Resident Evil Requiem Review: Capcom's Survival Horror Pinnacle Returns to Raccoon City

In the shadowed ruins of Raccoon City, 28 years after its nuclear annihilation, Resident Evil Requiem emerges as Capcom's most confident survival horror entry yet. Released on February 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, this ninth mainline title introduces FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft—daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak's Alyssa—alongside veteran agent Leon S. Kennedy. Investigating a late-onset T-Virus outbreak among survivors, the duo navigates zombie-infested chronic care centers, dilapidated hotels, and missile-scarred city remnants. Boasting a Metascore of 89 and sky-high user scores of 9.5, Requiem has shattered Steam launch records and sold over 5 million copies.

Gameplay: A Thrilling Dual-Protagonist Dance

Requiem's genius lies in its alternating control between Grace's first-person survival horror and Leon's third-person action rampage, with seamless perspective switching. Grace's segments channel RE7 and Village, emphasizing stealth: sneak past shambling zombies, hurl glass bottles as distractions, and manage a flickering lighter that illuminates but attracts horrors. Resources are scarce—conserve herbs and ammo, hide in lockers during chases. Leon flips the script with arsenal-packed shootouts, melee hatchets, and explosive set pieces like motorcycle pursuits against mutated bosses. Puzzles blend classic herb-mixing with environmental riddles, like aligning virus samples under UV light.

Practical Tips:

• Grace Mode: Prioritize evasion; running draws pursuers. Use the lighter sparingly in dark corridors—zombies with retained memories make kills eerily personal.
• Leon Mode: Headshot zombies for quick stuns, upgrade weapons via crafting. Knife parries save ammo during hordes.
• Replayability shines in post-game unlocks and New Game+, encouraging multiple runs for hidden lore tapes.

This balance creates intoxicating tension, though some find Grace's dread monotonous before Leon's adrenaline kicks in.

Story and Atmosphere: Emotional Requiem for the Undead

Without spoilers, the narrative weaves Grace's methodical investigation with Leon's high-stakes ops, exploring survivor guilt and Umbrella's lingering shadows. Villains like ex-Umbrella scientist Victor Gideon add layers, while callbacks to Raccoon City evoke nostalgia without pandering. Audio design—hushed breaths, grotesque gurgles, and Leon's quippy one-liners—amps the schlocky horror. Critics hail it as a 'love letter' to 30 years of Resident Evil, though lore-heavy plots demand wiki refreshers for newcomers.

Graphics, Performance, and Value

The RE Engine dazzles with ray-traced lighting, global illumination, and gore-soaked details on PC and PS5, running at 60fps+ with 4K/HDR. Switch 2 impresses in handheld mode despite minor dips, proving cross-gen prowess. At $70, it's stellar value with 15-20 hour campaigns, robust replay incentives, and no microtransactions. Minor hitches: occasional sluggish running and absent Mercenaries mode disappoint horde enthusiasts. Amid AI-review scandals on Metacritic (now purged), genuine acclaim dominates.

Pros, Cons, and Final Verdict

Pros:

• Perfect horror-action synergy via dual protagonists.
• Stunning visuals, tense atmosphere, clever puzzles.
• Replayable with unlocks; massive sales validate hype.

Cons:

• Lore prerequisites alienate casuals.
• Pacing dips in later acts; no Mercenaries.
• Familiarity borders on safe.

Resident Evil Requiem isn't revolutionary but refines the formula to perfection—a sublime sepulchre for the series' legacy. Essential for horror fans, it's Capcom firing on all cylinders.