Every Resident Evil game you should play before Resident Evil Requiem

With Resident Evil Requiem arriving as the next major chapter in Capcom’s iconic horror franchise, longtime fans and newcomers alike may wonder which earlier games are essential to understand its story, characters, and gameplay roots.

Resident Evil Requiem is considered the ninth mainline entry in the long-running series, but players don’t need to marathon the entire franchise to feel prepared. While the Resident Evil timeline is famously dense, only a handful of titles meaningfully connect to Requiem’s narrative and design. Here’s a streamlined guide to the games worth playing—and which ones you can safely skip—before diving in.

Resident Evil 2 Remake Is Essential

If you play only one game before Requiem, it should be Resident Evil 2 Remake. Leon S. Kennedy’s first outing during the Raccoon City outbreak establishes the emotional and narrative backbone for Requiem.

The game introduces Leon as a rookie cop caught in a citywide viral catastrophe, laying the groundwork for his motivations, relationships, and trauma. Requiem draws heavily from this remake—not just in story references, but also in gameplay philosophy, especially during sequences featuring Grace, which emphasize stealth, limited resources, and evading overwhelming threats.

While the original Resident Evil 2 still covers the core story beats, Requiem references material exclusive to the remake, making the modern version the better choice.

Resident Evil 3 Remake Adds Context

Resident Evil 3 Remake is not mandatory, but it meaningfully expands the Raccoon City narrative. Following Jill Valentine, the game bridges key story gaps between Resident Evil 2 and Requiem, depicting the city’s final collapse.

Requiem includes at least one direct callback to Resident Evil 3, though it’s not critical to understanding the plot. Still, if you’ve already played the RE2 remake, continuing with RE3 offers a smoother, more cohesive experience. Both the remake and the original version provide adequate narrative context.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Develops Leon’s Arc

The final title with notable relevance is Resident Evil 4 Remake. Set years after Raccoon City, it follows Leon as a seasoned government agent on a rescue mission.

While Resident Evil 4’s events aren’t closely tied to Requiem’s plot, the game is valuable for understanding Leon’s evolution—from a terrified rookie to a confident, battle-hardened operative. This progression directly informs his portrayal and gameplay style in Requiem, especially during its more action-heavy sequences.

The remake aligns more closely with Requiem’s tone and mechanics, but the original Resident Evil 4 still works if you prefer it.

Which Resident Evil Games Can You Skip

Most other entries are optional for Requiem:

Resident Evil offers series origins but isn’t necessary for Requiem’s story.

Resident Evil 5 explores the virus’s origins but doesn’t align well with the remake continuity.

Resident Evil 6 features Leon again, but its events and tone have little relevance to Requiem.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village focus on Ethan Winters and are largely disconnected from Requiem’s storyline.

Spin-offs like Resident Evil Outbreak introduce side characters—such as Alyssa Ashcroft, Grace’s mother—but they’re purely optional background lore.

The Ideal Pre-Requiem Play Order

For the fullest story experience without overload:

Resident Evil 2 Remake (essential)

Resident Evil 3 Remake (recommended)

Resident Evil 4 Remake (helpful for character context)

Everything else is completionist territory.