In What Order to Play Resident Evil Games Before Requiem

Recently, Capcom finally opened pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem, once again reminding us of the project’s fast-approaching February release. The game has generated a lot of hype, which will undoubtedly attract newcomers unfamiliar with the franchise. Many of them would probably like to catch up before Requiem comes out but have no idea where to start, as the series spans dozens of games and will celebrate its 30th anniversary next March. That’s why we decided to put together this guide on how best to get acquainted with Resident Evil.

First of all, it’s worth mentioning perhaps the worst possible way to get into Resident Evil — by playing the games in release order. Personally, I deeply respect the classics where it all began, but if we look at the 1990s titles objectively, modern players will likely find them too outdated due to old-school mechanics, visuals, and controls. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve attention at all, but in 2025 there are far more accessible starting points.

Alongside the start of Requiem pre-orders, Capcom also announced a three-game bundle for Nintendo Switch 2 titled Resident Evil Generation Pack, which will launch in February. It includes Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil Requiem.

Capcom actually chose the most logical games for a collection aimed specifically at newcomers. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village stand apart from the other entries: they tell the story of protagonist Ethan Winters, who doesn’t appear in other games, and they use a first-person perspective. While 7 and 8 are connected to the broader lore, the ties aren’t too strong, and you don’t need prior knowledge of the franchise to follow the Winters family narrative.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village share a similar tone, and judging from pre-release material, the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem follows in their footsteps, even if there seem to be no direct plot links between the ninth game and its predecessors.

An excellent alternative is to start with Resident Evil 2 and then move on to Resident Evil 4 — both are remakes.

This combination has strong advantages. First, a newcomer will meet Leon Kennedy and witness his full character arc. Leon is arguably the most beloved protagonist in the series. Considering all the rumors about his appearance in Requiem, it’s reasonable to learn more about him.

Second, the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes are currently the franchise’s strongest titles. They differ greatly in structure, allowing players to experience two distinct design philosophies that define the series. Resident Evil 2 is the quintessence of survival horror — complex environments, key hunting, puzzles, limited ammo, and deadly enemies. Resident Evil 4, meanwhile, is a benchmark action-horror filled with adrenaline-fueled combat and cinematic sequences reminiscent of old-school adventure thrillers.

Together, they also showcase the setting’s diversity — not just zombies in urban chaos, but also deranged cultists wielding maces and shields in a medieval European castle.

Resident Evil Requiem focuses heavily on the aftermath of the Raccoon City incident, so before its release, it makes sense to play the three titles that explore those events in detail: Resident Evil HD Remaster, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3.

Resident Evil HD Remaster is a remake of the original 1996 game, first released in 2002 for the GameCube and later remastered for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The gameplay retains the fixed-camera style of the classics, which not everyone appreciates, but the remaster improved visuals and controls enough to ease the learning curve for most players.

I’ve already discussed Resident Evil 2 above, but regarding Resident Evil 3’s remake — it turned out quite divisive. Fans of the original were disappointed by how many iconic moments were cut, yet judged on its own, it’s still a polished, action-driven game that provides a solid conclusion to the Raccoon City saga.

If Resident Evil HD Remaster doesn’t appeal to you, another good option is simply to play the most recent reimaginings: Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4. Conveniently, a bundle called Resident Evil Remake Trilogy is already available on platforms like Steam and the PlayStation Store.

Once you’ve completed one of the combinations above and found yourself captivated by the series, it’s time to go deeper.

To truly prepare for Resident Evil Requiem, ideally you should see all key installments in chronological story order. Only then will you fully grasp the lore. That means you’ll have to play the older titles too. Earlier I said that’s not ideal for beginners, but if you’re already invested, the classics won’t scare you off — quite the opposite, they’ll offer insight into how Resident Evil evolved.

Here’s the logical story order for the essential games:

One important note: it’s very hard to legally play Resident Evil Outbreak today — it remains a PlayStation 2 exclusive. If you don’t own a PS2, your options are emulators or YouTube playthroughs. Can it be skipped entirely, given that it’s a co-op title? In theory, yes — but interestingly, the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem references it quite heavily: the new protagonist is the daughter of one of Outbreak’s characters.

What do you think? If you’re a long-time fan, which entries would you recommend to newcomers first? Share your thoughts in the comments.