In many ways, Resident Evil Requiem feels like the perfect evolution of everything the Resident Evil franchise has built over 30 years. From the fixed-camera tension of the early PlayStation era to the action-heavy entries and the modern first-person reinvention, the series has never been afraid to experiment. With Requiem, Capcom pulls those ideas together into one cohesive, confident package. The game blends atmospheric first-person survival horror with explosive third-person combat. On paper, it shouldn’t work with deeply contrasting gameplay styles and storylines, but it all comes together so well.
The result is an experience that balances slow-burn tension with cinematic action, feeling both nostalgic and modern. Whether you’re a longtime fan or jumping in for the first time, Resident Evil Requiem delivers a polished, technically impressive survival horror adventure that stands out as one of the strongest entries in the series to date. Let’s return to Raccoon City with my full review of Resident Evil Requiem on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
Resident Evil Requiem details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror / Action
Available game modes: Single-player campaign
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Resident Evil Requiem storyline: two paths converge
Requiem introduces a bold dual-protagonist structure centred around Leon S. Kennedy and newcomer FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft. The story opens with Grace, and I love that choice. Rather than starting with a seasoned zombie-slayer, the game eases us into its horror through fresh eyes. Grace’s introduction is slow, deliberate, and dripping with dread, much like Resident Evil 2. The pacing feels intentional, almost suffocating. Corridors feel too tight. Shadows linger long, keeping you second-guessing your surroundings. The sound of something moving just out of sight made me physically lean forward more than once.
Ashcroft’s first-person perspective
Grace’s first-person perspective leans heavily into psychological horror. I was initially concerned about how her slower, more methodical gameplay would mesh with Leon’s action-heavy approach. But the weaving of their narratives is masterful. The story shifts between their perspectives, deepening both the plot and the tension. Grace uncovers conspiracy threads and emotional beats that give weight to Leon’s more explosive segments. Leon, meanwhile, provides context, momentum, and catharsis.
Without spoiling anything major, I found the emotional throughline surprisingly resonant. There’s a melancholy tone here, and a sense of reckoning, especially for Leon, being forced to return where his story began. The writing balances blockbuster spectacle with quieter, reflective moments, and I genuinely felt invested in both characters by the end.
Resident Evil Requiem gameplay: Two styles, one excellent experience
Let’s talk gameplay, because this is where Requiem truly shines. From the moment you take control, it becomes clear that this isn’t a one-note survival horror experience. Instead, Resident Evil Requiem embraces two distinct gameplay styles and remarkably, it blends them into one cohesive, thrilling ride.
Grace – Pure survival horror
Grace’s sections are best played in first-person and are slower-paced, ramping up the tension in many ways. Her arc, especially in the early going, is, frankly, terrifying. I don’t scare easily anymore (years of horror games will do that to you), but some of Requiem’s jump scares got me good.
A classic Resident Evil experience
Her gameplay leans into classic survival horror design: puzzle-solving, unlocking doors, and carefully managing limited inventory space. It feels like old-school Resident Evil filtered through modern sensibilities. Grace isn’t helpless, though. She wields a new tool called the “hemolytic injector,” allowing for instant-kill stealth takedowns and blood extraction used in crafting essential items like ammunition. It’s a new mechanic, and the use of blood for crafting is a little odd, but it adds strategy: do you risk getting close for resources, or conserve what little ammo you have and sneak past?
There were moments I found myself crouched behind furniture, barely breathing, waiting for a hulking enemy’s path to shift. It’s survival horror at its purest.
Leon returns with a vengeance
Then there’s Leon, offering a third-person perspective, faster movement and an arsenal of weapons. His trusty hatchet lets him finish off enemies efficiently, and you can even grab axes dropped by foes and hurl them at remaining threats. At one point, I briefly wielded a chainsaw and absolutely tore through a corridor of undead. It was gloriously cathartic, in contrast to the duck-and-cover approach I had to adopt with Grace to survive. Leon isn’t invincible, but he is more capable thanks to his experience.
What I loved most was how the game cleverly revisits Grace’s earlier areas through Leon’s campaign. Spaces that once felt suffocating become more open and action heavy. Couldn’t get Grace to open the doors? Leon brute-forces them with his hatchet. Areas I crept through nervously? Leon storms through like a tank. The contrast is brilliant and strikes the right balance.
I really enjoyed the duality; it keeps the pacing fresh. If there’s a critique, it’s that Leon’s sections can occasionally tilt toward action-heavy spectacle, slightly reducing tension, but if you enjoyed Resident Evil 4, you are in for a treat here. But honestly? After hiding under tables as Grace, I welcomed Leon’s revenge tour.
Resident Evil Requiem offers terrifying enemies
Requiem introduces some of the franchise’s most nerve-wracking enemies and even evolves zombies. The undead are less “one note” and offer movement and habits that they had before infection. For example, they can swing objects or accidentally discharge weapons at you if they were holding them when they were turned. I even had one zombie that would unsettlingly move around and randomly turn off the lights.
Mini-bosses and stalkers
The large “Stalker” enemy type returns in different forms. One early game enemy is a slow-moving avalanche of flesh that pushes toward you. He fills corridors entirely, blocking escape routes and forcing you to rethink your path. He cannot be easily killed, and engaging him directly is almost always a mistake. So, the best option is to outwit and run.
Are you afraid of the dark?
Then there’s the towering, 12-foot, bug-eyed giant woman who hides in darkness and drops from ceilings. Your only real protection? Light. The dynamic lighting system turns illumination into safety, and darkness into immediate danger. I had moments where I was sprinting toward a lit room at the end of a pitch-black hallway like it was life or death. These hulking enemy types evoke a sense of being hunted, much like the Tyrant in Resident Evil 2. The white-knuckle tension here rivals anything the franchise has done before.
Resident Evil Requiem graphics and performance
On PlayStation 5 Pro, Resident Evil Requiem looks hauntingly beautiful. Capcom’s RE Engine delivers hyper-detailed character models, lifelike facial animations, and incredible atmospheric environmental storytelling. Just as noticeable as the visual fidelity is the level of polish. This is a remarkably optimized experience from start to finish.
I found performance on PS5 Pro is exceptionally smooth. Load times are nearly instantaneous, and frame rates remain stable even during intense combat sequences filled with particle effects, dynamic lighting shifts, and swarming enemies. The lighting system deserves special praise, particularly in Grace’s darker, more suspense-driven segments, where shadows stretch and shift naturally, and reflections shimmer with eerie realism.
On the Pro you have flexibility as well: enabling full ray tracing allows the game to run at 4K/60 FPS with enhanced reflections and global illumination, while disabling ray tracing unlocks higher frame rates up to 120 FPS (averaging around 90 FPS) on compatible displays. Whether you prioritize visual fidelity or ultra-smooth responsiveness, Resident Evil Requiem delivers one of the most technically impressive survival horror experiences out there. It’s easily a showcase title for the PlayStation 5 family of consoles.
Resident Evil Requiem Impressions on Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 version is impressive in its own right, though naturally very scaled back to meet the console’s specifications. Textures are reduced, and environmental detail isn’t quite as razor-sharp. However, performance remains smooth, and the portability factor is a huge plus in my book for some scares on the go. Playing this level of survival horror fidelity on a Nintendo handheld still feels like an impressive technical feat. The fact that the experience mostly remains intact, dual campaigns, enemy intensity, and smooth controls is a testament to strong optimization.
Final Thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem A 30-Year Legacy Perfected
With the franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem feels like a love letter to everything that came before. It blends contrasting gameplay styles, survival horror and action spectacle in a way that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Most importantly, it’s satisfying. This is Resident Evil at its most confident and complete.
| Pros | Cons |
| Dual gameplay styles create dynamic pacing. | Some difficulty spikes can feel abrupt, especially during boss encounters. |
| Combat feels weighty and satisfying, with strong weapon variety and environmental interactions. | Limited resources may frustrate players who prefer a more action-focused experience. |
| Atmosphere is tense, immersive, and consistently unsettling. | A few sections slow the pacing slightly during extended exploration sequences. |
| Character contrast deepens both the narrative and gameplay variety. | Navigation can occasionally feel unclear in darker environments. |
| Sound design and environmental detail elevate every encounter. |
Overall Assessment of Resident Evil Requiem
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
Requiem isn’t just a celebration of the franchise’s 30-year legacy; it’s a confident statement about where survival horror can go next, and I’m genuinely excited for it. By blending methodical, tension-filled exploration with explosive, satisfying combat, it delivers an experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Raccoon City or stepping into the series for the first time, this is a must-play entry that proves Resident Evil still sets the bar for cinematic survival horror.
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