About Resident Evil Requiem
Blending horror and survival with a deliberately limited inventory, Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth canonical installment in the eponymous series. It is a single-player survival horror game that can be played in first-person view or with a third-person camera. This allows players to experience the adventure in two different ways: either through the eyes of the character they control, or from an over-the-shoulder camera perspective for those accustomed to it. Developed using the RE Engine, Resident Evil Requiem was originally conceived as an online multiplayer game before reverting to a more traditional format. Throughout the series’ history, several installments have faced complicated development challenges, forcing the designers to go back and rework everything. Resident Evil Requiem thus returns to the series’ roots, alternating between two characters within a single, unified story.
The game features an FBI analyst, Grace Ashcroft, an orphan whose mother was murdered eight years earlier in a hotel in the Midwest. She is now sent back to that same location to shed light on a series of mysterious deaths: survivors of the Raccoon City tragedy have been dying under very strange circumstances. To try to understand this phenomenon, she’ll be joined by the series’ iconic agent, Leon S. Kennedy. Their journey will lead them to uncover a mystery that goes far beyond a simple experiment gone wrong.
What happened to the six survivors of Raccoon City? They survived the apocalypse that struck the American city, but then died under mysterious circumstances. Leon S. Kennedy, the iconic hero of the Resident Evil series, arrives with the determination to solve this strange case and unravel the mystery. After arriving in town behind the wheel of his Porsche (designed in collaboration with the German automaker), he meets Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst who finds herself caught up in a real-life nightmare. As she delves deeper into her investigation, she realizes that her past—and that of her mother—are linked to this case, and she becomes the prey, hunted by a monstrous entity.
Why Should I Play Resident Evil Requiem?
Resident Evil Requiem offers two types of gameplay. When playing as Grace Ashcroft, the game emphasizes stealth and escape. In contrast, Leon S. Kennedy is more accustomed to hostile encounters and often relies on gunfire—and his feet—when dealing with zombies. Additionally, when playing as Grace Ashcroft, you’ll encounter the famous “stalker” mechanic first introduced in Resident Evil 3. This same mechanic was later revisited in Resident Evil Village with the iconic and formidable Lady Dimitrescu. Consequently, when playing as Grace Ashcroft, many sequences require you to sneak around without being spotted and to make a run for it at the right moment.
Developers have also incorporated some classic video game elements, such as the ability to throw glass bottles to alert zombies and create a diversion. For his part, Leon has a whole arsenal at his disposal to take down the zombies he encounters. As director Koshi Nakanishi explains, the sequences featuring Grace are similar to those in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7, with a more suspenseful and horror-focused approach, whereas Leon’s sequences take a cue from Resident Evil 4, maintaining constant tension.
Compared to previous installments, Resident Evil Requiem brings a semblance of humanity to its cast of monsters. Specifically, whereas previous games featured creatures and zombies devoid of any real humanity, this time the zombies you encounter retain fragments of memories from their past as humans. As a result, you’ll come across characters who had various jobs and activities and who continue to perform them despite their zombie status. There are dozens of them based on this concept. For example, a housekeeper will continue to dust the furniture even while being a zombie ready to pounce on you the moment she sees you. You’ll also come across butlers, doctors, or bellhops in elevators. Without betraying the legacy of the series, Resident Evil Requiem brings its own set of new features.
Among the other new gameplay features is the inclusion of a blood collector. It’s a small device that allows Grace Ashcroft to collect hemoglobin from zombie corpses to craft various tools that help her survive. Interestingly, Resident Evil Requiem introduces a strategic element as players are constantly faced with the same dilemma: should they risk their limited ammunition to collect blood from zombies, or should they sneak past unseen? So, even though there are several difficulty levels, Resident Evil Requiem really comes into its own when you choose the standard level or higher. This sense of constant tension truly adds something special to the adventure.
With numerous nods to earlier installments in the series, Resident Evil Requiem marks the return everyone has been waiting for. The game’s greatest strength lies with two characters who are polar opposites—or nearly so. Grace is a young woman who lacks both Leon S. Kennedy’s power and experience. When she finds herself being hunted or threatened by zombies, she is often forced to flee or sneak past them as quietly as possible. In contrast, Leon has been through the wringer in previous installments and is accustomed to these traumatic experiences. Resident Evil Requiem thus manages to balance two types of gameplay: stealth on one hand and action on the other. Driven by an extraordinary atmosphere and stunning cinematic camerawork, this new installment makes a huge impact in the chronology of Capcom’s saga.
Is Resident Evil Requiem Free-to-play?
Resident Evil Requiem is a paid game that took many years to develop. It was specifically in 2021 that the game—originally conceived as an online multiplayer title—shifted back to a more standard format. You can now download the game on various platforms or purchase a physical copy.
Where Can I Download Resident Evil Requiem?
Resident Evil Requiem is a survival horror game available on numerous platforms. Designed for next-generation consoles, you can download this Capcom title on Windows PC, PlayStation 5 Pro, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and even Nintendo Switch 2.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Resident Evil Requiem?
As explained by the director of Resident Evil Requiem, Resident Evil 4 was the game that inspired Leon S. Kennedy’s action sequences in the latest installment of the series. This cult classic was originally released on Nintendo’s GameCube and was a massive hit at the time. It’s worth noting that this installment features high-octane action with a camera positioned over the main character’s shoulder and a very dynamic presentation. As the starting point for many games that were later inspired by it, Resident Evil 4 itself was the subject of a high-quality remake a few years ago, featuring modern graphics, constant tension, and unforgettable sequences.
Having been the subject of an ambitious remake in 2019, Resident Evil 2 is one of the most beloved installments in the series. Released in 1998 on PlayStation, this installment broadens players’ horizons by moving away from the mansion of the first game and setting the action in the heart of Raccoon City. The game follows Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy as they try to survive hordes of zombies by taking refuge in the police station. Driven by a fantastic atmosphere and scenes that have become cult classics, the game has been given a meticulously crafted remake featuring spectacular graphics, cinematic direction, and an adventure worthy of a Hollywood movie.
Finally, Resident Evil Village, the eighth canonical installment in the series and one of the credible alternatives to Resident Evil Requiem. Set three years after the events of Resident Evil 7, the game follows Ethan Winters, who is dealing with a family tragedy. He finds himself in the middle of a Romanian village overlooked by a massive castle that inevitably brings to mind Dracula. In this installment, the player faces Lady Dimitrescu, an imposing, terrifying woman who evokes Bram Stoker’s famous vampire. The adventure, filled with stealth action and unforgettable sequences, is a real treat for fans of the series.
