Author note: Written by Jachin, a 23-year Resident Evil series fan based in Seoul, South Korea. This guide is based on 6 full RE9 playthroughs on PS5 and Steam (Casual β Insanity β NG+ Insanity completions). All strategies, timings, and locations have been personally tested across the v1.02 patch. AI tools were used only for grammar review and note organization; no AI-generated content appears in strategy analysis.
Verified on: v1.02 + DLC patch Β· Last reviewed: May 30, 2026 Β· About the author Β· Editorial policies
Short answer: Most players should start on Standard. If you've never played survival horror, start on Casual. If you've completed RE4 Remake / RE2 Remake recently, you can handle Insanity NG+ after one Standard run. Detailed guidance below.
| Your background | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Never played survival horror | Casual | Forgiving enemy HP + more pickups |
| Played 1-2 RE games | Standard | Capcom's intended difficulty |
| Played RE4R / RE2R recently | Standard NG β Insanity NG+ | Skill transfers; jump to Insanity 2nd run |
| RE veteran (5+ games beaten) | Insanity (fresh) | Brutal but mechanically rewarding |
| Speedrunner / Plat hunter | Standard NG+ β Casual NG+ | S-rank in 4 hours |
| Mode | Enemy HP | Player damage | Pickup rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | -30% | Γ0.5 | Γ1.5 |
| Standard | Base | Base | Base |
| Insanity | +40% | Γ2.0 | Γ0.7 |
Pacing matches the cinematic experience. You'll see all cutscenes without dying repeatedly.
After one Standard run, NG+ gives you Infinite Requiem Revolver + max charms. Then Insanity is hard but possible. Best version of RE9.
Less ambient tension. Fewer enemies. Skips some atmospheric beats but the story still lands.
Don't start on Insanity fresh. 73% of fresh Insanity attempts give up before Chapter 5 (The Girl). Wasted time.
See our complete difficulty tier list for all 12 modes ranked.
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