Resident Evil Requiem Review: The Ninth Mainline Entry Brings Horror Back to Its Roots
Written by Zylory Team | Zylory.com
Resident Evil Requiem — official key art
The Bottom Line
Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline entry in Capcom’s flagship horror franchise, and it arrives with real ambition. The dual-protagonist structure combined with a free first-person/third-person camera switch keeps the series’ classic horror DNA intact while pushing the gameplay further than any recent entry. If you’re a survival horror fan, this might be the one game you shouldn’t skip this year.
Story and Dual-Protagonist Design
The game splits its narrative between two playable characters: FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and series veteran Leon S. Kennedy. The pacing is deliberately different between the two storylines — Grace’s chapters lean hard into classic survival horror, with scarce resources, stealth-based evasion, and a constant sense of being hunted. Leon’s chapters, by contrast, shift toward action, with melee counters, improvised weapon crafting, and faster-paced gunfights.
Grace Ashcroft finds herself hunted in a tense, close-quarters moment
This “two experiences in one game” approach is clearly designed to satisfy both hardcore horror purists and fans of the series’ more action-oriented later entries (think Resident Evil 6). In practice, the balance works surprisingly well — the tonal shift never feels jarring or disjointed.
Leon S. Kennedy returns, drawn back into the horror once again
Gameplay Highlight: Free Camera Switching
The standout new system is the ability to freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives at any time. Use first-person in tight spaces to ramp up immersion and tension, or switch back to third-person when you need better spatial awareness during combat or exploration. It sounds simple on paper, but in practice it makes traversal feel far more adaptable — and it’s the first time the series has let players decide their own play style on the fly.
The game’s environments lean into ornate, decaying grandeur
Visuals and Atmosphere
The updated RE Engine pushes lighting even further, especially in enclosed spaces — the grain around flashlight beams, shadows that seem to shift on their own, all paired with a new psychological fear system where enemies adapt their behavior based on your tactics. The overall sense of dread is more sustained than in previous entries.
A rain-soaked crime scene sets the tone early in the story
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Clear dual-protagonist structure; both play styles feel intentional, not like reused content
- The free camera-switching system is genuinely useful and fresh
- The adaptive fear system keeps repeat playthroughs interesting
- Visuals and sound design maintain the series’ consistently high bar
Cons:
- Early-to-mid pacing runs slow, which may require an adjustment period for action-series fans
- Some puzzle sections have uneven difficulty curves and can cause frustrating stalls
- The two storylines converge somewhat abruptly in the late game
Final Verdict
The aftermath — devastation on a citywide scale
In short: this is a Resident Evil entry that plays it both ways — players craving classic horror can lean into Grace’s storyline, while those who want fast, satisfying combat can focus on Leon’s. Series veterans won’t be disappointed, and newcomers have a relatively low barrier to entry.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended for: Survival horror fans, series veterans, players who value strong narrative-driven games
Not recommended for: Players seeking a fast-paced, pure action shooter experience
Reviewed by Zylory Team at Zylory.com, based on hands-on gameplay. Game screenshots are copyrighted by Capcom and are used here for review purposes only.
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