Resident Evil 3is the latest entry in theResident Evilfranchise, beforeResident Evil Villagearrives later this summer. AlthoughResident Evil 3is the reimagining of 1999’sResident Evil 3: Nemesis, it is technically a new entry in the franchise with all the story and gameplay overhauls. For many, 2020’sResident Evil 3is the first time they encountered the relentless Nemesis and discovered a different side of the Raccoon City incident.
Fans ofResident Evil 3might find the upcomingResident Evil Villagea bit different, as it builds upon the foundation laid by 2017’sResident Evil 7rather thanResident Evil 3. While both games are built upon the same RE Engine, newcomers that are moving on fromResident Evil 3toResident Evil Villageshould keep a few things in mind.
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Resident Evil Village: A Shift In Perspective
UnlikeResident Evil 3,Resident Evil Villageplays from a first-person perspective.Resident Evil Villagefollows in the footsteps ofResident Evil 7as a more grounded survival horror experience. Whereas Jill is a fierce soldier having years of combat training, Ethan is a mere civilian just finding ways to survive. This shift in perspective with Ethan returning inResident Evil Villagemeans that players will be stepping in Ethan’s shoes to face the terror upfront.
Defend, Not Dodge
2020’sResident Evil 3allowed players to dodge their enemies when timed correctly. This led to a more aggressive combat style where players could get up close to enemies such as Nemesis and still have a window to make a clean exit. This risk and reward system led to some enthralling moments that madeResident Evil 3a more action-driven horror game.
InResident Evil Village, players won’t be able to dodge an enemy’s attack, which will lead to a sense of vulnerability during crowded encounters. However, players will be able to defend themselves by guarding, a first for the series. Additionally, players can also push away enemies to clear some ground. Capcom has not confirmed whether guarding and pushing is limited to certain enemies or could be performed during boss battles as well. Though, it would be interesting to see how it affects these encounters.
Campaign Length
The 2020remake ofResident Evil 3made a lot of changes from the originalResident Evil 3. There were many narrative beats, enemy encounters, and alternative endings removed from the game that led to a 5-6 hours long campaign in contrast to the original’s 7-8 hours one. By modern standards,Resident Evil 3is a fairly short experience that could be summed up in a single sitting.
However, Capcom is taking a different approach forResident Evil Village. Unlike prior entries in the series,Resident Evil Villagefeatures a semi-openworld that players will get to explore. While an exact number has not been confirmed,Resident Evil Villageis rumored to be the longest RE Engine game to date. Players disappointed with the short length ofResident Evil 3’scampaign will get plenty of hours to sink intoResident Evil Village.
Resident Evil Villageis also a tonal shift for the series. The evil that lurks in its snow surrounded village and victorian castle grounds arevampires and werewolvesinstead of the mutated T-Virus zombies. Overall,Resident Evil Villageis shaping up to be an ambitious sequel that looks to be adding to the series' frantic survival horror roots rejuvenated inResident Evil 7.
Resident Evil Villagereleases on July 26, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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