Resident Evil Requiem is exactly what you want from a horror masterpiece
25.2.2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Domagoj Belancic
Resident Evil Requiem plays like a best-of of the legendary horror series. It seamlessly combines gameplay elements from previous instalments to create a flawless mix of horror and action.
Heads up: Resident Evil Requiem is a short game. So I’ll refrain from revealing any detailed content or gaming spoilers in my review. If you have any questions after reading this, I’ll gladly answer them in the comments.
Like the scientists at the Umbrella Corporation, Capcom’s spent the last few years working on a high-risk experiment. No, not a new variant of the deadly T virus, but on a Frankenstein-esque monster: Resident Evil Requiem. This creepy patchwork creation is made up of numerous elements from past offshoots of the horror series.
Unlike the Umbrella’s virus and Frankenstein’s monster, the Japanese studio succeeds in the risky venture. Resident Evil Requiem is a horror-action masterpiece that creates an extremely coherent overall picture despite the contrasts in both narrative and gameplay.
Nostalgia but dignified
The story of Resident Evil Requiem manages the balancing act between trashy B-movie flair and serious horror drama, as is typical of the series. At the centre of it all are two protagonists who could hardly be more different.
On the one hand, there’s young FBI agent Grace Ashcroft who’s assigned to investigate a series of mysterious corpses. She has a naive and fearful nature that I immediately fall in love with. Grace is overwhelmed by the situation and the scary undead. She stutters her way through cutscenes and shakes her revolver so much that I can hardly aim. It doesn’t annoy me, though. I’d be just as helpless if I were her.
On the other hand, I take on the role of the iconic Resident Evil veteran Leon S. Kennedy who follows the trail of a mad scientist.
Leon has already caused countless zombie heads to burst in Resident Evil parts 2, 4 and 6. The experienced muscleman is the complete opposite of Grace. He’s an action hero with balls of steel. For him, the undead are just annoying flies that need to be swatted.
In the course of the game, the paths of the dissimilar protagonists cross. Their mission takes them to dubious research facilities, zombie-infested hospitals and the ruins of Raccoon City – the city where the Resident Evil disaster began 30 years ago (fuck, I’m old).
While the first half of the game focuses on Grace and her backstory, Leon takes on the main role later in the game. The story develops into a trip into the Resident Evil past, tying into Grace’s story with an exciting twist.
The plot isn’t nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake, but serves as a successful foundation for fresh stories and characters. Alongside Grace, the new Dr. Victor Gideon and blind girl Emily have found a place in my cold zombie heart.
Scary moments with Grace
The different character traits of the two protagonists are reflected in the gameplay. Grace’s and Leon’s playing styles couldn’t be more different if they tried. This provides plenty of variety without being too demanding. You don’t switch back and forth between them every few minutes, but are given enough time to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of each section.
With Grace I experience the survival-horror feeling, somewhere between the classic Resident Evil instalments and the new Biohazard and Village branches. There’s little to no ammunition, Grace’s arsenal of weapons is limited and many enemies seem ridiculously strong. Any confrontation could be game over.
To defend herself, Grace can use the blood of dead zombies to produce ammunition, medicine and, later, deadly tools. My favourite? A syringe that makes zombies swell up like a water balloon within seconds before bursting.
Grace’s sections rely on a claustrophobic level design, with narrow, dark corridors and labyrinthine layouts. Enemies I can’t defeat are always lying in wait for me. In these moments, the only thing that helps is to run away and hide. This is tricky because she’s rather sluggish, even when sprinting at full speed.
In between, I master classic Resident Evil puzzles with convoluted solutions. To open a door, I have to collect three shiny stones. These are located in safes with picture puzzles. To solve the puzzles, I have to use a key to gain access to a locked part of the level. But where the hell is this key?
The puzzles cleverly guide me through the winding level architecture. I fight my way ahead, step by step, and keep on unlocking new areas. I never get frustrated because I always know what to do, and by backtracking now and then I discover new secrets. It doesn’t get better than that.
Catharsis with Leon
Leon’s sections feel a lot more action-packed. The special agent is stronger, faster and a sharper shooter. While I flee from the zombie beasts with Grace, I go on the offensive with Leon to let off steam. I give out headshots, attack opponents with his axe and crush heads to mud. At some points in the game, Leon even gets a chainsaw with which he can finally saw up zombies instead of just being sawn himself. Love, love, love.
At first I was afraid the action sequences would drift too much in the direction of Resident Evil 6 and only offer me linear, undemanding shooting passages. As the game progresses, Requiem proves me wrong.
The later Leon sections impress with surprisingly spacious areas, which differ significantly from the claustrophobic Grace levels (and the lame levels in Part 6). Despite being larger, they’re just as effective with cleverly integrated puzzles that encourage me to explore the dark game world and uncover all the secrets.
Source: Capcom
Leon’s initial superiority diminishes more and more over time. The game confronts me with situations where I’m literally overrun by opponents. It reminds me of the stressful terror feeling of my favourite part of Resident Evil 4. Run around, get my distance, shoot, dodge, attack with my axe, repeat. The main thing is to somehow survive.
Leon can buy new weapons at certain locations in the game in order to face the ever-stronger opponents. I also treat myself to extensions for weapons I’ve already purchased. Currency comes in the form of points, which are registered by your training bracelet and are transferred to your account when you kill opponents. Wonderfully stupid logic (although not quite as stupid as Grace’s tinkering with blood).
The controls feel satisfying, whether I’m firing a machine gun, blasting zombies at close range with a shotgun or attacking with an axe. Aiming remains precise (optionally also with motion control) and the brute haptic feedback is a good dopamine boost. The Dualsense controller on my PS5 responds with precise vibrations, resistance in the triggers and sound effects. I can literally feel the force and weight of the weapons. Glorious stuff.
Leon’s action–horror package is rounded off with spectacular boss fights that are so stupidly staged I find myself howling out loud. It’s these kinds of moments that give you a hint of the B-movie aspect. And I love it.
Resident Evil Requiem plays to the strengths of the series and makes the most of them in the right places. Long-standing fans will be in tears of joy at some of these situations – but I won’t reveal any more.
A glorious spectacle with perfect controls
Resident Evil Requiem’s also visually impressive. I’m testing the game on the PS5 Pro. The RE Engine flexes its muscles with incredibly detailed environments and harmonious ray-traced lighting effects and reflections. In rare cases, I notice unsightly upscaling artifacts like flickering shadows and reflections on matt surfaces. But these kinds of minor blemishes don’t significantly tarnish the excellent overall picture.
The numerous details on the characters and their expressive faces are captivating. Wrinkles on Leon’s face reveal that the aged daredevil has already been through a lot and isn’t really up for all this zombie shit anymore. Grace’s anguished face makes me empathise with her and Doctor Gideon’s scarred grimace is like a car crash I can’t look away from.
Even the details on the opponents are satisfying. The mutated zombie virus in Requiem ensures that behind the brainless zombie façade there are still real people at the core. And I can see and feel it. A former chef roams around his kitchen as a zombie with a monster knife. Cleaning staff in the hospital beat their heads bloody on a mirror and shout that everything here’s far too dirty. I love these kinds of details.
Speaking of blood, Resident Evil Requiem is, without exaggerating, one of the bloodiest games I’ve ever played. The red liquid pours and pours. And not just when I behead zombies, but also when Grace or Leon are killed.
This game’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.
The bloody spectacle is accompanied by an excellent soundtrack, which adequately accompanies the turbulent rollercoaster ride between horror and action sequences.
I was particularly amazed by the powerful sound effects, that reinforce the physicality of the action. Shots, explosions, chainsaws and bursting heads sound incredibly powerful and satisfying.
That’s it?
Resident Evil games have never been known for their excessive playing time. Requiem’s also a short game compared to other AAA productions. After the final boss fight, I ask myself: «Is that it?»
I look at my watch, puzzled. My end game stats tell me that it took me exactly 9 hours and 55 minutes to complete. The PS5 says it was about 12 hours. Crazy. I feel like I’ve only just started.
The compactness of the game is also the only major point of criticism that I’ve made a note of. And that’s actually a compliment. I’d rather finish a game with the feeling of wanting more than fighting my way to the end feeling exhausted and sluggish.
Resident Evil Requiem will be released on 27 February for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC. The PS5 (Pro) version was provided to me by Capcom for testing purposes.
In a nutshell
A fast-paced, varied and extremely bloody horror-action spectacle
Resident Evil Requiem manages to pull off a bloody combination of classic survival-horror feeling and hectic action sequences. I love walking through dark corridors with Grace, solving puzzles and hiding from zombies. Equally, I get super excited in Leon’s parts where I can really let off steam and fire headshots. The sophisticated level design for both protagonists is impressive – clever puzzles elegantly lead me through winding areas.
These big contrasts in game mechanics make for perfectly balanced pacing with lots of variety. Requiem manages to give both characters and playing styles enough room to develop, despite being so different. The spooky spectacle’s rounded off by impressive graphics, satisfying controls and a powerful soundtrack that underlines the action with the necessary oomph. It’s just a shame the wild rollercoaster ride’s over after around ten hours.
Pro
- Excellent pacing, lots of variety and clever level design
- Satisfying controls
- Powerful soundtrack and sound design
- Atmospheric, dark and bloody visuals
Contra
- Too short
Header image: Capcom
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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