Resident Evil 2 is a survival horror game released in 1998 by Capcom for the PlayStation. Players take on the roles of Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie police officer, and Claire Redfield, a college student, as they attempt to escape the zombie-infested Raccoon City. The outbreak is caused by a biological weapon, and the story takes place two months after the events of the first Resident Evil game. The gameplay centers around exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, with a notable feature being its dual campaign paths—each character has a unique storyline, allies, and challenges.

The game was directed by Hideki Kamiya and produced by Shinji Mikami, the creator of the original Resident Evil. Development lasted around 21 months and involved a team of about 50 people. An early version of the game, often referred to as “Resident Evil 1.5,” was scrapped late in development because it didn’t meet the creators’ standards. The final version embraced a more cinematic direction and refined gameplay mechanics.

Upon release, Resident Evil 2 was praised for its dark atmosphere, engaging environments, improved visuals and sound design, and its refined gameplay compared to its predecessor. While some critics pointed out clunky controls and inconsistent voice acting, the game is still widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time. It sold over six million copies across all platforms, becoming the best-selling entry in the series for a single platform. It was later ported to Windows, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and GameCube, and a reimagined version was made for the Game.com handheld. The story and characters from Resident Evil 2 would influence later titles and media adaptations. The game received a full remake in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, reintroducing it to a new generation of players.