Resident Evil 2 is Capcom's 2019 rebuild of the 1998 survival horror classic, released on 24 January 2019 and constructed from scratch on the RE Engine rather than remastered. Rookie police officer Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield arrive in Raccoon City on the worst possible night and end up barricaded inside the police station while an outbreak works through the population outside. The over the shoulder camera and modern controls replace the fixed angles and tank controls of the original, but the resource discipline is intact: ammunition is scarce, healing herbs need combining, and every corridor you clear can be repopulated. Each character has a separate playable campaign with a second run variant, and the difficulty tiers change the rules rather than just the numbers, with Hardcore removing autosave entirely. Treat it as a game about route planning and inventory management that happens to be terrifying.
Resident Evil 2 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raccoon City streets | Opening hour | Starting handgun, first healing items, the first taste of the resource economy | Claire 1st Run |
| 2 | Raccoon Police Department | Roughly the first half of every scenario | Shotgun or grenade launcher, hip pouches, most weapon upgrade parts, safe room typewriters | Claire 1st Run |
| 3 | R.P.D. underground facility | Mid scenario | Key items that gate progress, additional gunpowder and upgrade parts | Leon 1st Run |
| 4 | Sewers | Second half of the scenario | Progress key items, a strong test of ammunition discipline before the final stretch | Leon 1st Run |
| 5 | NEST | Final act | Endgame ammunition, the final encounters, and the completion time that decides your rank | Leon 1st Run |
Raccoon City streets: Starting Area
The opening stretch, where the game teaches you that ammunition does not solve problems and that walking past a threat is a valid answer. Short, linear and deliberately claustrophobic compared with what follows.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Opening hour |
| Key Rewards | Starting handgun, first healing items, the first taste of the resource economy |
| Recommended Build | Claire 1st Run |
| Key Equipment | W-870 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Four scenarios across two characters. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Raccoon Police Department.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Raccoon Police Department: Early Game
The heart of the game and one of the most carefully built maps in the series. It is a hub you return to repeatedly as new keys and tools open shortcuts, and learning its loops is the single biggest skill gain available.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Roughly the first half of every scenario |
| Key Rewards | Shotgun or grenade launcher, hip pouches, most weapon upgrade parts, safe room typewriters |
| Recommended Build | Claire 1st Run |
| Key Equipment | W-870 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Ink Ribbons and Hardcore saving. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for W-870 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in R.P.D. underground facility.
R.P.D. underground facility: Mid Game
The transitional area beneath the station, tighter and darker than the halls above it. Route knowledge matters here because there are fewer alternate paths when something is following you.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid scenario |
| Key Rewards | Key items that gate progress, additional gunpowder and upgrade parts |
| Recommended Build | Leon 1st Run |
| Key Equipment | W-870 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Matilda becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Inventory slots and item combining for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Sewers: Late Game
A maze of walkways and water with limited sightlines and enemies that punish running blindly. It is also where HUNK's bonus mode The 4th Survivor begins, running from the sewers to the R.P.D. front gate.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Second half of the scenario |
| Key Rewards | Progress key items, a strong test of ammunition discipline before the final stretch |
| Recommended Build | Leon 1st Run |
| Key Equipment | Matilda |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Matilda should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Rank system and infinite ammo unlocks mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into NEST.
NEST: Endgame
The underground laboratory that closes out each scenario, cleaner and more clinical than everything before it and with a much tighter time pressure. Bring what you have saved rather than expecting to find it here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Final act |
| Key Rewards | Endgame ammunition, the final encounters, and the completion time that decides your rank |
| Recommended Build | Leon 1st Run |
| Key Equipment | Matilda |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Hardcore difficulty for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Raccoon City streets → Raccoon Police Department → R.P.D. underground facility → Sewers → NEST. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Resident Evil 2 Guides
- Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 2 Overview
- Resident Evil 2 Best Builds
- Resident Evil 2 Tier List
- Resident Evil 2 Walkthrough
- Resident Evil 2 Beginner's Guide
- Resident Evil 2 Tips & Tricks
- Resident Evil 2 Weapons Guide
- Resident Evil 2 Combat Guide
- Resident Evil 2 Boss Guide
- Resident Evil 2 Crafting Guide
- Resident Evil 2 Classes & Characters
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