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 → Insanity → 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 · Last reviewed: May 30, 2026 · About the author · Editorial policies
All 8 RE9 chapters ranked best to worst. Based on pacing, story payoff, combat variety, memorable moments, and replay value. Not a difficulty ranking — this is which chapters are actually great to play, regardless of mode. Both Grace and Leon campaigns covered.
| Rank | Chapter | Setting | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chapter 8: ARK Facility | Underground bio-lab | S-tier — must-experience |
| #2 | Chapter 6: RPD & Orphanage | Raccoon City interior | S-tier — must-experience |
| #3 | Chapter 2: Rhodes Hill Care Center | Hospital exploration | A-tier — excellent |
| #4 | Chapter 7: Raccoon City Square | Urban Leon chapter | A-tier — excellent |
| #5 | Chapter 3: Care Center Basement | Underground anatomy lab | B-tier — solid |
| #6 | Chapter 5: Water Treatment Plant | Industrial Grace chapter | B-tier — solid |
| #7 | Chapter 4: Courtyard | Outdoor stealth section | C-tier — uneven |
| #8 | Chapter 1: Wrenwood Hotel | Opening tutorial | C-tier — slow |
Each chapter was scored across 5 dimensions:
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pacing & density | Story beats, combat encounters, exploration per hour | 25% |
| Story payoff | Major reveals, character moments, lore depth | 25% |
| Combat variety | Enemy types, boss encounters, mechanic teaching | 20% |
| Memorable moments | Set-pieces, jump scares, atmosphere | 15% |
| Replay value | NG+, Insanity, ending-hunt incentives | 15% |
Why #1: The franchise's most ambitious finale chapter in 20 years. Three boss fights back-to-back: Plant 43 → The Commander → Chunk. Multiple story reveals (Vivien research, Eveline foreshadowing, Mia's arrival). Connects both Grace and Leon's campaigns. The Final Choice QTE that determines your ending. 4-6 hours of content packed into one chapter.
Standout moment: The Sterilization Chamber sequence — atmospheric horror peak. Grace's emotional breakdown is one of the strongest character beats in modern RE.
Replay value: ★★★★★ Different ending paths require different choices. NG+ Insanity unlocks Chunk's full backstory codex.
See our complete ARK Facility walkthrough.
Why #2: The RE2 callback chapter. Leon enters the Raccoon Police Department — same RPD as RE2 Remake (but 28 years older). Mr. X transformation into Super Tyrant. Orphanage section adds tonal variety (psychological horror). Every long-time RE fan will scream at the architecture.
Standout moment: Walking into the RPD main hall. Capcom designed it to be identical to RE2 Remake but aged 28 years. Veterans cry.
Replay value: ★★★★★ Mr. X / Super Tyrant fight changes drastically on Insanity.
See our RPD & Orphanage walkthrough.
Why #3: Grace's primary exploration chapter. Major story setup — finding Vivien Ashcroft's research papers (the Eveline-Vivien theory starts here). Multiple hidden files. The atmosphere is thick — abandoned medical equipment, mold growing through walls. First mini-boss (Blister Borne). Just slightly below S-tier because pacing is exploration-heavy without major combat peaks.
Standout moment: The records office discovery — finding Vivien's 2009 research notes is the franchise's most lore-significant Easter egg.
Replay value: ★★★★ Long chapter rewards re-exploration. NG+ unlocks hidden filing cabinet content.
See our Care Center walkthrough.
Why #4: Leon's urban chapter. Open exploration of post-incident Raccoon City. Titan Spinner boss fight in elevated urban environment. Strong atmospheric continuity with chapter 6's RPD nostalgia. Slightly below #3 because story content is lighter — it's more action-focused.
Standout moment: Vertical Titan Spinner phase — the city becomes the arena.
Replay value: ★★★★ Insanity's Titan Spinner Phase 4 makes replay essential.
See our Raccoon City walkthrough.
Why #5: Direct continuation of Chapter 2. Features the Organless Corpse puzzle (one of RE9's best mechanical puzzles). Anatomy lab atmosphere is genuinely creepy. Chunk's first proper encounter happens here. Drops from A-tier because it's essentially a continuation chapter without its own identity.
Standout moment: The Organless Corpse puzzle reveal — finding the artificial heart and lungs feels rewarding.
Replay value: ★★★ Puzzle solved is puzzle solved.
See our Care Center Basement walkthrough + puzzle solution.
Why #6: Grace's industrial chapter. The Girl boss fight is divisive (some love the concept, many find it tedious). Strong industrial atmosphere. The chapter is shorter than others and feels more like a corridor than open exploration. Drops to B-tier due to The Girl's mixed reception.
Standout moment: Initial stealth approach to The Girl — the build-up is excellent before the fight itself becomes frustrating.
Replay value: ★★★ The Girl fight is the limiting factor for many players.
See our Water Treatment walkthrough.
Why #7: Short outdoor stealth chapter. Atmospheric but undercooked. Mostly avoiding patrols and traversing exteriors. Lacks meaningful combat or story beats. Functions as a "breather" between Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 but feels skippable.
Standout moment: First aerial drone encounter — interesting concept that goes underdeveloped.
Replay value: ★★ Fast to speedrun, low replay incentive.
See our Courtyard walkthrough.
Why #8: The opening tutorial. Designed to teach mechanics and establish atmosphere. Drags slightly in the middle. Chunk's first appearance is here, which is good — but the chapter's pacing makes it feel like Capcom is dragging out player onboarding. Many speedrunners cite this as the chapter they wish they could skip.
Standout moment: The basement boiler discovery — Chunk's introduction is genuinely unsettling.
Replay value: ★★ NG+ players skip-walk through.
See our Wrenwood Hotel walkthrough.
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best story chapter | Chapter 8: ARK Facility | All major reveals + Final Choice |
| Most atmospheric | Chapter 6: RPD & Orphanage | RE2 nostalgia + psychological horror |
| Best combat chapter | Chapter 7: Raccoon City Square | Vertical Titan Spinner battle |
| Best puzzle chapter | Chapter 3: Care Center Basement | Organless Corpse |
| Best for NG+ speedrun | Chapter 4: Courtyard | Skippable content, fast traversal |
| Most replayable | Chapter 8: ARK Facility | Different endings on each playthrough |
| Best for lore fans | Chapter 2: Care Center | Vivien research papers + missables |
| Most skippable on Insanity | Chapter 1: Wrenwood Hotel | Tutorial pacing wears on Insanity replays |
RE9's chapters are mostly linear, but the campaign-split structure (Grace + Leon) gives you choice. Recommended first-time order:
If you play Leon first, you'll miss some emotional resonance. Capcom's recommended order (per Famitsu) is Grace → Leon.
Q: This ranking has Wrenwood Hotel last. Isn't Chapter 1 important for first-time players?
A: Important for onboarding, yes. But "important" ≠ "good." Chapter 1 spends too long teaching mechanics. Newer RE games (RE4 Remake, RE8) handle tutorial chapters more efficiently.
Q: Where does the Insanity chapter walkthrough rank?
A: Insanity walkthrough is technically the same chapters but with brutal difficulty. The chapters don't change structure — only enemy scaling. Same tier rankings apply.
Q: Are there hidden chapters or post-game content?
A: NG+ doesn't add new chapters but unlocks: Chunk encrypted file (Grace), Ada beacon (Leon), Eveline reference photo (Insanity-only). See NG+ guide.
Q: Can I skip chapters?
A: No — story chapters are mandatory. However, Casual difficulty + speedrun route can compress Chapter 1 and Chapter 4 significantly.
Q: Is the chapter order canonical?
A: Yes. Chapter 1 (Wrenwood) is January 2026. Chapter 8 (ARK) is February 2026 in-universe. The campaign is roughly 6 weeks of game time.
Q: Will RE10 follow a similar structure?
A: Director Nakanishi confirmed dual-protagonist campaigns may continue. Chapter count and structure aren't announced yet but RE10 will likely follow RE9's split-narrative model.
Q: Are the rankings different for completionists vs casual players?
A: Slightly. Completionists value Chapter 2 (Care Center) and Chapter 3 (Basement) more highly because of missable collectibles. Casual players will rank Chapter 8 #1 across the board.
Was this guide helpful? Let us know — we update tier rankings monthly based on community feedback and balance patches.
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