Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake): Complete Guide

This guide covers the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4: combat fundamentals (parries, kicks, crowd control), the Merchant economy and which weapons to invest in, treasures and requests, protecting Ashley, a spoiler-light area and boss outline, unlockables, and the Separate Ways and Mercenaries modes.

Researched September 2026. Current as of the final content set: base game, the free Mercenaries mode (April 7, 2023), the Separate Ways DLC (September 21, 2023), and the Gold Edition bundle. Capcom's newest release is Resident Evil Requiem (February 27, 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• Headshot, then kick. Shooting a Ganado in the head or knee staggers them. Walk up and use the melee prompt for a roundhouse kick that hits everyone around them.
• Parry with your knife. Pressing block at the right time parries most melee attacks, and even chainsaws with the right timing. It's the remake's most important new mechanic.
• Knives break. Your knife has durability. Repair it at the Merchant, and pick up the disposable knives you find (Kitchen Knife, Boot Knife) as backup.
• Stab downed enemies. Kill downed or stunned enemies with the knife before they get up, and before a Plaga bursts out.
• Upgrade a few weapons fully instead of many partly. Pesetas are limited. A strong handgun, a shotgun, and a rifle cover most situations.
• Do the Merchant's requests. Blue notices give Spinels, the currency for rare items and upgrades.
• Combine treasures before you sell them. Treasures with gem sockets are worth much more when you fill them, and matching gem colors add bonuses.
• Keep Ashley close and out of the line of fire. Use the Ashley command to switch between close and loose following.
• Craft ammo with Gunpowder and Resources. Craft what you're short on. The game's drops also adapt to what you're low on.
• Save manually at typewriters in several slots.

Combat Fundamentals

Parry and Knife

• Parry: block at the right moment to deflect melee attacks. A perfect parry opens enemies for a counterattack.
• Knife stealth kills: crouch-walk behind unaware enemies for a silent kill.
• Knife durability: the Combat Knife can be repaired and upgraded. Disposable knives break for good.
• Primal Knife: an unbreakable knife earned by destroying all the Clockwork Castellans hidden through the game (spoiler: there are 16).

Crowd Control

• Shoot to stagger, then kick. The kick hits several enemies.
• Grenades: flash grenades destroy exposed Plagas and stun groups. Frag grenades clear crowds.
• Doorways and ladders: fight enemies where they're forced to come to you one by one.
• Explosive barrels and traps: use the environment.

Dealing with Plagas

Some killed Ganados sprout a Plaga from their neck. Flash grenades kill exposed Plagas instantly. Otherwise, shoot them fast before they reach you.

Weapons and Upgrades

The Merchant

• Buy, sell, and upgrade weapons, and repair knives.
• Upgrades: firepower, reload speed, capacity, and more. Fully upgrading a weapon unlocks its Exclusive Upgrade (for example, a big damage or capacity boost).
• Attaché case: expand it for more inventory space, and change cases and charms for bonuses.
• Spinel shop: trade Spinels for treasure maps, attachments, cases, Exclusive Upgrade Tickets, and more.

Weapon Picks

Category | Options | Notes

Handguns | SG-09 R, Punisher, Red9, Blacktail, Matilda | Red9 (with stock) is a strong damage pick. The Punisher pierces through multiple enemies

Shotguns | W-870, Riot Gun, Striker | Main crowd control. The Striker's capacity is great

Rifles | SR M1903, Stingray, CQBR Assault Rifle | For long range and heads. The Stingray is semi-automatic

Submachine guns | TMP, LE 5 | Quick damage to groups and bosses

Magnums | Broken Butterfly, Killer7 | Boss damage

Special | Bolt Thrower | Silent, reusable bolts, and mines

Rocket Launcher | Rocket Launcher, Infinite Rocket Launcher (unlock) | Boss finisher

Upgrades carry into New Game+, so don't worry about "wasting" pesetas on a weapon you like.

Treasures, Requests, and Money

• Treasures: sell them to the Merchant for pesetas. Some have gem sockets. Filling them with gems raises the value, and matching colors or shapes add bonuses.
• Requests: blue notices at the start of or throughout each area. They're mini tasks like shooting blue medallions, killing a specific enemy, or finding an item. They reward Spinels.
• Shooting Range: the Merchant's shooting gallery gives tokens for charms, which give small passive bonuses to your attaché case.
• Sell unused weapons only if you're sure you're done with them. Upgrades count toward their sale price.

Peseta Spending Plan (first playthrough)

• Attaché case upgrades early. More space means more ammo and healing.
• One handgun fully upgraded (Red9 or Blacktail). Handgun ammo is the most common.
• One shotgun (Riot Gun or Striker) for crowds and emergencies.
• One rifle for long range and heads.
• Magnum ammo for bosses. Buy magnums when you can afford them, but don't sink everything into them early.
• Healing: first-aid sprays for emergencies, and herbs mixed (Green + Red, Green + Yellow) for efficient healing. Yellow herbs raise max HP.

Herb Mixing

Mix | Effect

Green | Small heal

Green + Green | Bigger heal

Green + Red | Full heal

Green + Yellow | Heal plus a max-HP bonus

Green + Red + Yellow | Full heal plus a max-HP bonus

Mercenaries Tips

• Mercenaries is a timed wave mode. Kills extend time and raise your multiplier.
• Pick a character with good crowd control for your first runs.
• Chain kills to keep the combo going.
• Learn spawn points and use stages' chokepoints.

Protecting Ashley

• Ashley doesn't have a health bar. She falls when hit and needs help. If she's carried off or killed, it's game over.
• Commands: switch between keeping her close and letting her hang back.
• Watch your shots. Hitting her with your weapons counts too.
• Clear threats before moving her through open areas.

Area and Boss Outline (spoiler-light)

The main game has 16 chapters across three regions.

Region | Highlights

The Village | Arrival, the village siege, the lake, Del Lago, El Gigante, Bitores Méndez

The Castle | Salazar's castle, puzzles, Verdugo, and Ramón Salazar

The Island | The final stretch: Jack Krauser and Osmund Saddler

Boss Tips

• Del Lago: harpoon it from the boat, avoid obstacles, and cut the rope quickly if you're dragged in.
• El Gigante: shoot it until the Plaga comes out of its back, then climb up and slash it.
• Bitores Méndez: phase 1, shoot him and keep your distance. Phase 2, shoot the exposed weak point.
• Verdugo: use the environment and limit its movement. It's weak to cold, so use what the area gives you.
• Ramón Salazar: shoot the eye weak points and dodge the tentacle attacks.
• Jack Krauser: a knife fight, so parry. Later, a multi-phase fight with ranged options.
• Osmund Saddler: shoot the eyes, then attack the weak spot when he's stunned.

Difficulty and Unlockables

Difficulty | Notes

Assisted | Easiest, with aim assistance

Standard | Recommended for first runs

Hardcore | Tougher enemies and scarcer resources

Professional | Unlocks after beating the game. Very punishing

• Extra Content Shop: spend Completion Points (earned from Challenges) on bonus items, costumes, figures, and modes.
• Infinite Rocket Launcher: becomes available once you've beaten the game. It's very expensive, so plan on saving up for it in New Game+.
• New Game+: carry over weapons, upgrades, and inventory.
• Mercenaries mode: a wave-based score mode with several characters. Unlocked from the main menu.

Separate Ways (DLC)

• Ada Wong's side story, told alongside Leon's campaign.
• Ada uses a grappling hook and the I.R.I.S. scanning system for investigation.
• Released September 21, 2023. Included in the Gold Edition.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not using the parry. It's the main defensive tool.
• Ignoring requests. Spinels give you valuable rare items.
• Selling treasures before socketing them.
• Upgrading too many weapons.
• Forgetting to repair the Combat Knife.
• Letting Ashley wander. Keep her close in dangerous areas.
• Hoarding grenades. Use them for crowds and Plagas.
• Skipping the Shooting Range. Its charms are free bonuses.

Advanced Tips

• Crouch-walking and stealth kills thin groups before a fight.
• Knee shots stagger enemies more reliably than headshots when crowds rush you.
• Keep one "panic button", like a flash grenade or shotgun, loaded and ready.
• Use the Bolt Thrower's mine attachment to set traps.
• Exclusive Upgrades are powerful. Pick one weapon and max it out.
• For S+ ranks, learn routes and use only the weapons you need. Speed matters.
• Mercenaries is great practice for crowd control.

FAQ

Is the remake different from the 2005 original? Yes. It has the same core story with a lot of new content, parries, knife durability, stealth, improved Ashley mechanics, and reworked areas.

How many chapters are there? 16 in the main campaign.

What's in the Gold Edition? The base game, Separate Ways, and extra DLC content.

What's the best weapon? It depends on your playstyle. The Red9, Striker, Stingray, and Killer7 are all popular picks.

How do I get the Infinite Rocket Launcher? It unlocks after you finish the game and costs a lot, so save up in New Game+. Check the in-game shop menus for the exact price and unlock condition on your save.

Is there a VR mode? A VR mode was added for PlayStation VR2 (December 2023). The PC version doesn't have an official VR mode.

Sources

• Resident Evil 4 (2023) on Steam
• Resident Evil 4 (2023 video game): Wikipedia (DLC dates, mechanics)
• Resident Evil 4 Steam news feed
• "Resident Evil Requiem out now!" (Feb 27, 2026)