Resident Evil Requiem, released Feb. 27, 2026, is the ninth main line entry in the well-known survival horror game franchise developed by Japanese game studio Capcom. The story of Requiem builds upon the Raccoon City incident, featuring returning protagonist Leon S. Kennedy and a new playable character, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft. Gameplay alternates between the characters as they uncover remnants of the Umbrella Corporation, a pharmaceutical company that developed the bio-organic weapons responsible for the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City, 28 years ago.
Requiem is Resident Evil at its best, but it is still a single player survival horror game with an M-rating, full of blood, death and gore. The series continues its phenomenal ability to create atmosphere and suspense within the player and does an excellent job handling the new characters to create a compelling narrative. Leon is beloved, but with Requiem being his fourth game appearance as a main character, his inclusion in the story feels driven by his popularity rather than a strong narrative reason.
Aspects of the gameplay mechanics, especially the sometimes glitchy boss hit boxes and over-bloated fetch quests, remind the player that it is a video game level following a series of parameters, that once understood, can be exploited. The graphics and system requirements are average for modern triple-A video games as is the $70 price point. The difficulty selection offers an easy, medium and extra hard mode, promoting online discussion about a needed intermediate hard mode.
Requiem continues to improve from previous installments, but being the ninth entry in a series does not make it a good starting point. The story begins with reports of Raccoon City survivors dying in the same but mysterious way. Leon and Grace’s mothers being survivors of the incident is barely addressed, despite being the reason for both main characters’ involvement in the plot. This lack of character context affects the players’ understanding of the third act, though the game is still quite enjoyable even without this knowledge.
Grace’s gameplay is the more difficult of the two characters, requiring resource management, exploration and stealth. Leon, on the other hand, always has more than enough ammunition, powerful and upgradable firearms and a mean hatchet, all reminiscent of his Resident Evil 4 appearance where the franchise transitioned from puzzle solving to action.
Requiem allows the player to select from first-person or third-person game play. Both perspectives are well polished, leaving it wholly up to player preference, though the game suggests first-person for Grace and third-person for Leon to enhance each of their primary gameplay purposes, immersion and action respectively.
While Grace’s well-acted voice lines play some part in her characterization, much of her personality is shown visually and is therefore completely hidden in first-person. Additionally, seeing her injured state through her posture is the only health bar the player has.
Around six of the 11 hours of gameplay are set in Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, where Grace was kidnapped and brought to for a reason unknown to her. The care center is operated by ex-Umbrella scientist Victor Gideon whose experimentation has created another zombie outbreak. During the story, Grace saves a young blind girl named Emily from a cell in the basement, and together they escape from the care center.
Requiem has no puzzles, something core to the game play of earlier games, only fetch quests. For Grace to escape the care center, she needs three quarts keys, which are spread-out thought the facility and hidden behind locked doors. While the player can suspend disbelief for a zombie outbreak, the absurdity of the many keys needed to ultimately unlock one door can break the games attempt to create an imersive survival feeling.
Leon is getting old, approaching his 50s and no longer backflipping off doors to dodge chainsaws. He is also suffering from the same sickness which seems to have been fatal for the other Raccoon City survivors.
As a playable character, he is still a tank, able to take a beating and dish out one far worse. After exploring most of the care center as Grace, the player then returns to Leon’s perspective, confident with the layout and ready to hunt the large enemies Grace had to hide from.
While it makes sense for Leon, an ex-cop and government agent, to be far more effective in combat, it felt unfair to Grace when she would find two or three bullets at a time and he would find nine. What really makes Leon feel like a super soldier is his hatchet. As Grace, the player would have to stagger and push enemies multiple times and make every shot count.
Once Leon staggers an enemy, one swing with his hatchet ends the fight. Even on non-staggered enemies, Leon’s hatchet was able to put them in a stun lock, and it can also be used to parry. The game included sharpness and durability mechanics to make the hatchet feel like a limited resource similar to bullets, though it is barely of consideration to the player.
Alongside main line titles, Capcom has been remaking earlier games, most notably the 2005 title Resident Evil 4, Leon Kennedy’s second appearance, and the game that cemented many fans’ love for the Resident Evil franchise. Priced at $40 and having 16 hours of story plus bonus content, the 2023 remake of RE4 is a better starting place for newcomers to the franchise.
For Resident Evil fans, Requiem is a worthwhile experience with an impactful narrative, great gameplay and strong cast, and would be good for some quality gaming over spring break.
Joshua Reisenfeld can be reached at [email protected]