Resident Evil 4 vs Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 4 Remake is the better action game; Resident Evil 2 Remake is the better horror game. RE4 is confident, generous with ammo and built around crowd control. RE2 is claustrophobic, resource-starved and has Mr X following you through the police station.

What They Have in Common

Same studio, same remake engine, same over-the-shoulder combat with satisfying, deliberate aiming.

Pick Resident Evil 4 if you want action.

The parry knife, the crowd fights and the sheer pace make it the most purely enjoyable of the two. It is also the better first Resident Evil.

More like this: games like Resident Evil 4.

Pick Resident Evil 2 if you want to be frightened.

The police station is one of the best level designs in games, the two scenarios give it real replay value, and the tension never lets up.

More like this: games like Resident Evil 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I play Resident Evil 4 or Resident Evil 2 first?

Resident Evil 4 Remake is the better action game; Resident Evil 2 Remake is the better horror game. RE4 is confident, generous with ammo and built around crowd control. RE2 is claustrophobic, resource-starved and has Mr X following you through the police station.

Is Resident Evil 4 better than Resident Evil 2?

Better is the wrong question for these two — they are close enough that the answer depends on what you want from the next twenty hours. Pick Resident Evil 4 if you want action. Pick Resident Evil 2 if you want to be frightened.

Are these comparisons based on review scores?

No. There are no scores anywhere on this page. This is a written opinion about what each game is for, so you can judge whether it matches what you are after.

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