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Short answer: start with a remake if you want contemporary presentation, revised controls and a redesigned version of the story. Choose an original or a clearly labeled legacy release if you want to study the earlier design, pacing and structure as they were first made. There is no evidence-based universal winner. Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 each remake their source game differently, so the right choice depends on what you want from that particular entry.
This guide focuses on Resident Evil 2 (1998), Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) and Resident Evil 4 (2005), alongside their modern remakes. It does not treat every Resident Evil remake as if it followed one formula.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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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 | $18.13 | 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 |
What a Resident Evil remake changes
A remake is not merely the same game rendered at a higher resolution. In these three cases, Capcom used the earlier game as a foundation, then changed some combination of exploration, encounter pressure, controls, presentation and story structure. The size of those changes varies by game.
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#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.
- How does it feel to play? Consider camera behavior, movement, aiming, defensive options and the control assumptions of the period in which the original was made.
- How much pressure does the game create? Enemy resilience, ammunition decisions, route planning and the cost of an encounter can alter the entire rhythm of a campaign.
- How closely does the remake preserve the original route and story? A familiar location or character does not guarantee that the same discovery happens in the same place or by the same method.
The remakes are therefore best understood as reinterpretations. The originals remain valuable precisely because they show the design choices that existed before those reinterpretations.
Resident Evil 2: the same Raccoon City, redesigned pressure
What the original is
The original Resident Evil 2 released in January 1998. It follows Leon and Claire in Raccoon City and represents the series’ late-1990s approach to navigation, camera direction, combat and item management.
Playing it today is a way to experience that earlier structure rather than a preliminary version that the remake simply replaces. Its period-specific conventions are part of the historical experience: rooms, routes and encounters are presented according to the design language of 1998.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow the remake changes encounters
Capcom’s own comparison identifies a practical difference that affects nearly every early combat decision: remake zombies are harder to put down. A headshot may not end an encounter, so a player cannot automatically treat one accurate shot as a guaranteed solution.
That does not establish a universal difficulty ranking, and it does not mean every enemy behaves identically. It does mean the remake changes the value of ammunition, the safety of a route and the decision to fight or pass an enemy. A hallway that was manageable under the original’s assumptions can demand more distance, more shots or a different route in the remake.
How exploration and item discovery changed
The redesign is also visible outside combat. Capcom gives two concrete examples:
- Gun Shop Kendo: the visit occurs later in the remake than in the original.
- Rebecca’s photograph: the method used to find it is different.
These are not cosmetic substitutions. Moving a location changes when a player receives information, encounters danger and can use the surrounding area. Changing an item-discovery method changes what the game expects the player to notice and how the player understands exploration. Anyone using an original walkthrough with the remake, or vice versa, should verify the version before following its route.
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.
Who should choose each version?
| Choose the 1998 original when you want… | Choose the modern remake when you want… |
|---|---|
| The earlier game’s structure and pacing as originally designed. | A rebuilt presentation and a revised survival-horror rhythm. |
| To understand the design assumptions of late-1990s Resident Evil. | Encounters in which zombies can require more sustained commitment than a single headshot. |
| To compare the original timing of the Gun Shop Kendo visit and the original Rebecca-photo discovery. | Those locations and discoveries in their redesigned form. |
For a first playthrough by someone primarily interested in a current-feeling game, the remake is the safer starting point. For someone studying how Resident Evil was originally structured, the 1998 release is the more informative choice. Playing both is worthwhile when the purpose is comparison, because the differences are mechanical and spatial rather than merely visual.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and its remake share a timeline, not an identical route
What the original is
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis released in September 1999. It is the earlier version of the Raccoon City story centered on Jill Valentine and the Nemesis threat. As with Resident Evil 2, the original preserves the control conventions and pacing of its era.
Where the remake sits in the chronology
Capcom’s official chronology places the Resident Evil 3 remake’s story start one day before the Resident Evil 2 remake and its conclusion during the final days of Raccoon City. The two remakes therefore depict overlapping events in the same city at roughly the same time.
That overlap is useful context, but it does not create one mandatory play order. The chronology describes when the fictional events occur; it does not prove that every player must follow that sequence to understand either campaign.
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Three sensible ways to play RE2 and RE3
- Release order: play the original pair in their original release sequence, then play the remakes in their release sequence. This is the clearest route for seeing how the series’ design evolved.
- Story order: start with the Resident Evil 3 remake because its chronology begins one day before the Resident Evil 2 remake, then move to Resident Evil 2. This treats the in-world timeline as the organizing principle.
- Interest-first order: play whichever protagonist, setting or campaign is more appealing, then use the other game to fill in the overlapping Raccoon City events.
None of these choices is supported as the single correct order by the cited material. Story order is a reasonable option for readers who value chronology; release order is better for readers who want historical context.
What to expect when comparing RE3 versions
The available official evidence establishes the remake’s relationship to the original and its place in the chronology, but it does not provide a complete, verified inventory of every removed, added or rearranged section. Do not assume that a guide for Resident Evil 3: Nemesis maps one-to-one onto the remake. Treat each as its own route through the same broad disaster.
This distinction matters when deciding whether to buy or play both. The original is the choice for the earlier design and structure. The remake is the choice for a contemporary reinterpretation of that Raccoon City episode. There are no published comparative statistics in the available official material that establish one version as universally preferred.
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 4: preservation of the core, reconstruction around it
The starting point: the 2005 game
The original Resident Evil 4 released in 2005. It is the reference point for the remake’s design decisions and for the control preset Capcom supplies to players who already know the earlier game.
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The 2005 version is the appropriate choice when your goal is to understand the game in its original form: its period-specific control assumptions, its original pacing and the way its story and encounters were first arranged.
Capcom’s stated remake goals
In a Capcom interview, the remake team describes three linked aims: respect the original’s core, update the play feel and graphics for a contemporary audience, and reconstruct the story. “Reconstruction” is important wording. It signals that the project is not presented as a shot-for-shot conversion of the 2005 campaign.
The evidence supports describing the remake as a modernized interpretation, not assigning it an unsupported percentage of new or removed content. The available official sources do not provide a complete quantitative comparison of campaign length, item count or encounter count.
Controls that connect the two versions
Capcom’s official Resident Evil 4 remake manual documents a knife-parry option. It also lists a control type for players accustomed to the controls of Resident Evil 4 (2005). Those options show how the remake acknowledges returning players while still updating the interaction model.
The parry is a meaningful mechanical distinction because it gives the knife a defensive role in addition to its offensive use. The legacy control layout serves a different purpose: it reduces the adjustment required from someone who already learned the 2005 control scheme. Neither feature makes the remake identical to the original; together, they show an attempt to preserve familiarity without freezing the older design in place.
Who should choose each version?
| Choose the 2005 original when you want… | Choose the remake when you want… |
|---|---|
| The original story arrangement and period-specific play feel. | A reconstructed story with contemporary presentation. |
| To see the design that established the reference point for the remake. | Updated graphics and a modernized interaction model. |
| A historical comparison with no reinterpretation layered on top. | Knife parrying and a control preset intended for players familiar with the 2005 controls. |
If you have never played either version and want the most current-feeling entry, begin with the remake. If your interest is in why the 2005 game became a reference point, begin with the original and then use the remake as a deliberate comparison.
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
Original versus remake: a practical comparison
| Game pair | Original | Remake | Documented differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil 2 | Released January 1998; the earlier Raccoon City design. | Modern remake following Leon and Claire in Raccoon City. | Tougher zombies; a headshot may not put one down; the Gun Shop Kendo visit occurs later; Rebecca’s photograph is found by a different method. |
| Resident Evil 3 | Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, released September 1999. | Remake set during the final days of Raccoon City. | The remake begins one day before the Resident Evil 2 remake in Capcom’s chronology. The cited material does not establish a complete list of route or content changes. |
| Resident Evil 4 | Released in 2005; the source for the remake’s design. | Modernized graphics and play feel, with a reconstructed story. | Capcom documents knife parrying and a control type for players accustomed to the 2005 controls. |
The table separates documented examples from assumptions. It is safe to say that all three remakes reinterpret their source games; it is not safe to claim that they all add or remove the same kinds or amounts of content.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which version should you play first?
Pick the remake if your priority is contemporary play
Start with the remake when you value updated presentation, revised controls and a version designed around modern expectations. This recommendation is especially straightforward for Resident Evil 2, where the remake’s tougher zombies and altered discoveries directly change moment-to-moment decisions, and for Resident Evil 4, where the remake combines a reconstructed story with modernized play options.
Pick the original if your priority is historical design
Choose the original when you want to see the earlier game as it was structured, including its era-specific pacing, controls and exploration assumptions. This is not a downgrade recommendation. It is a different objective: preserving the design context that the remake revisits.
Play both when comparison is the point
If you are interested in game design, playing both versions reveals changes that screenshots cannot. In Resident Evil 2, compare encounter commitment, the timing of the Gun Shop Kendo visit and the Rebecca-photo discovery. In Resident Evil 4, compare the original control assumptions with the remake’s parry and legacy-control options. For Resident Evil 3, compare how each game presents the overlapping Raccoon City period while avoiding the assumption that the routes are identical.
How to choose a play order
For a first-time player focused on modern accessibility
- Play the Resident Evil 2 remake.
- Play the Resident Evil 3 remake if you want another perspective on the same Raccoon City crisis.
- Play the Resident Evil 4 remake as a separate later chapter with its own modernized structure.
This order prioritizes the remakes’ contemporary presentation rather than claiming that it is the canonical story sequence for the entire series.
For a chronology-focused Raccoon City run
- Begin with the Resident Evil 3 remake, whose chronology starts one day before the Resident Evil 2 remake.
- Continue with the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Because the official chronology establishes overlap rather than a required player sequence, you can reverse these two without making either campaign invalid.
For a design-history comparison
- Play the 1998 Resident Evil 2.
- Play the 1999 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
- Play the 2005 Resident Evil 4.
- Then play the corresponding remakes and note where each project preserves, relocates or reconstructs the earlier design.
This route makes the contrast between the original conventions and the modern reinterpretations easiest to see.
Best Value
Where the Remake Trilogy fits
In November 2024, Capcom announced a Resident Evil Remake Trilogy collection. The announcement lists Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil Resistance, Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition and associated bonus content.
The listed platforms are PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and PC through Steam. Capcom also notes that included items can be purchased individually. Store listings, regional editions and platform compatibility can change, so check the current store page for the platform you use before buying. The collection announcement does not establish current prices, stock or the availability of every individual legacy original.
If you specifically want an original game, verify that a listing is the original release or a clearly labeled legacy port. A remake collection should not be assumed to include the 1998, 1999 or 2005 versions simply because it contains their remake editions.
Common mistakes when comparing the games
Assuming “remake” means “same game, better graphics”
The RE2 examples disprove that shortcut: enemy resilience, location timing and item discovery all change. Read a remake guide as a guide to that remake, not as a visual upgrade of an unchanged map.
Using one game’s difficulty language for another
The cited evidence says that RE2 remake zombies are tougher, but it does not provide a measured ranking of the three remakes or a universal difficulty scale. Avoid treating that one documented change as proof that every remake is harder or easier than its original.
Treating chronology as a required order
RE3 remake begins one day before RE2 remake in Capcom’s chronology. That is useful context, not a rule that overrides personal preference or release order.
Assuming the RE4 remake is a scene-for-scene copy
Capcom describes a reconstructed story and updated play feel. The remake’s knife parry and legacy control option connect it to the 2005 game while confirming that the interaction model has been revised.
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No published comparative statistics in the cited official material establish universal player preference, sales superiority or a definitive “better” version. Recommendations here are editorial decisions based on documented design differences.
Bottom line
Choose the remake for contemporary controls, presentation and a deliberate reinterpretation of the source. Choose the original for the earlier design, pacing and historical context. For Resident Evil 2, expect tougher zombies and changed exploration details; for Resident Evil 3, use the overlapping Raccoon City chronology as context rather than a mandatory order; for Resident Evil 4, expect a reconstructed story, updated feel, knife parrying and a control option that acknowledges the 2005 game. The best version is the one that matches the experience you want, not a universal winner that the available evidence cannot prove.
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