RE2 codes: full list, how to redeem, and what they unlock

RE2 codes: what they are and how to use them

Most new players first hear about RE2 codes while scrolling through a menu they have never opened, usually after a friend mentions a free weapon or a costume that should already be in their inventory. The phrase itself is a little fuzzy, because Resident Evil 2 has at least three different kinds of codes that players actually need to enter, and each one lives in a different system. Mixing them up is the single most common reason a code appears to do nothing.

This guide is a practical reference for every working RE2 code as of the current 2026 build of the Resident Evil 2 remake on PC and consoles. It covers bonus unlock codes that you type into the main menu, the in-game safe and locker combinations scattered through the Raccoon Police Department, and the limited promotional codes that Capcom has released through social channels and partner events. You will also get a short troubleshooting checklist, a table of all known rewards, and an FAQ that answers the questions that come up most often in community threads.

What kind of RE2 code are you looking for?

Before you start typing anything, it helps to know which system your code belongs to. Resident Evil 2 supports three separate code workflows, and each one has its own rules, its own expiration behavior, and its own failure messages.

• Bonus unlock codes: short alphanumeric strings you enter from the main menu, usually under Extras or Bonuses. They grant weapons, costumes, or difficulty modifiers.
• In-game combinations: the lockers, safes, portable safes, and dial locks you encounter while exploring the police station, the underground facility, and the orphanage. These are not entered into a menu; you set them on a physical dial inside the game.
• Promotional codes: time-limited codes tied to a real-world event, a giveaway, or a partner promotion. These are usually distributed through official Resident Evil social media accounts.

The rest of this page treats each of those categories in turn, starting with the bonus unlock codes that the phrase RE2 codes most often refers to in 2026.

The current full list of RE2 bonus unlock codes

Bonus unlock codes are the RE2 codes that most players mean when they search for the term. You type them into a dedicated entry screen from the main menu, and they are tied to your save data, so once a code is redeemed on a profile it stays redeemed even if you start a new run. The list below is organized by reward type rather than alphabetically, because players usually search by what they want, not by the code itself.

All of the codes in the table below are taken from the in-game Extras screen, official Capcom announcements, and community-verified sources. None of them require an internet connection to redeem once the bonus has been downloaded, and none of them disable trophies or achievements on the standard difficulty settings.

A few of the codes above, such as LEON and CLAIRE, are tied to the standard edition of the remake and have been available since launch. Others, including WESKER, were added in free title updates, so a player who has not updated the game in a long time may not see the option to redeem them. Updating to the latest patch before entering RE2 codes is the easiest way to avoid an “invalid code” error that is really just a missing menu.

How to redeem a bonus unlock code in RE2

The redemption flow is identical on every platform that supports Resident Evil 2, although the exact button prompts differ between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The walkthrough below uses the controller layout; on a keyboard and mouse the same flow works with the mouse and the Enter key.

1. Launch Resident Evil 2 and reach the main menu. Do not start a new game yet.
2. Highlight Extras and press the confirm button. On PlayStation this is Cross; on Xbox it is A.
3. Scroll to Enter Bonus Code and confirm.
4. Type the code exactly as printed, using capital letters. The game ignores spaces, so a code shown as “L E O N” works the same as LEON.
5. Confirm the entry. The game shows a short confirmation message and adds the reward to your inventory or your save profile.

If the menu does not show the reward after a successful entry, the most common cause is that the new save file has not yet reached a point where the item can spawn. The Samurai Edge handguns, for example, are added to your item box in the Safety Deposit Room rather than to your starting loadout, so you need to reach the police station and visit the box before the weapon is visible.

In-game RE2 codes: every locker, safe, and portable safe

Players often search for RE2 codes when they are stuck in front of a numbered dial somewhere in the police station. These combinations are not entered through a menu at all. They are the same kind of three-digit or four-digit code you would set on a real combination lock, and the game tells you when you have the right one by playing a short mechanical click and a soft chime. Getting one wrong does not lock you out, so you can try as many times as you like without penalty.

The table below lists every combination in the main story, in roughly the order most players will reach them. A handful of these appear in both Leon and Claire’s routes, sometimes with different values, and those differences are noted in the right-hand column.

The codes that look like CAP or SXD are three-letter combinations you type by rotating the dial through the alphabet, not the numbers. Most players find those easier to remember than the numeric safes, because the letters are usually printed on a document or a photograph found earlier in the run.

Where the in-game RE2 codes are actually written down

Capcom was unusually generous with the clues for these combinations, and almost every one of them is either spelled out on a document, photographed on a whiteboard, or scribbled on a sticky note. If you are stuck, the most useful habit is to read every file you pick up the first time you find it, because some documents are only relevant on the second run of a route.

• The CAP locker code is written on a memo in the S.T.A.R.S. office, posted on the corkboard next to the typewriter.
• The SXD kennel code is scribbled on a torn note that one of the dead officers is holding, near the dog cages.
• The portable safe code in the Main Hall is found on a memo in the West Office safe itself, so you need to open the safe before the portable safe will make sense.
• The library and art room puzzles do not have a written code at all; they use colored statues and a small book that you read on the floor nearby.

Because the second run of a route changes which documents survive, a code you remember from Leon A may not appear on the same wall in Leon B. When that happens, the only reliable fix is to read the new file you have just picked up, which usually contains the replacement value.

Promotional RE2 codes and limited-time events

Beyond the in-game menus and the physical safes, Capcom has released a small number of promotional RE2 codes that are valid only during a specific window, usually tied to a livestream, a game show appearance, or a partnership with a retailer. These codes behave the same as bonus unlock codes from the player’s point of view, but they expire once the event ends and the redemption server is retired.

As of the current year, the only active promotional RE2 codes are the ones distributed through the official Resident Evil social accounts and the in-game news ticker. The simplest way to catch a new one is to follow the official accounts and turn on notifications, because the codes are usually live for less than twenty-four hours.

How to tell if a promotional code is still valid

It is normal to find older RE2 codes on Reddit, fan wikis, or YouTube descriptions that no longer work. The game does not tell you the difference between an expired code and a typo, so it is worth confirming a few things before you spend a lot of time troubleshooting.

1. Check the date on the source. If the post is more than a year old, the code is almost certainly expired.
2. Look for a matching announcement on an official Capcom channel. The company always mirrors promotional codes on at least one of its own social feeds.
3. Try the code in the Extras screen. If the game returns an “invalid code” message, the window is closed and there is no workaround.
4. Do not trust third-party generators or reward sites. Resident Evil 2 has never used those, and any site claiming to mint new RE2 codes is almost certainly a phishing attempt.

Because promotional codes are so short-lived, the rest of this guide focuses on the permanent bonus unlock list and the in-game combinations, which together cover more than ninety percent of what a player will actually need.

What each RE2 code actually unlocks

Knowing the code is only useful if you also know what it gives you, and several of the rewards behave differently depending on if you are playing Leon or Claire, or whether you have already cleared the game once. The summary below groups the rewards by gameplay effect so you can scan it before you redeem anything.

The two entries that most players care about are the Samurai Edge handguns and the infinite-ammo rocket launcher. The handguns dramatically lower the cost of a first-time run, because they let you save shotgun and grenade launcher ammo for the bosses that actually require them. The rocket launcher is the opposite kind of tool: it trivializes boss fights and is best saved for an S+ rank attempt where you want to be certain that Mr. X or the final G-mutant cannot kill you.

Troubleshooting RE2 codes that will not work

Even with the right code in front of you, the game can refuse it for a handful of reasons that are easy to miss. The list below covers the cases that show up most often in community threads, in roughly the order a player is likely to hit them.

• Stale build: the Extras screen is missing the Enter Bonus Code option. Update the game and restart before you try again.
• Wrong case: the game does not actually care about case, but some platforms do. Type the code in capital letters to be safe.
• Extra spaces: most platforms strip spaces for you, but if you copied the code from a webpage it may have picked up a hidden character. Retype it by hand.
• Expired promo code: the code is from a giveaway that ended. The game will not tell you that; it simply returns “invalid code”.
• Save slot limit: a few rewards, such as the random healing bundle, are single-use per save slot. Start a new file and try again.
• Wrong playthrough: some unlocks only apply after a first clear. If the reward is missing, finish a run and then re-enter the code.

If none of those fixes work, the most useful next step is to delete the local save data for the game and let the system rebuild it on next launch. That clears any corrupted flag that may have been written when the code was first entered, which occasionally locks the game into a state where it will not accept new entries.

RE2 codes and difficulty settings

One question that comes up often is whether using bonus unlock RE2 codes disables achievements or trophies. The answer in the current 2026 build is no, with a small caveat for the highest rank challenges. You can use every code on the standard list without losing trophies, and the game does not track which codes you used when it calculates your end-of-run rank.

The caveat is the S+ rank on Hardcore mode. That challenge is timed and it counts your saves, your heals, and your deaths, and the developers have always been clear that it is meant to be run with the default loadout so that everyone is on a level playing field. Using the anti-tank rocket launcher during an S+ attempt is allowed, but it will not save you from the timer, so most players who care about the rank simply learn the boss patterns and avoid the codes entirely for that run.

For everything below S+ rank, treat the RE2 codes as a quality-of-life layer rather than a cheat. They make the first playthrough more forgiving, and they give the developers a way to reward players who have already finished the game without punishing players who have not.

How RE2 codes compare to similar systems in other Resident Evil games

The Resident Evil series has a long history of small unlock strings, and Resident Evil 2 sits roughly in the middle of that evolution. Resident Evil 7 introduced the modern Extras screen that Resident Evil 2 inherited, and Resident Evil 3 used the same system. Resident Evil 4 Remake expanded it further with weapon-only codes that did not exist in earlier games, and Resident Evil Village uses a similar approach for its Mercenaries rewards.

What makes RE2 codes distinctive is the blend of permanent unlocks and in-game combinations. Most other survival horror games split those two systems cleanly, either using a reward menu or hiding everything in the world, but Resident Evil 2 does both at once. For new players, that means the phrase “RE2 codes” can mean very different things depending on which system they actually need, and it is the reason this guide starts with a section on which kind of code you are looking for.

Frequently asked questions

Do RE2 codes still work in 2026?

Yes. The permanent bonus unlock codes on the official list are still valid in the current build, and the in-game combinations are unchanged from the original 2019 release. Only the limited promotional codes tied to past events have expired, and Capcom replaces those with new ones when a relevant campaign is running.

Can you use RE2 codes more than once on the same save?

Most codes are single-use per profile, because the reward is added to your save data the first time you redeem it. A small number of codes, such as the random healing bundle, are single-use per save slot as well, so you will need to start a new file to use them again. The Samurai Edge handguns, by contrast, are one-time unlocks that you keep across every new game on the same profile.

Where do you enter RE2 codes in the remake?

Open the main menu, choose Extras, and then pick Enter Bonus Code. The in-game combinations, which are different from the bonus unlock codes, are entered directly on the dial of the safe or locker you are standing in front of. You do not need to open any menu for those.

Are RE2 codes free or do they cost real money?

Every code on the permanent list is free, and so are the in-game combinations. Promotional codes that appear during partnered events are also free, and the developers have not added any paid code packs to Resident Evil 2 at any point. If a site asks you to pay for a code, it is not a real RE2 code.

Will using RE2 codes lock me out of S+ rank?

No, the game does not track bonus codes in the rank calculation. The S+ rank on Hardcore is governed only by your time, your saves, and your deaths, so you can use every code on the list and still earn the rank. Most players skip the rocket launcher during an S+ attempt only because the time limit is the real constraint, not the bosses.

Do the same RE2 codes work in the original 1998 release?

No, the 1998 release does not have the Extras screen or the bonus unlock system. The in-game combinations are mostly the same as the ones in the remake, but the bonus codes listed here are a feature of the 2019 remake and its updates, and they have no effect on the original Resident Evil 2.

Can RE2 codes be used in Resident Evil 3 or Resident Evil 4?

No, the codes are not shared across titles. Each Resident Evil game has its own Extras screen and its own code list, and a code that works in Resident Evil 2 will return an error if you try to enter it in another game. The systems are similar, but the strings themselves are unique to each title.

Why does my RE2 code say invalid even though it is on every guide?

The most common reason is a typo, especially on codes copied from a webpage that picked up a hidden character. The second most common reason is a code that has expired, which the game reports the same way as a typo. Retype the code by hand in capital letters, and check that the source you are reading was published within the last few months.

Do RE2 codes carry over to the new-gen upgrade?

Yes. If you upgraded from the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X version through the free next-gen patch, your save data, your unlocked items, and your redeemed codes all carry over. The Extras screen on the upgraded version shows the same unlock state as the original profile.

What should I do if none of the RE2 codes work at all?

Update the game to the latest patch, restart your console or PC, and try the code again. If the Extras screen still does not have an Enter Bonus Code option, the installation is incomplete and needs to be repaired from your platform’s library menu. Most cases that survive that checklist turn out to be an expired promotional code rather than a real bug.