Resident Evil 2 is a 2019 survival horror game made and released by Capcom. It is a remake of the 1998 game Resident Evil 2. The game was first released in January 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. In 2022, it was also released for Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Versions for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS came out in December 2024. Players control two characters: Leon S. Kennedy, a new police officer, and Claire Redfield, a college student. They try to escape Raccoon City during a virus outbreak that turns people into zombies and other creatures.
Capcom thought about remaking Resident Evil 2 after the 2002 remake of the first Resident Evil game. However, the game’s producer, Shinji Mikami, wanted to focus on developing Resident Evil 4 (2005). In 2015, Capcom announced the Resident Evil 2 remake. The first trailer and gameplay were shown at E3 2018. The game uses the RE Engine, which was also used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
Resident Evil 2 was praised for its visuals, gameplay, and how closely it followed the original game. It won the Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year and was considered for the Game Award for Game of the Year. By August 2025, the game had sold 15.8 million copies, making it the most popular Resident Evil game. It was followed by remakes of Resident Evil 3 in 2020 and Resident Evil 4 in 2023.
Gameplay
Resident Evil 2 is a survival horror game where players fight zombies and solve puzzles while exploring a city. Unlike the remake of the first game, which updated the original experience, this version changes the gameplay and story to suit modern players. The game takes place in Raccoon City, a fictional mountain city in the Midwest, during a zombie outbreak. Players can choose between two characters, Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Their choice affects the weapons, areas, items, subplot, supporting characters, and final boss. Leon plays with Ada Wong, a mysterious federal agent investigating the Umbrella Corporation, while Claire teams up with Sherry Birkin, the daughter of an Umbrella executive being chased by a monster.
Players can explore the environment freely while searching for resources like healing items, ammunition, and puzzle-solving tools. Using the RE Engine, the game features realistic 3D graphics, replacing the original game’s tank controls with a more flexible system similar to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Players can move in any direction, rotate the camera, walk, sprint, and shoot while moving. However, aiming while standing still sharpens the crosshair, improving accuracy. Many areas are dark, requiring a flashlight to see, which adds to the horror atmosphere.
As players explore, they face zombies and other enemies that attack them. Leon and Claire each have unique weapons: Leon uses a shotgun, magnum, and flamethrower, while Claire uses a grenade launcher, submachine gun, and a stun gun called the "Spark Shot." Players can also use sub-weapons like knives and grenades to escape enemies pinning them, though this reduces the weapon’s effectiveness. Zombies are stronger than in the original game, taking more damage to defeat and chasing players into rooms. Enemies react to gunfire in real time, with limbs able to be blown off. Health decreases when taking damage, shown by a heart rate monitor in the inventory. If health drops too low, the player dies and must restart from their last save point. Healing items like herbs and first aid spray can restore health.
The inventory has eight slots for storing items, which can be expanded by finding hip pouches. Items can be viewed in 3D to understand their purpose, combined with others to create new items (like gunpowder for ammunition or herbs for stronger blends), or discarded if no longer useful. Safe rooms block enemies and contain item boxes for storing extra supplies. They also have typewriters to save progress. On Hardcore difficulty, ink ribbons are removed, allowing unlimited saves (though the number of saves is still tracked).
Players often encounter the Tyrant, a powerful creature designed to hunt survivors. It cannot be killed, only temporarily stunned, and follows players unless they enter safe rooms. This forces players to use stealth to avoid it while searching for items and solving puzzles. Both protagonists have sections where their partner becomes playable: Ada can use an EMF gun to disable electronics, while Sherry can crouch to move through small spaces and focus on stealth. Completing the game unlocks the "2nd Run" for the other character, which changes item locations and includes the true final boss and ending. The remake adds difficulty modes—Assisted, Standard, and Hardcore—which affect item availability, enemy strength, and save mechanics.
Bonus modes like "The 4th Survivor" and "The Tofu Survivor" return. "The 4th Survivor" follows a mercenary named Hunk as he escapes the sewers to a rescue helicopter, while "The Tofu Survivor" replaces Hunk with a block of tofu that only uses knives. The remake adds new characters to these modes with unique items. Completing in-game objectives, or "Records," rewards players with concept art, 3D models, or special weapons with unlimited ammo or durability.
"The Ghost Survivors" is a free bonus mode available from the start. It presents "what-if" scenarios where side characters who die in the main story survive. Players control these characters to reach specific areas, similar to "The 4th Survivor," but with special zombies, lootable backpacks, and resupply machines offering three item choices. This mode includes a "Training" difficulty with more starting items and Assisted difficulty benefits, but does not track completion time.
"The Ghost Survivors" has its own set of Records, unlocking cosmetic hats. While these have no effect on gameplay, one hat, the cat ears, grants infinite ammo.
Synopsis
On the night of September 29, 1998, two months after the Spencer Mansion Incident, rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy travels to Raccoon City to begin his first job at the Raccoon City Police Department. At a gas station near the city, he meets Claire Redfield, who is searching for her brother, Chris Redfield. The gas station and the rest of Raccoon City are soon filled with zombies after a harmful virus called the T-virus pollutes the city's water supply. Leon and Claire reach the police station but must separate when a truck crashes and explodes. They later find the station filled with zombies. Leon meets an infected police officer named Lieutenant Marvin Branagh, who shows him a hidden path out of the station before dying from his injury. The player character follows the path and fights a mutated scientist named William Birkin before escaping.
In the parking garage, Leon is attacked by zombie dogs but is saved by Ada Wong. Ada claims she is an FBI agent sent to find a dangerous sample of the G-virus, which caused Birkin's mutation. The G-virus was developed by Birkin and his wife, Annette. Meanwhile, Claire finds documents showing her brother left Raccoon City weeks earlier to investigate Umbrella, a company linked to the virus. She meets Sherry Birkin, the young daughter of William and Annette, and decides to protect her.
After investigating Umbrella, a news reporter named Ben Bertolucci is locked in a cell by Brian Irons, the corrupt police chief and a serial killer who hides Umbrella's crimes. Ben tries to convince Leon to free him but is killed by the Tyrant, a bioweapon created by Umbrella to destroy people. Leon and Ada escape to a gun shop owned by Robert Kendo, where they find Robert and his infected daughter, Emma. After Robert puts down his daughter and commits suicide, Leon decides to help Ada retrieve the G-virus sample to expose Umbrella's actions. After defeating a giant, mutated alligator in the sewers, Leon and Ada meet Annette, who shoots Leon before fleeing to Umbrella's underground lab, NEST. Leon recovers and kisses Ada as they enter NEST.
Meanwhile, Sherry is captured by Irons and taken to the Raccoon City Orphanage. William arrives and injects Irons with a "G-embryo," which bursts from Irons' body and kills him. William attacks Claire and infects Sherry, believing her body will accept the G-virus. Claire finds Sherry and retrieves a G-virus vaccine, which Annette gives to Sherry. Leon finds the G-virus sample and meets Annette again, who reveals Ada plans to sell the sample. William kills Annette, and Ada tries to take the sample from Leon but falls into a pit with it as NEST collapses. Leon defeats the mutated "Super Tyrant" after Ada throws him a rocket launcher. Leon, Claire, and Sherry escape on a train, where William attacks them one last time. The train separates, and William is destroyed when NEST collapses. Leon and Claire promise to continue fighting Umbrella.
In No Time to Mourn, the player controls Robert Kendo, the gun shop owner. After his wife and daughter died from the T-virus, Robert lost hope. In the original story, Robert kills himself after putting down his daughter. In an alternate version, Robert receives a radio message from a friend who calls a helicopter to save him. Robert says goodbye to his daughter, reaches the helicopter in the sewers, and escapes Raccoon City safely.
In Runaway, the player controls Katherine Warren, the mayor's daughter. She was invited to the orphanage by Irons to see her boyfriend, Ben, but Irons attacks and kills her. Her body is found in the director's room. In an alternate version, Katherine grabs a knife and kills Irons. She takes his keys, frees Ben from jail, and the two embrace, though their fate is unclear.
In Forgotten Soldier, the player controls Ghost, a soldier killed by William after William mutated. In an alternate version, Ghost survives and reaches NEST to find the G-virus sample. He retrieves the sample before NEST collapses but is stopped by Ada, who takes the sample. Ghost's fate is unknown.
In No Way Out, the player controls Daniel Cortini, a sheriff investigating a gas station. He is killed by a zombie and turns into one. In an alternate version, Daniel defeats the zombie but gets trapped in the station as it is attacked. Leon later saves him, and the two travel to Raccoon City together. Their fate is uncertain, though it is suggested Daniel might take Claire's role in the story.
Development
After the 2002 remake of Resident Evil for the GameCube, Capcom considered remaking Resident Evil 2, which was originally released for the PlayStation in 1998. However, series creator Shinji Mikami wanted to focus on Resident Evil 4 instead. In August 2015, producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi announced in a video that the remake was approved and under development, ending the video with the phrase "we do it." No additional details were shared until Sony's E3 2018 press conference, when Capcom released the first trailer and gameplay footage, and removed the word "Remake" from the title. Hideki Kamiya, the director of the original Resident Evil 2, had long encouraged Capcom to create a remake. Hirabayashi stated the team aimed to capture the original game's spirit and used feedback from Resident Evil 6, a game he also produced.
To meet modern standards, the team updated character designs to fit a more realistic setting. For example, Leon no longer wears large shoulder pads, which were part of his original, simple 3D model. While the game was designed to be modern and easy to play, the team focused on horror rather than action, aiming to keep the game's tense, confined atmosphere. The game uses the RE Engine, the same technology used in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017), which helped modernize the gameplay. Producer Tsuyoshi Kanda noted the challenge of making zombies frightening, as they had become common in media since the original Resident Evil was released in 1996. Without fixed camera angles, the team used elements like room layout, lighting, and smoke to hide enemies. The new camera system also changed how sound was designed, as sound could no longer come from a single fixed point.
Some character models are based on scans of real people. For example, Leon S. Kennedy is modeled after Eduard Badaluta, Claire Redfield after Jordan McEwen, and Marvin Branagh after music producer Patrick Levar. The game includes a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Capcom chose non-union voice actors, so the original game's actors did not return. The game was censored in Japan and received a "CERO D" rating, as well as an uncensored "Z rating."
Release
Before the game was released, a demo called the 1-Shot Demo was made available on January 11, 2019. It was offered on all major platforms and had a strict 30-minute time limit, ending when the timer reached zero. The demo begins with the player controlling Leon Kennedy at the start of the game and ends with a cinematic trailer that promotes the full version. The 1-Shot Demo was downloaded more than 4.7 million times worldwide. While some players disliked the 30-minute timer, the same demo was later released as the R.P.D. Demo without the timer and included an Easter egg featuring Nemesis to promote the upcoming Resident Evil 3 remake.
Resident Evil 2 was released on January 25, 2019, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One worldwide. It supports improved graphics on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, offering either 4K resolution or 60 frames per second. A collector's edition was available for the console versions, including a Leon S. Kennedy figurine, a hardcover art book, a R.P.D. renovation poster, and a digital soundtrack.
On December 12, 2019, a final update was added to the Resident Evil 2 remake. This update included a letter written by Jill Valentine, the main character of Resident Evil 3, to Leon Kennedy. The letter is found at Kendo's gun shop after Leon and Ada escape the police station. Reading the letter unlocks an achievement called "Chasing Jill."
Versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were announced on March 2, 2022, and released digitally on June 13, 2022, along with upgrades for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) and Resident Evil 3 (2020). These versions include improved visuals, such as ray-tracing and high-framerate modes. The PlayStation 5 version supports haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Players with PlayStation 4 or Xbox One can upgrade for free, and a free upgrade patch for the Windows version was released at the same time. A version for Amazon Luna was announced on May 26, 2022, and released on June 9, 2022. A Nintendo Switch cloud version was released on November 11, 2022. Versions for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS were released on December 10, 2024.
In October 2022, Capcom Japan and Universal Entertainment released a Pachislot game called PACHI-SLOT BIOHAZARD RE:2 for casinos. The outcome of battles depends on results from a roulette. The game also includes bonus modes where players must defend themselves from enemies.
In 2025, Bandai Namco announced an arcade version of Resident Evil 2, called Resident Evil 2: Arcade (previously known as Resident Evil 2: Dead Shot), which is also called Biohazard RE:2: Arcade in Japan. It is a rail shooter where players use light guns to aim at enemies on the screen, similar to The House of the Dead series. The game includes realistic recoil gun controllers, two-player co-op, air blasts, floor vibration effects, and 3D surround sound. It is planned for release in 2026, though no official date has been set.
Resident Evil 2 includes downloadable content (DLC) packs. These include five costumes for Leon and Claire: Leon has a sheriff outfit and a noir outfit, while Claire has a military outfit, a noir outfit, and a motorcycle suit worn by Elza Walker, the main character from the original game's development build. The noir outfits allow players to use a black-and-white filter. There are also three variations of the "Samurai Edge" handgun, based on models used by Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker in the first Resident Evil game. The Chris and Jill models were given as free extras to players who pre-ordered the game. Additionally, the Original Ver. Soundtrack Swap allows players to replace the game's soundtrack with the original version.
Later, on February 15, 2019, Capcom released the original models of Leon and Claire from the 1998 version as free DLC. A third bonus mode, The Ghost Survivors, includes four missions: "No Time to Mourn," "Runaway," "Forgotten Soldier," and "No Way Out." This mode focuses on side characters who die in the main story and shows alternate, non-canon scenarios where they survive. "No Time to Mourn" features Robert Kendo, the gun shop owner, who must reach a destination while fighting enemies. "Runaway" follows Katherine Warren, the mayor's daughter, who avoids being killed by Chief Irons. "Forgotten Soldier" follows Ghost, a special ops agent who survives an attack. "No Way Out" features Sheriff Daniel Cortini, who must defeat a wave of 100 zombies in the gas station from the beginning of the game. This mission unlocks after completing the other three.
Reception
Resident Evil 2 received "universal acclaim" for its PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, and "generally favorable reviews" for its Windows version, according to Metacritic. OpenCritic reports that 97% of 205 critic reviews recommend the game, with critics praising its scariness, gameplay, and faithfulness to the original. The consensus on the website states: "Resident Evil 2 is a top example of how to remake a game, combining the original's nostalgia with modernized and fresh gameplay to create an excellent experience for players old and new. This may be the best Resident Evil game ever released."
Ben Reeves of Game Informer wrote that "Resident Evil 2 not only looks great, it plays well, and it forces you into a series of dark encounters that are a total rush." Keith Stuart of The Guardian wrote that it was "a reminder of how beautifully crafted survival horror games were in their heyday." The Daily Telegraph's Tom Hoggins described the game as "a thrilling return to the legacy of the 1998 original."
IGN's Daemon Hatfield originally gave the game an 8.8 in his review, later raising it to a 9.0 after learning about an unlockable second playthrough that presents the story from another perspective. He stated in his review that "Capcom did a fantastic job of reviving all the best parts of the classic Resident Evil 2 and making it look, sound, and play like a 2019 game."
Chris Carter of Destructoid called the game "A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are minor and won't cause major problems." Aoife Wilson of Eurogamer described it as "a masterly reimagining of a modern classic." Polygon's Michael McWhertor wrote that Resident Evil 2 showcases "the very best of survival horror." Similar praise was given by Heather Alexandra of Kotaku, who wrote that the game "provides some of the best moments in the franchise." Alessandro Fillari of GameSpot said that with Resident Evil 2 "the classic survival horror franchise embraces its past in a new, exciting way."
Three million copies of Resident Evil 2 were shipped in its first week of release, and four million in its first month, with more than one million on Windows. It became Capcom's second largest launch on Steam after Monster Hunter: World from 2018. Resident Evil 2 debuted at number two on the Japanese charts with 252,848 retail sales, after Kingdom Hearts III. As of March, it was among the top 20 bestselling video games in Japan with more than 352,000 sold copies. Resident Evil 2 also topped the UK charts, becoming Capcom's biggest UK launch since Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017) in physical retail sales, and was the UK's best-selling game in January 2019, despite being available for only two days. By December 2019, the game had sold over 5.8 million copies, surpassing the sales of the original Resident Evil 2. It had sold over 10 million copies by July 2022, and 13.9 million copies by March 2024. By April 2025, it had sold 15.8 million copies. By January 2026, it had sold 16.871 million copies.