10 Games You Should Play Before Resident Evil 9

We’re just about at the tenth core game in the Resident Evil series, a most impressive feat, indeed. And not just in theory, but in the terrifying and deeply eerie atmospheric settings the bio-horror franchise has always managed to capture. It’s a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece that already sparks immense anticipation after the announcement of the upcoming Resident Evil 9, titled Resident Evil Requiem. 

Besides Grand Theft Auto VI, it’s the other Triple-A game we can’t wait to get our hands on in 2026. And based on the trailer, it sure does seem to be shaping up to deliver the most heart-pumping survival horror experience yet. While we wait for the developers to cross the final Ts and dot the final Is, we’re taking a look at the games you should play before Resident Evil 9, offering a similar calibre of immersiveness and bone-chilling experience.

10. Previous Resident Evil Games

Let’s just get it out of the way that the best place to begin your journey with Resident Evil 9 is with a firm knowledge of the series. It’s certainly not mandatory that you familiarize yourself with the story so far. Each core game has told a standalone story. Thus, allowing you to jump into the series from whatever point you prefer.

However, I will say that there are backstories that may be difficult to piece together. The characters in Resident Evil have been on a journey across the franchise. And there are reasons as to why they react the way they do. Learning these backstories by retracing your way through the series can be incredibly helpful in staying on top of the lore, plot points, and contextual settings.

If you haven’t got the time to play through the entire series, you can always check out the 2023 Resident Evil 4 Remake, which is way better than the 2005 original, graphically and mechanically. 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remake and 2002’s Resident Evil remake are also highly praised by fans for their fun mix of action and horror that’s enjoyable and grounded in terrifying zombie-apocalyptic settings.

9. Silent Hill 2 Remake

When talking about the best survival horrors, you won’t get far before mentioning Silent Hill. This truly is a hallmark of the genre, and 2024’s Silent Hill 2 remake helps bring the series to the contemporary world. It’s a pretty well-done entry, with mind-bending psychological horror often compared to Resident Evil.

It’s not just about exploring the haunted town of Silent Hill but also unraveling a deep story, juggling heavy themes of grief and guilt. And the visuals look stunning to round up a truly wholesome, bone-chilling experience. 

8. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

The Amnesia series as a whole is worthy of your time. However, you might want to stop by The Dark Descent, in particular. It’s the kind of game that plays with your psychological, incorporating scenes where you need to sneak around and run from scary monsters.

It might be a short story, but it’s definitely a sweet stressor. Keeping quiet when you hear creepy footsteps behind you isn’t as easy as it sounds. Yet you can’t help craving for more close calls at getting caught and reaching the end of the story in one piece.

7. Until Dawn

My personal horror would be reliving my death, over and over again. You know it’s coming: once you die, time just resets, and it’s another terrifying journey to your inevitable death. Until Dawn applies a similar concept in its playthrough, challenging you to survive just long enough until dawn breaks.

6. Signalis

Next on the games you should play before Resident Evil 9 is Signalis. It’s more specific to a futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian future. However, the key experience in uncovering a dark, cosmic mystery while surviving terrifying creatures. 

5. Alien: Isolation

Among the Alien entries, you can check out Isolation. You’re investigating your mother’s disappearance but wound up facing an even more menacing threat. All reads to Alien, a mortal dangerour creature that constantly stalks and kills in the shadows. 

4. Dead Space Remake

You might just as well be playing the original in Dead Space remake, only splashed with a fresh coat of paint. This sci-fi survival horror game has topped the charts as among the most immersive playthroughs. You’re solving a terrifying mystery that slaughtered your crew. Hostile creatures called Necromorphs are out to get you, as you try to find your partner and survive your own fragile sanity. 

3. Outlast 2

You definitely should add Outlast 2 to your list of the games you should play before Resident Evil 9. This psychological survival horror features a camera man and his partner, stumbling into the Arizona desert to find a disturbing darkness they can’t escape. 

2. Alan Wake 2

Another guy to stumble onto a living nightmare is Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2. You’re investigating a string of ritualistic murders, which predictably lead to a more corrupt and terrifying darkness.

Unknowingly, your story is tried to Alan Wake’s, a writer whose words are able to manipulate reality. Both protagonists have their own demons to face. But together, they just might bring light to a dastardly world. 

1. The Evil Within 2

The Evil Within shares the same developer, Shinji Mikami, as Resident Evil. So, you know you’re getting similar vibes. Yet, some fans will argue The Evil Within is the scariest game there is. It features a desperate detective, too, trying to find his daughter. But redemption lies in a nightmarish world called STEM.

Descend to the depths of the most horrifying monsters and constant dread. You’ll face environmental and puzzle challenges that test your wits and skills to survive. Fortunately, you have weapons and traps you can use to evade danger. And you can sneak, run, and hide, too, if you’re running short of ammunition. 

How far will you go for the ones you love? And with that, we wrap up our list of the games you should play before Resident Evil 9.