The anticipation surrounding Resident Evil Requiem has reached a fever pitch as the first wave of critical assessments hits the web. As the ninth mainline chapter in Capcom’s storied survival horror odyssey, the title currently commands an impressive aggregate score of 88 on Metacritic, based on nearly 100 reviews from major outlets.
Under the creative direction of Koshi Nakanishi—the architect behind the series’ terrifying reinvention in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard—Requiem unfolds through a dual-protagonist narrative. Players are introduced to Grace Ashcroft, an FBI agent and the daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak’s investigative reporter, Alyssa Ashcroft. Grace is a woman haunted by the traumatic memory of her mother’s violent demise, but her quest for closure is interrupted when a routine investigation plunges her into a familiar nightmare. Her path eventually converges with a veteran Leon S. Kennedy. A far cry from the rookie who first entered Raccoon City, this seasoned version of Leon returns to the ruins of his past to investigate lingering rumors of survivors from the initial disaster.
Writing for Polygon, Giovanni Colantonio remarked that Requiem serves as more than just a digital farewell to an iconic hero or a nod to PlayStation-era sentimentality. He noted that the game serves as a visceral reminder to confront humanity’s darkest impulses rather than retreating from them, stating that “evil can only truly prevail when there are no more good people left to stand up and fight back.”
Mechanically, Requiem oscillates between first-person and third-person perspectives. Grace’s introductory chapters default to a claustrophobic first-person view—though a third-person toggle is available in the menu—while Leon’s arrival in the second act shifts the lens back to the series’ tactical third-person roots. This stylistic pivot has polarized some reviewers; some found the transition between Grace’s vulnerability and Leon’s combat prowess to be slightly disjointed, while others felt it offered a definitive blend of the franchise’s two distinct eras.
“Whereas Grace’s sections leave you feeling defenseless as you try to fend off howling witches and hulking butchers with nothing but a dinky handgun, Leon’s bits have him tearing through the same creatures like it’s another Tuesday,” Colantonio observed.
Phil Hornshaw of GameSpot, who awarded the title an 8/10, echoed the sentiment of a “tale of two games.” He described one half as a slow-burn, macabre haunted house experience centered on an ordinary person, mirroring the horror-centric tone of RE7. The other half, he noted, is a high-octane, panic-inducing action spectacle starring a legendary operative, drawing inspiration directly from Resident Evil 4. Despite the tonal disparity, he found both segments remarkably engaging.
On the whole, Resident Evil Requiem appears to embrace a more grounded and somber tone than its predecessors—living up to its name—while still delivering the expected scares, diverse combat encounters, and campy one-liners the fan base loves.
Below is a curated look at the critical consensus from across the industry:
Eurogamer
“Requiem transcends being a mere horror or action title; it is a sincere and joyful tribute to the Resident Evil legacy as it approaches its 30th anniversary. The further you progress—and the more it draws from its own history—the more it feels like a love letter to the fans. This is evident in the sprawling mansion that evokes the series’ origins, the shifting camera angles, and the delightfully archaic puzzle logic. From inventory systems that bridge different eras to a campaign structure reminiscent of Resident Evil 6, it’s a masterclass in nostalgia. The more it leaned into its heritage, the more I found myself grinning.” —Matt Wales
Game Informer
“Capcom resists the urge to turn Grace’s journey into an over-the-top action fest, keeping her narrative anchored in dread and emotional weight. Just as the tension threatens to become overwhelming, Leon enters the fray, bringing with him the high-stakes set pieces, motorcycle pursuits, and gargantuan boss battles he is known for. The developer expertly intertwines these two threads, ensuring Grace’s horror never wears thin and Leon’s action-hero bravado never overstays its welcome.
“I would have gladly spent another dozen hours in this world. The wealth of post-game content and unlockables signals Capcom’s confidence in the game’s replayability; they know players will be returning to this nightmare time and again.” —Wesley LeBlanc
GameSpot
“For nearly a decade, Capcom has been polishing the Resident Evil formula, balancing modernization with the core identity that fans cherish. With Requiem, they have perhaps reached the limit of this refinement. The result is a title that leans heavily on past triumphs and nostalgia, occasionally at the expense of new ideas. However, it understands its own strengths perfectly and executes them with near-flawless precision.” —Phil Hornshaw
IGN
“Much like a viral experiment from an Umbrella lab, Resident Evil Requiem successfully merges two distinct strains of survival horror into a singular, infectious mutation. It heralds the return of a legendary icon alongside a compelling new lead, pushes the gore to stomach-churning new heights, and introduces terrifying new adversaries. While the absence of a ‘Mercenaries’ mode is a minor letdown, and the transition from front-loaded horror to a bullet-heavy finale could be smoother, the game remained utterly absorbing from the first step into the shadows to the climactic titan-sized showdown.” —Tristan Ogilvie
Kotaku
“Requiem opens with immense potential, seemingly poised to chart a new path for the franchise, yet it ultimately feels hesitant to fully commit to that evolution. While the series is celebrating 30 years and pondering its future, Requiem seems content to dwell in the past. That said, the gunplay is satisfying, the scares are effective, and Leon remains as charismatic as ever. Perhaps there is no urgent need for a radical overhaul when the established formula remains this effective, even if it leaves me craving a bit more forward-thinking innovation.” —Kenneth Shepard
Source: Polygon
