What is Resident Evil Requiem?
It’s hard to believe there was a time when Capcom lost its way. The issue wasn’t one mistake, but a series of missteps across major franchises. Take Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite—it disappointed fans with weak character designs and the absence of icons like Wolverine, a major blow for a crossover series. Then there’s Resident Evil 6, which leaned too heavily into action, overused quick-time events, and often felt more like a Michael Bay blockbuster than true survival horror.
This era exposed a clear identity problem, with Capcom’s biggest franchises drifting away from what made them special. That changed with Resident Evil 7, which reset the formula and returned to the series’ horror roots, proving Capcom was back on track. That momentum continues with Resident Evil Requiem, a visually impressive entry that showcases modern tech like PSSR 2.0 while blending fast-paced action with classic survival horror, striking a strong balance between the franchise’s past and present.
Developer & Publisher // Capcom
Platforms // PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
MSRP & Release Date // $69.99, February 27th, 2026
Reviewed On // PS5 Pro
The Story of Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem is set nearly three decades after the destruction of Raccoon City. The story follows Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft and a survivor of the original outbreak, alongside series veteran Leon S. Kennedy.
Grace investigates a series of mysterious deaths at the Wrenwood Hotel, the same location where her mother was murdered eight years earlier. At the same time, Leon searches for a missing police officer in the surrounding area. Their investigations collide and expose a larger, more dangerous threat.
I overall really enjoyed the story, with several standout moments that helped establish the game’s tone and emotional depth. One of the most memorable scenes during Grace’s storyline is her encounter with Emily, a blind child being held captive in a cell inside the care center. Grace is ultimately tasked with rescuing her, as Emily’s ability to read Braille becomes essential for solving a key clue. After her rescue, Emily continues to play an important role in the overarching narrative, adding both emotional weight and gameplay significance.
Another highlight comes while playing as Leon, particularly when he returns to Raccoon City. This moment leans heavily into nostalgia, allowing players to revisit iconic locations from his first day on the job in Resident Evil 2. For longtime fans of the series, this sequence delivers a powerful blend of familiarity and storytelling, making it one of the most impactful moments in the game.
Gameplay of Resident Evil Requiem
The game features two distinct playstyles. Grace delivers slow, tension-driven survival horror, while Leon brings fast-paced, action-heavy combat. The experience shifts between first-person and third-person perspectives to highlight these differences. You can customize the camera for each style, but the default setup—Grace in first person and Leon in third person—delivers the strongest balance and immersion.
I found the default controls, regardless of the character being played, to feel natural. I didn’t feel the need to tweak or change anything. When it comes to deeper gameplay experiences, you will feel right at home if you are a fan of the series. During the Grace sequences, you’ll find these antique coins that can be spent at the Parlor, which will lead to helpful upgrades. A similar system to this has been seen in several previous Resident Evil games. Of course, you’ll need to maintain your inventory and make decisions on what to keep with you, since space is always limited. The back half of the game is when I truly feel Leon’s sections sing. This is because his arsenal gets severely larger with a handful of weapons to choose from. Also, around this time, he gains the ability to put on weapon attachments. A favorite weapon of mine is the Marksman 1A rifle since it proved useful when I wanted to deal serious damage from a distance.
You can’t talk about Resident Evil gameplay without mentioning puzzles. Overall, I found the puzzles had the right balance of thoughtfulness and challenge. I never felt frustrated, which can easily happen to me with video game puzzles. One of the top puzzles for me would be regarding the organless corpse, which requires the player to insert an artificial heart and lungs to proceed. It was the journey to obtain these items that I found enjoyable
A Graphical Showcase for PSSR 2.0
To my knowledge, Resident Evil Requiem is one of the first PlayStation 5 titles to take full advantage of Sony’s updated PSSR 2.0, the PlayStation 5 Pro’s exclusive upscaling technology. This latest version integrates FSR4, delivering improved image clarity, sharper detail, and greater visual stability.
On PlayStation 5 Pro, the game offers multiple graphical options, including ray tracing toggles and support for 120Hz displays. Despite usually prioritizing frame rate, I played Resident Evil Requiem with all visual features enabled, including ray tracing. Performance remained strong, consistently holding close to a locked 60 FPS.
Capcom’s animation work further elevates the experience. Encounters feel dynamic and unpredictable. In one moment, while playing as Leon, I dodged a chainsaw attack. The weapon struck another enemy instead, briefly saving me. Seconds later, that same enemy rushed forward with the chainsaw still lodged in his torso and grabbed me, killing me instantly. It was chaotic, unexpected, and honestly hard not to appreciate.
Gameplay aims To Be The Best Of Both Worlds. Does it succeed?
Resident Evil Requiem gameplay successfully blends the series’ two core styles—survival horror and action—into one experience. On paper, the concept is simple: gameplay shifts based on the character you control as the story unfolds. In practice, however, some cracks begin to show as you progress.
At times, both characters revisit the same locations at different points in the timeline. Early in the game, Grace Ashcroft explores the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, a large area filled with secrets and a central puzzle that requires collecting three keys to unlock the main hall. Later, Leon S. Kennedy returns to the same location with a different objective.
This design creates an interesting layer of continuity, but it also introduces gameplay issues. While playing as Grace, I approached the area slowly and methodically, clearing enemies and fully exploring every section. That thorough approach carried over into Leon’s segment. Enemies I had already defeated remained gone, which reduced tension and made Leon’s run feel less engaging.
While this system adds a sense of persistence and consequence, it doesn’t always enhance the experience. Instead, it can unintentionally weaken later sections, especially for players who prefer to fully clear areas on their first pass.
Resident Evil Requiem Accessibility Options And Final Thoughts
When it comes to Resident Evil Requiem accessibility options, the game feels fairly limited. Players can adjust basic settings like text size and make minor tweaks to the lock-on system, which will help some users.
However, the overall accessibility suite lacks depth. For a developer as large as Capcom, I expected a broader range of features designed to support more players. Expanding accessibility options in future updates or titles would make the experience more inclusive and user-friendly.
The Verdict
It almost feels nitpicky to point out flaws in Resident Evil Requiem, especially when discussing pacing issues caused by blending two gameplay styles. No game is perfect, but this is a high-quality showcase of modern technology like PSSR 2.0 and Capcom’s evolving survival horror design.
The game successfully mixes old-school and modern elements. As Leon S. Kennedy, you get witty one-liners and over-the-top action sequences. As Grace Ashcroft, the experience shifts to slower, more psychological horror. You solve complex puzzles and face enemies you can’t always defeat until later in the game.
If you’re a fan of the Resident Evil series—or even just curious—Resident Evil Requiem is an easy recommendation.
Final Score – 8.5 / 10
Pros
- High Graphical Fidelity
- Great Showcase for PSSR 2.0
- Fun And Engaging Puzzles
- Variety Of Weapons
- Multiple Endings
Cons
- Lack Of Accessibility Depth
- The Merging of Gameplay Styles Doesn’t Always Work
