I’m a huge fan of the Resident Evil franchise. Resident Evil 4 is one of my favourite games of all time, and Leon Kennedy’s return alone could have sold me on Resident Evil Requiem. But even then, it’s doing so much more than just putting together the best bits of entries that came before. Those building blocks have come from a formula that has been tried and tested, but the result, or the structure, if you will, feels entirely fresh.
The dual protagonists, superb blend of action and survival horror, and a relatively engaging story that aims to shed new light on age-old questions, all come together in ways that continued to surprise me at every turn.
While that formula is still apparent, and sometimes affects the pacing, it rarely detracts from what can only be described as one of the best games this iconic series has managed to produce thus far.
Two Sides, One Story
Now, I’m going to do my best to eliminate all potential spoilers, but I thought I would mention here that I’m not a fan of how much the trailers showed off in the lead-up to this game’s release. So keep in mind, everything referenced here has been shown off in the game’s multiple pre-release trailers in some way.
Resident Evil Requiem takes place in the near future, and follows series newcomer Grace Ashcroft, a dedicated but weary FBI agent, who is sent to investigate a particular murder in a dilapidated hotel. During the game’s introductory flashback, fans of the franchise might recognise Grace’s morther Alyssa Ashcroft, from the Resident Evil Outbreak games. As Grace investigates the murder, she is soon swept up in a plot far greater than her initial assumptions, with fan favourite Leon Kennedy hot on her trail.
The story takes a few sharp twists and turns, but I must say, this is one incredible introduction. The game does shift perspectives between Grace and Leon throughout the campaign’s 15-or-so-hours, but the opening hours do such a great job at not only introducing you to these characters, but getting you acquainted with their gameplay styles and uniquely-paced missions.
Much like previous Resident Evil games, Requiem does place you at the core of certain confined areas, in which various puzzles, encounters and discoveries ensue. But through the blistering pace of the game’s first couple of hours, I was honestly hooked. So much so that I was almost a little disappointed when the game settled into its traditional formula, which slowed the pacing down considerably. It’s not to say that anything was lost here, but I just had so much fun with the non-stop action that I was honestly fine with this just being a 15-hour rollercoaster.
Without diving into much more, the story also does a great job at making these characters feel relevant within the context of the story, blending personal elements with the larger context of the plot and franchise. There are plenty of moments here that lend themselves to interesting conversations, wild revelations and tear-jerking moments that really caught me off guard.
Even then, the game’s villain, Dr Victor Gideon, also does a fantastic job at providing a menacing presence throughout the story, convinced more so with the overall endgame and implications of his actions and allegiances, as opposed to being bad for the sake of it.
As the trailers suggest, Resident Evil Requiem does take the duo back to Racoon City, but I honestly find it hard to talk about without giving anything away. Fans will probably benefit more from understanding the lore and events of previous games, which aren’t always explained in detail here, but it doesn’t take much to keep up with the story on a surface level. For what it’s worth, there’s ultimately an explosive finale that I won’t forget anytime soon.
Overall, it’s hard to deny that Resident Evil Requiem’s pacing can at times stumble as it jumps between Grace’s more atmospheric, puzzle-solving survival horror segments and Leon’s blockbuster action setpieces. I’m sure many will argue and debate over their favourites, as nostalgia is always hard to beat, but when all is said and done, I would still consider Resident Evil Requiem as one of the best, most thrilling and at times, heartfelt and genuine stories in the series to date.
We Still Have Work To Do
Even once the credits have rolled, Resident Evil Requiem still gives you a decent amount of variety and replayability, allowing you to complete Challenges for CP (Completion Points), which can then be used to unlock some hidden goodies.
Special Content like items, weapons and even costumes can be purchased to use during gameplay, and there’s even a Bonus section in the main menu to purchase content like concept art for characters and enemies, along with detailed 3D character models.
Old Dog, New Tricks
Resident Evil Requiem puts players in the shoes of both Grace and Leon, and gives you the option to play in either a first or third-person perspective, which can be changed at any time. While the choice is yours, I would personally recommend sticking with the game’s initial recommendation, which is to play through Grace’s segments in first-person and Leon’s segments in third person.
Grace’s segments are certainly more horror-centric, with enemies getting up-close and personal with you at all times, which looks fantastic. The gameplay mechanics are technically the same for both characters, but I’m a huge fan of how Capcom has tailored these mechanics to each character. Grace’s experience as an FBI agent makes her competent, but as this marks her first foray into this world, she’s definitely rattled by it all. As a result, she moves and turns a little slower, and her gun even shakes in her hands as she aims. Gunshots feel more impactful, and she frets and screams as she processes the trauma.
Her segments will feel familiar to any Resident Evil fan, and mostly involve puzzle-solving and survival-horror combat, the latter of which feels like a means to an end. That’s not even a bad thing, but as ammunition is hard to come by, you won’t be running into crowds of enemies anytime soon. I do wish that the game gave you access to more melee weapons here, as there are times when you are left with nothing, in situations that essentially force you to run and hide.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, as Grace does get access to a special syringe called the Blood Collector, which does just that, particularly from fallen enemies. In turn, Grace can combine these samples with certain scraps and herbs found in the environment to craft things like ammunition or medical syringes. That being said, you’ll still be struggling to craft a comfortable amount of health and ammunition.
Even then, there are larger enemies that Grace can’t defeat with weapons, and instead must avoid them at all costs. Structurally, these enemies do appear in your predicted path when you’re making some sort of progress, but the way they navigate these areas and catch you off guard will leave plenty of room for surprises.
But at the end of the day, most of Grace’s segments will involve finding items of importance in order to progress. You’ll need certain keys for locked doors, which are scattered about the map, which then leads you to another item, and you get the idea. The puzzles at times can be challenging, but rarely to the point of frustration. Some backtracking is required, and while that can feel a little annoying given how slow Grace actually moves, it does encourage a sense of exploration, as you find hidden collectables along the way.
Leon, on the other hand, blows the door off its hinges. For the most part, his segments serve as more epic, straightforward action set pieces that essentially showcase his skills. Some of his later segments do slow down a little and begin to fall in line with the pacing of a more traditional Resident Evil experience, but even then, that itchy trigger finger will be flexed.
It’s clear that Resident Evil Requiem understands the character, and estimates that the fans do too. As a result, Leon’s segments, as direct and brutal as they are, feel like the ultimate power trip, and perfectly balance Grace’s more traditional segments. You’ll have plenty of ammunition, eventually gain access to a variety of upgradable weapons, and use them all accordingly on waves of enemies, big and small.
But beyond that, it’s the little things that make the experience as satisfying as it is. From Leon’s iconic round-house kick to the introduction of his handy hatchet, for when things get up close and personal, you simply always feel equipped and capable. That being said, enemies will come at you from all angles, and you’ll generally need to use every tool at your disposal to make it through. Even Leon’s hatchet must be sharpened after a certain amount of wear and tear, which keeps the tension strong.
From the way he flicks the magazine out of his handgun to reload, or the way he pulls the weapon in close to adjust his aim when enemies charge, or the brutal nature of his hatchet-based finishers as enemies are kicked to the ground, never really let up and generally land in spades, leaving you out of breath, but ultimately wanting more.
Look the Part
Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine is simply sublime. Character models, lighting effects and textures all look incredible, and are brimming with detail. From the way the water ripples as you tread through it, or the way your flashlight illuminates a corridor in an otherwise pitch-black setting, is really something to behold.
I do wish the Racoon City segments played a little more into the darker, more foreboding atmosphere that the first half of the game does so well, as the city looks a little drab and dull during the day. I mean, it was hit with a massive missile all those years ago, so I guess we couldn’t really expect a vibrant wonderland of sorts.
I would also like to take the time here to commend some of the game’s voice performances, including actress Angela Sant’Albano as Grace. There are times when her stress is amplified by her performance, and she really sells that heightened sense of emotion at all times. Actor Nick Apostolides returns as Leon and is also as great as ever, bolstering his performance with a more grizzled and deeper tone to reflect an older version of Leon.
The general sound design is also fantastic. Plenty of smaller sounds like the creak of a door, stomping of footsteps and screeches of enemies in the distance come together in a symphony of horror, doing wonders for the incredible sense of atmosphere.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that Resident Evil Requiem also runs incredibly well. On the PlayStation 5 Pro, things run in 4K at 60 FPS with ray tracing on. It’s an impressive feat, and while I may have noticed a frame rate drop in some more chaotic moments, they were way too few and far between to detract from the experience in any meaningful way.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Resident Evil Requiem still utilises many of the existing tropes found in previous Resident Evil games, but does so to great effect. You’ll still be collecting items, solving puzzles and struggling for ammunition in certain parts, but it’s all in service of a great story, incredible atmosphere and a fantastic blend of variety through survival horror and blockbuster action.
Even when some of the game’s slower moments take away from the blistering pace, it’s hard to get upset when the story is so consistently engaging and satisfying. Resident Evil Requiem is not only essential for fans of the series, but it’s already taken its place as one of the best entries to date and one of the best games of 2026.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Fantastic story with engaging dual protagonists; Engaging combat, exploration and puzzle-solving; Incredible visuals and tense atmosphere
Lowlights: Pacing can feel a little jarring at times
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a pre-launch code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
