Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be the series’ best game yet

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I recently had a four-hour preview of Resident Evil Requiem at a Capcom event, and I was really impressed. Playing as both the new character, Grace, and Leon Kennedy, it feels like this game could be the best Resident Evil yet.

Following two games starring Ethan Winters, which offered a new direction for the series, the next installment features the return of fan-favorite Leon Kennedy as the player character, marking a return to the style many fans have loved.

Leon joining the team is a great improvement, and paired with Grace, he gives Requiem a real chance to be better than previous installments.

Two totally different playstyles make for one hell of a gaming experience

Grace isn’t a strong fighter. She relies on sneaking around and running away from enemies instead of battling them directly.

Playing as her in first-person feels a lot like my first time with Resident Evil 7 – seriously, it’s intense! Creeping around a dark hospital, trying not to wake up the monsters, is genuinely scary and exciting. You really can’t just run and gun your way through things, which adds to the tension. If getting that close to the action is too much, though, you can always switch to third-person for a bit more breathing room and a wider view of what’s going on.

Leon’s parts in Resident Evil: Requiem feel very much like a return to Resident Evil 4. He’s equipped with plenty of weapons and delivers all the classic cool lines we expect. Playing as Leon was a really enjoyable break from the stressful, suspenseful gameplay of controlling Grace, where you’re constantly hiding and trying to survive.

Leon has a large arsenal of weapons, like handguns, shotguns, and grenades, plus a hatchet he can use for both fighting and opening locked or damaged chests and drawers that Grace can’t handle.

Okay, seriously, blasting a zombie in the face with a shotgun and then finishing them off with an axe – or just a good old-fashioned stomp – is SO satisfying. Especially when Leon cracks a one-liner after clearing a room! And let me tell you, there’s even a chainsaw! This game just gives you so many ways to take down enemies, and honestly, they’re all a blast to use.

Okay, so switching between playing as Grace and Leon is seriously awesome. It’s like getting a full course meal of horror – totally satisfying! When you’re Grace, you feel completely helpless, which makes everything so much scarier. But then you switch to Leon and get to just blast zombies, which reminds me of all the crazy action from Resident Evil 6 – it’s a great change of pace and really keeps things interesting.

Resident Evil Requiem combines the best of both worlds

Requiem truly captures the classic Resident Evil experience: you’ll be running from or battling zombies, exploring a confusing, mansion-like setting, and figuring out puzzles to uncover the secrets within.

Managing your limited inventory is key to surviving in Grace’s part of the game. You’ll constantly be trying to fit everything you need – like herbs and ammo – without having to leave anything behind. It becomes really challenging when you’re being chased by zombies and have to quickly decide what to keep and what to discard.

To improve your crafting skills, you’ll need to gather blood samples from enemies. You’ll use a special machine to analyze these samples, and solving a quick, easy puzzle on the machine unlocks new crafting upgrades.

The game also features a crafting system. You can use salvaged metal to create ammo, and combine herbs with syringes to make healing injections. You can even craft a special weapon called the Hemolytic Injector, which allows you to attack enemies from stealth and stop them from transforming.

As I’ve been playing, I’ve found you can get extra upgrades by collecting antique coins hidden around the hospital. But here’s the catch: you have to actually beat the enemies guarding where those upgrades are! It’s pretty tough if you’re already running low on health, so you really have to be prepared.

It’s great to see Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak make an appearance, and Leon Kennedy is back too. Like Grace, he’s stuck in the Care Center trying to escape—but he has more firepower. Grace, meanwhile, is caught up in the events while investigating her mother’s murder, a storyline hinted at during the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 trailer.

Details about the hospital remain a mystery, and that’s adding to the anticipation for February 27th. The game promises to connect past and present storylines to solve Alyssa’s murder, offer engaging gameplay with both new and familiar characters, and deliver genuinely frightening moments. All signs point to this being one of the best Resident Evil games yet.

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2026-01-26 18:20