may package different downloadable content.
Confusing remakes with the original games
RE2 (2019) and RE4 (2023) are modern remakes or reimaginings, not simple ports. Check the year in the listing so you do not accidentally buy the older release when you want current controls.
Buying a cloud edition without checking your connection
A cloud version can require a persistent, stable internet connection and may not behave like a locally installed game. Confirm the Switch listing’s delivery method before checkout.
Expecting every platform to share the same extras
Bonus items, upgrade paths and VR support can be platform-specific. Compare the exact product page for your console, PC storefront or Apple device.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Resident Evil game should I buy first?
Buy Resident Evil 2 (2019) for the best all-round introduction. It teaches exploration, resource management and survival-horror pacing without requiring earlier games.
What is the scariest Resident Evil game?
Resident Evil 7 biohazard is the strongest choice for sustained first-person horror; Capcom staff specifically identify it as the scariest entry.
Are Resident Evil Gold Editions worth it?
Only when the included additions match what you want. Village Gold is the clearest value case because it adds story content and a third-person mode. Confirm the contents of RE4 Gold on your platform before paying extra.
What comes in Resident Evil Village Gold Edition?
Capcom states that it adds new story content and a third-person mode to Resident Evil Village.
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Capcom identifies Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Resident Evil Village as having VR versions. Verify headset and platform compatibility in the exact store listing.
The Bottom Line
Buy Resident Evil 2 (2019) first unless you specifically want first-person terror, in which case choose Resident Evil 7. Pick RE4 (2023) for action, Village Gold for the fullest first-person continuation, and RE3 as a shorter follow-up—not as the default starting point.
Quick Recap
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.
