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For a first Resident Evil game with modern controls, start with Resident Evil 2 (2019). If you want the older games’ original presentation, choose the 1996 original or Resident Evil HD Remaster for the mansion, and the 1998–1999 originals for classic Raccoon City. For Leon’s later action-horror story, either Resident Evil 4 (2005) or the 2023 remake is a reasonable choice—but check which version of Separate Ways you’re buying.
These are not simply “old graphics versus new graphics.” Camera, controls, presentation, bonus modes and included content differ by game and edition. The recommendations below are editorial choices based on those documented differences, not Capcom’s official play order.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil (1996) | The original mansion-game presentation | Original content; modern-controller support in GOG’s preserved PC edition | PC: GOG and Steam listings | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil HD Remaster (2015) | A remastered version of the mansion adventure | Original or alternate movement controls; not the 1996 product | PC listing | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 2 (1998) | The classic Raccoon City design | Separate Leon and Claire adventures; original bonus modes | PC: GOG and Steam listings | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 2 (2019) | A modern-controls entry point | Over-the-shoulder camera; separate Leon and Claire campaigns | PC: Steam listing | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) | The original Jill-and-Nemesis adventure | Includes Mercenaries Mode | PC: GOG and Steam listings | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 3 (2020) | A distinct remake-era Jill-and-Nemesis adventure | Steam listing includes Resident Evil Resistance, a separate 1-versus-4 online game | PC: Steam listing | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 4 (2005) | The original version of Leon’s later story | Over-the-shoulder perspective; listed PC edition includes Separate Ways | PC: Steam listing | Nov 2026 |
| Resident Evil 4 (2023) | A modernized reimagining of that story | Separate Ways is separately listed additional content; Mercenaries is listed as a free add-on | PC: Steam listing | Nov 2026 |
Store availability and editions can vary by region and change over time. The table describes PC listings documented as of the available October 30, 2026 check; it does not establish current console stock or physical-disc availability.
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The year is part of the clearest way to distinguish several similarly titled games. Capcom’s chronology dates the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Resident Evil 4 to 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2005. It dates the remakes of 2, 3 and 4 to 2019, 2020 and 2023. Capcom’s timeline is useful when a store title alone is ambiguous.
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There is a particular naming trap with the first game. Resident Evil HD Remaster is a 2015 remastered release, sold on PC under the shorter title Resident Evil. It is a separate product from the 1996 original, not a 2015 remake. Look for the edition and release year in the store listing rather than assuming that every item called Resident Evil is the same game.
The 2005 and 2023 Resident Evil 4 are also distinct purchases. Steam labels the older listing Resident Evil 4 (2005), while the 2023 remake appears as Resident Evil 4. The former is the older game; the latter is a reimagining with modernized gameplay and a reimagined storyline, not merely a visual update to the identical release.
Should you play the original or remake of Resident Evil 1?
For the mansion adventure, pick the HD Remaster if you want remastered environments and a choice of movement controls; pick the 1996 original if you specifically want its initial presentation. They are different releases of the same broad mansion setting, and the HD Remaster’s alternate movement option does not make it an over-the-shoulder game like the 2019 Resident Evil 2.
Choose the 1996 original for its original presentation
The original game is the archival choice: its appeal is seeing the first release as it was presented, rather than treating a later version as a substitute. GOG’s preserved PC edition says it keeps the original content intact and lists Windows 10/11 compatibility and modern-controller support. GOG’s claim concerns its edition; it does not establish that every historical regional release was identical. The original is also listed on Steam, so it is no longer accurate to describe the first game as unavailable on PC outside a legacy disc.
Choose the HD Remaster for a remastered release with control options
The PC product titled Resident Evil on Steam is the 2015 HD Remaster. Its listing offers original or alternate movement controls. That is a choice about how movement works, not evidence of a changed camera system. If camera and movement style are central to your decision, don’t infer that “alternate controls” means the same viewpoint and handling as a later remake.
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The two editions are best understood as different ways to approach the mansion, not as a single upgrade path in which one makes the other irrelevant. Someone interested in the original’s historical presentation can play the 1996 release; someone who prefers the remastered presentation can begin with HD Remaster and still explore the original separately.
Is Resident Evil 2 (1998) or the 2019 remake better for a first playthrough?
The 2019 remake is the clearest documented starting point if you want modern controls and an over-the-shoulder camera. Choose the 1998 game when its classic presentation and original design are part of the point. Both feature separate Leon and Claire adventures, but that shared structure does not mean their puzzles, layouts or story beats match one-for-one.
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Capcom describes the remake as using an over-the-shoulder camera and modern controls, with puzzles and separately playable Leon and Claire campaigns. Those documented features make it a practical recommendation for a newcomer who prefers a contemporary control style. The Steam listing for Resident Evil 2 identifies the remake-era release; the year helps separate it from the 1998 original.
The remake is a new presentation of the Raccoon City story, not a promise that every route or detail reproduces the earlier game exactly. If your reason for playing is to see the original design, play the 1998 release too rather than using the remake as a substitute for it.
What the 1998 original offers
The preserved original gives you the classic release and its separate Leon and Claire adventures, along with original bonus modes. GOG’s version enables 4th Survivor and Tofu from the beginning. GOG describes its edition as keeping the original content intact; that wording should be attributed to GOG and not extended to every historical regional version. Its original-game PC listing also documents Windows 10/11 compatibility and modern-controller support.
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As of the October 2026 availability check, the original is listed on both GOG and Steam. Steam’s listing date in 2026 is the date of that storefront release, not the game’s original 1998 release year. The distinction matters if you are searching, comparing versions or trying to avoid buying the wrong edition.
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What changes between Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) and Resident Evil 3 (2020)?
The 1999 original is the choice when you want the classic release and its explicitly listed Mercenaries Mode. The 2020 remake is a distinct Jill-and-Nemesis adventure; its Steam package also includes Resident Evil Resistance, a separate 1-versus-4 online game. The available store descriptions establish those edition differences, but not a full inventory of every area, scene or other element changed between versions.
Pick the original for its classic edition and included mode
GOG’s preserved PC edition supports Windows 10/11 and modern controllers, and the original PC listing explicitly includes Mercenaries Mode. It is also listed on Steam as Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (1999). If the original game’s specific content is what you are seeking, use the year and “Nemesis” in the store title to distinguish it from the remake.
Pick the remake for its separate remake-era release
The remake is not simply a new edition label on the 1999 game. Its Steam listing includes Resident Evil Resistance, which is a separate 1-versus-4 online game rather than another name for the single-player Jill-and-Nemesis adventure. That inclusion is a concrete difference to check when comparing packages; it does not, by itself, describe all of the remake’s content or establish a complete cut-content comparison.
If you want to compare classic and remake-era versions, playing both is more reliable than assuming either is a total replacement for the other. The cited storefront descriptions support the differences above, but they do not justify a comprehensive checklist of what was retained, altered or omitted.
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Which Resident Evil 4 should you play?
Both versions are valid choices, and the key distinction is not a fixed-camera original versus a modern over-the-shoulder remake. Capcom’s chronology says the 2005 game introduced an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective. Choose the 2005 release for the older game and its listed included epilogue; choose the 2023 remake for its modernized gameplay and reimagined story, checking the add-on terms before purchase.
What you get in Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Steam labels this product Resident Evil 4 (2005). Its listed PC edition includes the earlier Separate Ways epilogue. This makes it important to distinguish the older game’s included content from the separately sold add-on associated with the 2023 remake. The Steam listing for the 2005 release provides an edition-specific reference.
Because the original already uses an over-the-shoulder perspective, a comparison with the remake should focus on the overall presentation, gameplay modernization and story reimagining—not claim that the remake alone introduced that camera style to the series.
What you get in Resident Evil 4 (2023)
The remake has its own separately listed Separate Ways add-on, which requires the base game. Do not assume that purchasing the base game automatically includes Ada’s scenario. Steam’s Gold Edition description lists Separate Ways; check the exact edition contents before buying if that story is part of your plan.
The remake’s Mercenaries add-on is listed as free and also requires the base game. “Free” here describes the add-on listing, not a standalone game: the listed requirement is ownership of the remake. The older game’s included Separate Ways and the remake’s separately listed add-on have different purchase terms, so compare the product pages rather than relying on the shared name.
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Where can you play the original games on PC?
The original first three games are listed individually on GOG and Steam as of the October 30, 2026 check; GOG also offers a Resident Evil Bundle containing them. Its broader Classic Bundle adds Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil HD Remaster. Steam’s 2026 listings for the original first two games disclose third-party Enigma DRM, a consideration for buyers who prefer a DRM-free PC release.
GOG describes its releases as DRM-free, with optional GOG Galaxy and offline installers. The individual original-game pages document Windows 10/11 compatibility and support for modern controllers. These details can help you choose a storefront based on installation and DRM preferences, but they do not establish console availability or guarantee current inventory in every region.
What to check before buying
- Confirm the year in the product title. The 1998 and 2019 versions of Resident Evil 2, for example, are different games with different presentations.
- Read the edition’s included-content list. This matters especially for the two versions of Resident Evil 4 and their different Separate Ways terms.
- Check the storefront’s DRM and installation details. GOG describes offline installers and DRM-free releases; Steam’s first two original-game listings disclose Enigma DRM.
- Check regional availability at the point of purchase. Store listings can change and vary by region. No US console-stock or physical-disc inventory is established here.
What should a newcomer play first?
Use the experience you want, rather than a single “correct” franchise order, to choose a starting point. The recommendations are based on the edition features described above; they are not an official Capcom ranking.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Modern controls and a contemporary presentation: start with Resident Evil 2 (2019).
- The mansion in remastered form: choose Resident Evil HD Remaster, the 2015 release.
- The mansion as originally presented: choose the 1996 Resident Evil.
- Classic Raccoon City: play Resident Evil 2 (1998) or Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999), then compare with the later remakes if you want both presentations.
- Leon’s later action-horror story: choose between Resident Evil 4 (2005) and the 2023 remake based on your preference for the older game or a modernized reimagining, and verify which add-ons are included.
There is no need to treat the remakes as replacements for every original. The strongest reason to play both is when the historical design or a particular edition’s content matters to you; the strongest reason to start with a remake is when its documented control style and presentation better fit what you want now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many copies has the Resident Evil series sold?
Capcom reported more than 201 million cumulative Resident Evil game units sold as of March 31, 2026. That is a franchise-wide figure, not a sales total for any one original or remake.
Is a Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake coming out?
Capcom announced a remake of the 2000 game as Resident Evil Veronica on June 8, 2026, and scheduled it for 2027. The announcement did not give a precise release date.
Did Capcom announce a release date for Resident Evil Veronica?
No precise date was included in the June 8, 2026 announcement. Capcom said, “The release date, along with further details, will be announced at a later date.”
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