Do I Need to Play Resident Evil 1 and 2 Before 3?
The beloved Resident Evil series has given gamers numerous thrills over the years, with six main games, numerous side stories, and a sprawling narrative. One common inquiry among newcomers is whether to play Resident Evil 1 and 2 before embarking on the journey through Resident Evil 3.
Spoiler-Free Overview:
For those unfamiliar, Resident Evil 1 revolves around Chris Redfield as he delves into Spencer Mansion, while Resident Evil 2 explores Leon Kennedy’s attempt to save Claire from the hordes of hordes. Both games primarily take place in Raccoon City, where players must combat monstrous creatures spawned from a sinister corporation: Umbrella Corporation.
As for Resident Evil 3, set in the midst of a zombie outbreak within Raccoon City, players follow Jill Valentine (a primary character from Resi 1) who is battling to escape a city infested with all manner of creatures. Notably, this game directly connects with Resi 2 and explores Jill’s character development.
But Do I Need to Play the Previous Games?
Spoiler Alert: Skip to the next section to avoid mild spoilers.
Playability of Resident Evil games is more fluid than people think, thanks to narrative design choices and optional gameplay elements. For an ideal understanding, play Resident Evil in this order: 3, then 2.
The Lowdown
Here are key points demonstrating why the sequence doesn’t matter for an engaging Resi experience:
• Recap and Connections: Games within the first three entries in the franchise have explicit recap moments discussing previous events, allowing gamers to seamlessly pick up. Even when these scenes don’t explicitly discuss other games within the series, they cater to a newcomer’s starting point, giving you some context on what’s essential.
• Optional Historical Context: While some of the older games may reveal crucial lore and plot components, each entry provides comprehensive information without the need to play preceding titles. Consider the main story of previous games akin to an ancient history – essential to your understanding of the series – but with an optionality that ensures enjoyment.
For instance:
| Game # | Previous Knowledge Needed |
|—|— |
|1 | No
|2 | Yes but not explicitly needed. A recap session explains past events.
|3 | Some understanding beneficial but optional.
|Code: Veronica X | Part of RE1 story continuity, play if you don’t plan on playing through RE1. |
Additionally, players will encounter narrative threads between Resi games, including some character motivations and interactions, which have been rewritten to maintain each game’s independence. Therefore, players who begin without prior experience in the series and then discover other games’ connections won’t be alienated; rather, enjoying the narrative while understanding any connections made during the early stages will create a refreshing experience.
Reside in a Universe
To provide a balanced experience, ensure you read any pre-installed books or notes explaining the situation, especially upon starting your Resi journey at any game. All games will guide you, providing sufficient background information even if played in any non-sequential order.
Whether you delve into the sinister world of Resident Evil games in this specific order remains up to personal preference – the Resi series presents an array of choices which cater to the gamer with a specific style of exploring the lore.
Ultimate Advice
Your Journey
For a Resident Evil new-comer and veteran alike, this can be concluded in three (pun intended) words: You can start**
You don’t. Resident Evil games hold a balance of inter connectedness with enough information present within the game to inform you on key events allowing you to seamlessly pick any game up as you wish for an exhilarating experience.
Disclaimer: This statement is directed at players outside of Resident Evil’s continuity. Readers with a well-established grasp of the overall narrative will naturally find ways to reconcile connections and integrate new game into their playthrough