It’s hard to think of many video game franchises over the last decade that have been as admirably consistent as Resident Evil, and it’s no coincidence that the series has exploded in popularity the way it has in that specific window of time. Of course, recent years have also seen he Resident Evil developer take every measure imaginable to ensure that the horror series keeps going from strength and strength and keeps expanding its audience- from top notch sequels and spectacular remakes to the incredible new Resident Evil movie reboot and plenty more, most of which has worked wonders for the franchise.
One small part of that continued initiative in recent months has been to bring Resident Evil’s biggest releases to new audiences with Switch 2 ports, and now, after impressive native ports for Nintendo’s hybrid device for both Resident Evil 7 and Village earlier this year (alongside, of course, Resident Evil Requiem’s day and date Switch 2 release), the developer has brought the trio of Resident Evil 2, 3, and RE4 Remakes to Nintendo’s platform- with (unsurprisingly so) similar results.
"One small part of that continued initiative in recent months has been to bring Resident Evil’s biggest releases to new audiences with Switch 2 ports"
By now, it should be no surprise that the Nintendo Switch 2 is more than capable of running (and running well) games that technically wowed us during the PS4 and Xbox One console generation- and so it’s no surprise that the aforementioned remake trio doesn’t face any significant issues either. That, of course, means that audiences can now experience (or re-experience) the modern survival horror classics on a whole new platform- which, given the flexibility in user experience the Switch 2 affords, is a massive plus.
There is, for starters, Resident Evil 2 of course- which, suffice it to say, is not only one of the best Resident Evil games ever game, but also a foundational survivor horror title in the modern era, and the perfect blueprint for what a reimagining of a beloved classic should hope to achieve.
When I first reviewed Resident Evil 2 back in 2019, I instantly fell in love with it and called it one of the best survival horror games ever made, and the years since done have done little to diminish my opinion of the game. Naturally, then, getting to experience what is probably my personal favourite Resident Evil game to date on the Switch 2 has been a wonderful experience for me, personally speaking- which also speaks a great deal about the quality of the port in question, in addition to the game itself.
"For newcomers and returning players both, Resident Evil 2’s Switch 2 version is a great way to experience the 2020 remake"
Leon and Claire’s nightmarish journey through Raccoon City and RPD has lost none of its luster, and it remains just as compelling on the Switch 2 as ever before. First and foremost, it touts absolutely incredible level design across some of Resident Evil’s most iconic locations, from the RPD building and Raccoon City’s sewers to Umbrella’s underground NEST lab and more.
All of that is bolstered in turn by spectacular combat, terrifying atmosphere, smartly design puzzles, heart-pounding boss fights, and of course, the near constant, pervasive threat of one of gaming’s most notorious stalker enemies ever in the Tyrant, aka Mr. X. For newcomers and returning players both, Resident Evil 2’s Switch 2 version is a great way to experience the 2020 remake, especially if you’re the sort of player who values the Switch 2’s portability.
Resident Evil 3’s port is equally successful at bringing the original experience over to Nintendo’s platform- which means it is a pleasantly solid port of what was ultimately a disappointing game. When I reviewed it in 2020, I called the Resident Evil 3 remake a solid action horror experience in its own right that was nonetheless a disappointing reimagining of the game that it was based on, and tat is something I very much stand by.
There’s a lot that I still love about 2020’s RE3. Jill Valentine is an incredible protagonist, and perhaps one of the iconic character’s best portrayals to date. Alongside her, Carlos Riveira serves as a great deuteragonist, while they’re also joined by a solid supporting cast. The star of the show is, of course, Nemesis, the relentless bioweapon who stalks Jill throughout the length of the story. From a storytelling perspective, Resident Evil 3 is, for the most part, a solid retelling of the original 1999 PS1 game that it reimagines.
Those strengths, however, are also some of its greatest weaknesses. The RE3 remake has been infamously divisive for how it cut out content and made controversial changes to the original PS1 title, and frankly, those disappointments are no easier to get over. The Clock Tower is MIA, Raccoon City isn’t as fully explorable as it should be, Nemesis isn’t the pervasive, unrelenting stalker threat that he was always supposed to be- and that’s just scratching the surface.
At the end of the day, even though Resident Evil 3 is a solid, brief, and enjoyable action horror game in its own right, it doesn’t live up to its potential the way it should have- and certainly doesn’t manage to match the highs of the Resident Evil 2 remake.
"The RE3 remake has been infamously divisive"
Then we have RE4 remake. Leon S. Kennedy’s harrowing mission to rescue Ashley Graham from the clutches of the enemies is as captivating as it ever has been, with tense action, adrenaline fueled boss fights, and all of the camp and corniness that we have come to expect from Resident Evil.
I’d also be remiss not to point out just how technically impressive these ports are. The developer has always been in the habit of putting out graphical megatons, and the Resident Evil series in general is no stranger to doing that, especially in the RE Engine era. Resident Evil 2, 3, and RE4 Remakes are all, in fact, among the most graphically and technically impressive games of the modern era- and impressively, the Switch 2 doesn’t struggle to host these staggering experiences.
Of course, they don’t look quite as good as they do on, say, the PS5 Pro, but RE2, 3, and RE4 Remakes are all visually striking experiences on the Switch 2. Resident Evil 2’s shocking gore effects don’t quite seem as gory, and RE4 Remake’s port has plenty of noticeable texture pop in and slow loading assets, but by and large, the Switch 2 does an admirable job of running these graphical beasts.
Since the Nintendo Switch 2’s release in 2025, the developer has made it abundantly clear that it intends to support the console the same way it supports others, and Resident Evil 2, 3, and RE4 Remakes ports are further proof of the company’s commitment to Nintendo’s hybrid device. Regardless of whether you’re a returning fan looking to dive back into the horror franchise’s remake offerings, or a newcomer looking for an entry point, you can’t go wrong with the Switch 2 versions of this trio of remakes.
This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2.
All games look and play excellent.
Some minor technical issues.
