Before Resident Evil 7 brought the series back to its terrifying roots, there was Resident Evil Revelations 2, a scrappier, more inventive, and wildly underappreciated entry in the franchise. It arrived in weekly episodic chunks in early 2015, flew somewhat under the radar, and has been quietly gathering appreciation ever since. I recently went back and replayed it from start to finish — and I am here to tell you: this game does not get nearly enough credit. Let's revisit Resident Evil Revelations 2!
Let's take a look at Resident Evil Revelations 2 at a glance:
Notable stuff: Revelations 2 uses a dual-campaign structure — one following Claire Redfield and Moira Burton, and a parallel story featuring beloved RE veteran Barry Burton alongside a mysterious girl named Natalia. Two campaigns, two completely different gameplay dynamics, and one surprisingly emotional payoff. The episodic format, controversial at launch, actually gives the game a unique pull that few horror games can match.
Let's watch the trailer first...
What I liked about Resident Evil Revelations 2
The Dual-Character Partner System
The most creative mechanic in Revelations 2 is how it handles the two-character system — and each pairing plays completely differently. In Claire and Moira's campaign, Claire handles combat while Moira supports with a flashlight to stun enemies and uncover hidden items. Moira refuses to pick up firearms due to a psychological block from her past, and making that a gameplay restriction is a brilliant, story-driven design decision. In Barry's campaign, the dynamic reverses: Barry is the gun-toting action hero while young Natalia can sense hidden enemies and items through walls. Two partnerships, two completely fresh gameplay dynamics. It keeps the whole experience inventive from beginning to end.
Barry Burton Is Back!
For longtime Resident Evil fans, Barry Burton's return is pure celebration. The original S.T.A.R.S. legend — forever memorialized for "the master of unlocking" — is back in full protective-dad mode, desperately searching for his daughter Moira on a remote, hostile island. He is funny, warm, endearing, and surprisingly emotional. Watching Barry evolve from a beloved meme into a genuinely compelling action hero is one of Revelations 2's greatest achievements. His relationship with Natalia is touching, and their story delivers the emotional core of the entire game. Barry Burton fans, this is absolutely your game!
The Atmosphere and Setting
Revelations 2 takes place on a remote, oppressive island facility — and the setting works beautifully. The game rotates between dim prison corridors, fog-shrouded village streets, and crumbling industrial complexes, each environment dripping with tension and dread. The Afflicted — the game's primary enemy type — are genuinely unsettling creatures with erratic, unpredictable movement patterns that keep you constantly on edge. The horror roots of the Resident Evil series are very much alive here, and the atmosphere delivers in ways that the more action-focused RE entries of that era often failed to do.
The Episodic Format Works Surprisingly Well
I was skeptical of the episodic format going in, but it turns out to be one of Revelations 2's secret weapons. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger that makes you want to immediately jump into the next one. It creates a "just one more episode" pull that is usually reserved for prestige television, not video games. The structure also keeps pacing tight and focused — there is almost no filler, no padding. Every hour of the campaign earns its place.
Raid Mode — The Hidden Gem Within the Game
Raid Mode is an entirely separate game mode, and it is shockingly deep. You take on missions with randomized enemy placements and loot drops, either solo or with an online co-op partner. There is character leveling, weapon upgrading, cosmetic customization, and a huge variety of challenges across dozens of stages. Many players have put more hours into Raid Mode than the main campaign — and honestly, I completely understand why. It is endlessly replayable and the perfect palate cleanser between horror story sessions. This mode alone makes the game worth it.
Multiple Endings with Real Emotional Weight
Revelations 2 features multiple endings, and the choices you make during Barry's campaign determine which one you receive. The true ending requires specific actions that most players will not figure out on their first run — and when you finally reach it, the emotional payoff is genuine and unexpected. I did not anticipate caring this deeply about Barry Burton and Natalia's story. But here I am, genuinely moved. A Resident Evil game making you feel things? That is Revelations 2 quietly being better than you expected.
What could have been better?
The Episodic Format Also Created Pacing Issues
While the episodic structure is largely a strength, it comes with trade-offs. Each episode is kept short to fit the weekly release model, which means character development and world-building occasionally feel compressed. Some plot revelations — including the motivations of the game's main antagonist — get relatively little setup and resolution time. A few more hours of breathing room across the campaign would have smoothed out some noticeable rough edges in the storytelling.
The Villain Falls Flat
The main antagonist of Revelations 2, Alex Wesker, is interesting on paper: a brilliant scientist obsessed with transcending death and achieving immortality. But the execution does not quite land. Alex gets relatively little screen time, her relationship with key characters feels underdeveloped, and her final form lacks the menace the story needs at that point. Classic Resident Evil antagonists like Albert Wesker have a commanding, magnetic presence that Alex simply does not match. More villain development would have elevated the entire game's third act.
Moira's Reluctance to Pick Up Guns
Moira's refusal to use firearms is a creative, story-driven limitation — and I genuinely respect that. But in practice, there are moments in the game where you are desperately wishing she would just pick up the shotgun sitting right there in front of her. In local co-op especially, this can become a source of good-natured but genuine frustration. It is a bold design choice that does not always feel rewarding in the heat of a difficult encounter.
The Final Episode Feels Rushed
After building momentum and atmosphere across three strong episodes, the fourth and final chapter wraps up the story a bit too quickly. Several threads that the game spent time developing are resolved in rapid succession, and character arcs that deserved more space get compressed into brief cutscene moments. Given how much care went into the earlier episodes, the finale needed just a little more room to breathe and let its emotional beats truly land.
In Summary
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is exactly the kind of game that gets better with time and fresh perspective. It was somewhat overlooked on release — sandwiched between bigger titles and hampered by its episodic rollout — but viewed today, it stands as one of the most creative and content-rich entries in the entire Resident Evil franchise. Two inventive campaigns with distinct partner mechanics, a Raid Mode that could eat your weekends whole, and an emotional payoff that genuinely surprises you — this is a game that earns every hour you give it. Fire up that flashlight. It is time to go back to the island.
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