A perfect mix
Hard to believe it has been 30 years since I took my first steps in Raccoon City. The Resident Evil franchise has continued to evolve over the years, with mostly success. Several of the games in the series are considered some of the best games ever made, and Capcom continues to show respect to the classics, while also advancing the series with new entries. Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth numbered game and after finishing the game I feel like it could be the best in the series to date. I still need to simmer on that for a while, but what we have here is a Resident Evil experience that easily shot up to the top of my favorite games of 2026, and possibly one of the best games I have played in years.
Requiem takes place years after the events of the previous games and focuses on two characters as they uncover a mystery taking place of people being murdered at a hotel. Grace Ashcroft is an FBI agent investigating the murders, and series mainstay Leon S. Kennedy is investigating the bioterror threat. It all weaves in and out and ties into the past games masterfully. Requiem feels like the series coming full circle from the original events in Raccoon City, and Capcom has done an outstanding job of tying in past and present events.
MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $69.99
This game is packed with easter eggs and references. The story itself is good, but what sells it is the tie-ins to past games. Performances are also stellar with Grace delivering one of the most believable characters in the series. Her fear feels genuine and the stutters in her conversation really sell her character. Leon is a grizzled man who has seen a lot, and it is conveyed in his actions and words. Capcom did a fantastic job with the casting, and these performances do more storytelling than any lore dump could ever hope to accomplish.
Taking control of two characters is not new for the series. Requiem really takes it to the next level though by basically making each character their own game. When playing as Grace the game takes on the original survival horror motif with plenty of items to collect, monsters to avoid, and limited ammo. Her sections are simply terrifying. There were several instances where I had to take a break as it was extremely stressful. There are sections where fighting is not an option, and the sounds I heard made me uncomfortable moving through the area. The Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center is one of the most interesting locations in the series. It feels as close to the original mansion we have had. I loved exploring every part of it.
Leon takes on a more action-oriented approach. His sections make the player feel more like a beast with plenty of ammo and visceral combat moves. Capcom did a great job with the pacing of the game as I was just reaching my breaking point with the stress of Grace, the game switched to Leon and let me take out my aggression. Later in the game the Leon section does go on a bit long, but there are plenty of interesting mechanics it throws into the mix, and some sections that feel ripped out of Resident Evil 6. Wacky, over-the-top, and just plain awesome.
The difference in the two game play styles is stark. Playing as Grace really showcases the need to conserve ammo and avoid enemies. The tension is constantly weighing on the player. Then you take over Leon and bash them up, it is a delicate dance that Capcom has choreographed perfectly. It is also worth noting that enemies and creatures are some of the best the series has ever seen. Regular zombies that shamble around the Care Center will mutter their thoughts from before they turned. It is haunting at times to hear them. They still have some humanity inside them but cannot control it.
The game has details like that all over the place. Small touches that some players will never see. The level of detail is staggering at times. Everything in the environment is meticulously crafted and if you take the time to look at it, you learn to appreciate it. It tells a story, much like the zombies spouting their lines, and it really immerses players into the world. Games like this are rare these days, and I spent every second soaking it in. Taking my time, exploring every nook and cranny, and I still missed plenty. This game is built for replays with options to unlock new weapons, costumes, and of course discover all it has to offer.
Another thing Requiem does is bring a lot of the same systems honed over the years into the new game. Grace has inventory management with the ability to upgrade it by finding pouches. She can also upgrade her health by combining certain items. The map is also very helpful in collecting all the items. There are some new crafting systems here, and they are fine, thankfully Capcom made them simple with a menu. Leon has basically unlimited inventory, it is massive and he instead upgrades and buys new weapons later in the game. It really feels like two different games with each one having their own unique styles to adjust to but swapping between the two are relatively seamless.
Visually the game is stunning. I played mostly in performance mode, and I was still in awe at the visuals. Facial animations are incredible and the shambling of zombies is ridiculous. The aforementioned level of detail in the environment is incredible. The frame rate is rock solid, and it is simply stunning to look at. This is truly one of the best-looking games I have ever seen. The audio is exemplary with fantastic scores, but I purchased the deluxe upgrade for the classic music and sound effects for some nostalgia, and I was not disappointed. The audio design in this game is unreal, play with headphones if you can.
Resident Evil Requiem is easily my favorite game so far in 2026. It is very high on my list of Resident Evil games, only fighting with RE2 as the best of all time. This is an easy recommendation. This game is one of the best I have played in years, and I cannot recommend it enough. Do not hesitate, play this game. Capcom continues to hit on all cylinders, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
