Before Resident Evil Requiem: these are the games you should play

Leon returns to the scene and Capcom recovers Raccoon City in its next installment.

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Just over two months after its release, Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be a highly connected installment to the series’ origins. The latest trailer shown at The Game Awards confirmed what many were expecting: Leon S. Kennedy will be one of the protagonists, which has automatically sparked interest in revisiting key episodes from the past.

With Capcom still keeping many details under wraps, there are enough hints to know which games are worth refreshing before diving into this new story. Especially since Requiem not only looks to the future but also refocuses on specific moments and characters from the Resident Evil universe.

The Essential Resident Evil Games Before Requiem

• The most obvious starting point is Raccoon City, the central setting for the 1998 events. To understand what happened there and why it remains so important, it’s ideal to play Resident Evil HD Remaster, along with Resident Evil 2 Remake and Resident Evil 3 Remake. These three installments cover the outbreak’s origin, the city’s downfall, and Leon’s debut as a rookie cop on a night that changed everything.

Another fundamental block revolves around the Ashcroft family. Requiem introduces Grace Ashcroft and confirms the presence of her mother, Alyssa, a character who originally appeared in Resident Evil Outbreak and Outbreak File 2. These spin-offs, released on PS2, are no longer officially available, but they help contextualize one of the game’s key new faces.

• Resident Evil HD Remaster
  The origin of it all: the Spencer mansion, the T-virus, and the first steps into disaster.

• Resident Evil 2 Remake
  The fall of Raccoon City from within and the debut of Leon S. Kennedy, a central piece of Requiem.

• Resident Evil 3 Remake
  Completes the vision of the city’s collapse and the context of the bombing.

• Resident Evil Outbreak
  Introduces Alyssa Ashcroft, a key character for understanding Grace’s story.

• Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
  Expands on the parallel events in Raccoon City and the Ashcroft family’s background.

• Resident Evil 4 Remake
  Leon’s evolution after Raccoon City and the consolidation of his role within the series.

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (optional)
  Provides modern context to the universe and leaves interesting loose ends.

• Resident Evil Village (optional)
  Closes the most recent chapter and may have thematic connections with Requiem.

If you want to complete the journey, Resident Evil 4 Remake is an excellent way to delve deeper into Leon’s evolution, while Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village provide recent context about the current state of the series’ universe. They’re not mandatory, but they do add interesting nuances in light of what Capcom might be preparing.

With this journey, you’ll arrive at Resident Evil Requiem with a solid foundation and many clear connections from the very first minute.