Three Essential Resident Evil Games to Play Before Requiem Drops

AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·

Three Essential Resident Evil Games to Play Before Requiem Drops

Polygon outlines the three essential Resident Evil games players should experience before Resident Evil Requiem launches, focusing on key titles that establish the lore, characters, and return to Raccoon City.

As Capcom prepares to launch the next major chapter in its iconic horror franchise, players are looking for the best ways to catch up on three decades of lore. Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be a massive nostalgic trip, bringing back veteran protagonist Leon S. Kennedy alongside classic locations like Raccoon City. Diving into thirty years of survival horror right before launch is a daunting task for anyone who skipped the older entries. Fortunately, a recent guide from Polygon highlights the three crucial titles you need to experience to fully appreciate the upcoming story.

At the top of the list is Resident Evil 2, which serves as the foundational text for Leon's character arc and introduces the ruined streets of Raccoon City. The game splits its narrative between Leon and Claire Redfield, giving players a front-row seat to the rookie cop's origins and introducing key supporting figures like Sherry Birkin. Community theorists and content creators are already dissecting recent trailers, pointing to potential connections between those early events and the radio dispatcher heard in the footage for Requiem. Exploring these roots gives necessary context for the emotional weight Leon carries into the new game.

The second essential stop is Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, putting players back into the boots of Jill Valentine as she navigates the collapse of Raccoon City while dodging the relentless biological weapon known as Nemesis. Alongside the original games, understanding these historical touchpoints helps modern players appreciate how far survival horror design has evolved across generations. Whether you are playing on current gen consoles, PC, or mobile devices, revisiting these milestones ensures you are fully prepared when Requiem launches. You can read the original breakdown over at Polygon.

Tags: Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom, Horror, Polygon, Gaming News

Original article: Polygon