Resident Evil 2 is a 1998 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation. The player controls rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield, who must escape Raccoon City after its citizens are transformed into zombies by a biological weapon two months after the events of the original Resident Evil. The gameplay focuses on exploration, puzzles, and combat; the main difference from its predecessor are the branching paths, with each player character having unique storylines, partners and obstacles.
Resident Evil 2 was produced by Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami, directed by Hideki Kamiya, and developed by a team of approximately 50 across 21 months. The initial version, commonly referred to as Resident Evil 1.5, differs drastically; it was canceled at approximately two thirds completion because Mikami decided it was inadequate. The final design introduced a more cinematic presentation.
Resident Evil 2 received acclaim for its atmosphere, setting, graphics, audio, scenarios, overall gameplay, and its improvements over the original game, but with some criticism towards its controls, voice acting, and certain gameplay elements. It is widely listed among the best video games ever made. It is the best-selling Resident Evil game for a single platform at more than 6 million copies sold across all platforms. It was ported to Windows, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and GameCube, and a modified 2.5D version was released for the Game.com handheld. The story of Resident Evil 2 was retold and built upon in several later games, and has been adapted into a variety of licensed works. It was followed by Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in 1999. A remake was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in 2019.
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Resident Evil 2 (1998) GOG VERSION ON PC - FULL GAME (LEON A) - ON ENGLISH - 4K - No Commentary 📼, Nikoplay - Let's Play!. Watch on YouTube
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Worldwide | 2024-08-27 |
The Windows 9x version: UK 18 February 1999, Japan 19 February 1999, North America 4 March 1999. Higher resolutions than the PlayStation game. The disc has a simple disc check.
Windows XP re-release, February 2006.
From 27 August 2024, based on the original PC version. On Steam from 1 April 2026.
| Service | Tier | Added | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass | PC | 16 Jan 2024 |
Space needed4 GB
No DLC.
Playable offline todayYes
Single-player.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ever released on disc | Yes CD-ROM with a simple disc check. |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, GOG, 27 August 2024 Steam from 1 April 2026. |
| In the store to buy today | Yes, US$9.99 on Steam Also on GOG, DRM-free. |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes |
| Has online features | No Single-player only. |
| Online servers running today | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: DLC | Does not exist |
Plays offlineYes
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Developer | Capcom |
| Publisher (North America) | Capcom |
| Publisher (Europe) | Virgin Interactive Entertainment |
| Publisher (Japan) | Capcom, Tsukuda Original |
| Director | Hideki Kamiya |
| Producer | Shinji Mikami |
| Programmer | Yasuhiro Anpo |
| Writer | Noboru Sugimura |
| Composers | Masami Ueda, Shusaku Uchiyama, Syun Nishigaki |
| GOG and Steam release | GOG.com |
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