Resident Evil 4 is chock-full of zombified villagers, creepy cultists and giant monsters – and if you want to survive them all, you’ll need a little prep. As you venture through this visually sumptuous reimagining of the survival-horror classic, these tips will help you save the president’s daughter and possibly escape with your life.

This game is available only on Mac with Apple silicon.

A headshot does heavy damage, but sometimes it’s smarter to aim lower. Shooting an enemy in the knee will make them stumble, giving you a chance to finish them off with an ammo-conserving roundhouse kick. And blasting a baddie in the hands will make them drop whatever they’re carrying – especially satisfying when it’s a torch that sets your foe on fire!

As you exit the Chief’s Manor at the start of Chapter 3, follow the sound of a dog whimpering in pain; you’ll spot a poor pooch caught in a bear trap. Free him and your good deed will be repaid: he’ll show up later to give you a helping paw against the massive boss known as El Gigante.

Upgrade weapons (including the knife) early and often – there’s little to be gained by saving your money for later. And don’t worry about picking the wrong gun: you can sell any upgraded weapon to the merchant and get back nearly everything you spent on enhancements.

Sometimes when you defeat a zombie, the parasite controlling it (called a Plaga) will burst out, looking to inflict damage. If you’re dealing with just one Plaga-controlled foe, focus your fire on the writhing creature. But if a bunch of Plagas are closing in, toss a flash-bang grenade to wipe out all of ’em at once. They can’t stand the light!

Many items are more valuable when used with others. Slot gems into treasures to create precious artefacts worth more than the sum of their parts. And save your healing herbs until you have enough to mix two or three into a more potent medicine; combining green, yellow and red herbs gives you a vial that heals all damage and raises your maximum health.

Crows drop a small pile of coins when defeated – they love to collect shiny things, after all – so take them out whenever you see them. If you come across an entire murder of crows (like at the quarry in Chapter 4), use a flash-bang to eliminate them all at once. Caw-ching!

This game contains mature content and may not be suitable for children under the age of 17.