Player controls Ethan Winters from a first-person perspective as he searches the Baker house for his missing wife
Although Ethan is a civilian with few combat skills, he is able to arm himself with a variety of weapons including handguns, shotguns, flamethrowers, explosives and chainsaws, against the Baker family and a humanoid form of fungus known as the "Molded"
Various sections of the game are spent being pursued by members of the Baker family, who, if engaged in combat, can only be temporarily incapacitated
However, these encounters are avoidable by means of stealth, or running away
Gameplay emphasizes horror and exploration over action and adventure