Few franchises have been as pioneering as Resident Evil. Whether it’s being a genre chameleon or shaping online culture through endless memes, Resi has been everywhere for the last 40 years. With a series as old as this, remakes are inevitable — and Resi has even pioneered those, too.
Most newcomers can begin with the remakes without losing the main storyline, but you might be overlooking greatness if you discount those originals. Here’s the breakdown of all the Resi remakes.
Which Resident Evil Games Have Been Remade?
The main remakes released so far are:
Resident Evil — the 2002 GameCube remake of the 1996 game, subsequently remastered as Resident Evil HD Remaster.
Resident Evil 2 — the 2019 reimagining of the 1998 sequel.
Resident Evil 3 — the 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis from 1999.
Resident Evil 4 — the 2023 reworking of the 2005 game.
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica – being remade as Resident Evil Veronica for release in 2027.
Following Veronica, we would fully expect Resident Evil 5 to be remade next, though not for a few years.
These retell established events rather than creating four additional incidents in the timeline. Capcom’s official series history uses the remakes when summarising the Mansion and Raccoon City incidents.
Do not confuse Resident Evil HD Remaster with a remaster of the PlayStation original: it updates the 2002 remake, which itself is widely regarded as the greatest pure horror game ever made.
Should You Play Resident Evil or the 1996 Original?
For most players, Resident Evil HD Remaster is the best first version. It keeps the fixed viewpoints, puzzle-led exploration and tense resource management associated with the original while substantially expanding the Spencer Mansion adventure.
The remake adds areas, rearranges scares and introduces threats such as Crimson Heads. It’s close to being the scariest game in the whole series. The HD release also offers an alternative movement option.
The 1996 game remains worthwhile for its brisker layout, historical importance and famously uneven live-action presentation. Play it first to see where survival horror found its footing, but bear in mind those rough edges are beginning to look more than rough.
Should You Play the Original Resident Evil 2?
Start with the 2019 remake if you prefer modern controls, but don’t treat it as a complete substitute for the original, which has the arguable absolute pinnacle of survival horror “vibes.”
Both versions follow Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield during the Raccoon City outbreak. The remake retains that overall plot while changing the police station, rearranging events and using an over-the-shoulder camera. Producer Tsuyoshi Kanda described its aim as something both nostalgic and new, rather than a scene-for-scene recreation.
The 1998 game places more emphasis on connected A and B scenarios, with events in one route affecting the other. The remake is more approachable and often more frightening moment to moment; the original provides the more distinctive paired-campaign experiment.
If you only intend to play once, choose the remake. If it becomes a favourite, the original is much more than an elderly graphics setting. For some, it’s a weirdly cosy time capsule that doesn’t really age.
Is the Original Resident Evil 3 Still Worth Playing?
Yes. It’s probably worth playing the remake afterwards to appreciate what that version lost.
The 2020 game retells Jill Valentine’s escape with modern combat and a closer visual connection to the Resident Evil 2 remake. Its story begins before Resident Evil 2 and concludes during Raccoon City’s final days.
However, the 1999 game has areas, puzzles and branching “Live Selection” decisions that weren’t recreated in the same form for the 2020 version. Its version of Nemesis can also feel less predictable across repeated playthroughs, whereas the remake relies more heavily on very scripted moments.
The remake is a concise modern campaign that’s fun for an afternoon, but the original is probably the better game overall. Still so odd that both versions of this game were rushed out a bit too soon.
Should You Play Resident Evil 4 or Its Remake?
You should absolutely play both.
The 2023 remake preserves Leon’s rescue mission while reworking the story, movement, combat and characterisation. Leon can move while aiming, use his knife defensively and travel through a darker version of the journey. Capcom describes it as a reimagined experience that preserves the original’s appeal rather than reproducing it unchanged.
The 2005 original has a different rhythm and personality that completely changed horror and action games at once. Its stop-and-shoot combat forces deliberate positioning, while its staging and cheerfully excessive dialogue create a tone the remake doesn’t entirely nail in the same way (though it is still very silly sometimes).
We’d recommend you play the original first, if only to appreciate just how much new ground it broke over 20 years ago.
Do the Originals and Remakes Share the Same Canon?
Both canons share the same broad places in the series’ history, but details differ between versions and character routes.
Treat the major incidents and outcomes as established, and try not to sweat every single detail between them. Resident Evil has always been slightly untidy about the route through its events. The remakes are ultimately very similar in points A and Z, but all of those letters in the middle are up for iteration — and that’s what makes them so good.
For a modern playthrough, begin with Resident Evil HD Remaster, followed by the remakes of 2, 3 and 4. Return to the originals to see how the design changed. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is the classic most worth adding rather than replacing, while both versions of Resident Evil 4 deserve some of your time in-between bingo sessions.
And the good news: every Resi game mentioned here is now available on all modern platforms.
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