The Resident Evil series needs no introduction. After multiple genre-defining entries released over the course of three decades, the survival-horror franchise shows no signs of slowing down. But with Resident Evil Requiem ($69.99, reviewed on PlayStation 5 Pro, also available for PC, Switch 2, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S), I wondered how Capcom would keep the ninth mainline entry fresh without venturing into excess. My fears were misplaced. Capcom has crafted a title that's a culmination of the last 10 years of Resident Evil releases, melding elements from the new games and the remakes into a largely satisfying whole. With its satisfying dual-protagonist story, tense gameplay, and nostalgic moments, Resident Evil Requiem is one of the best games of the year, and an easy Editors' Choice award winner.

What's New in Resident Evil Requiem?

Initially, I was nervous that Requiem would mirror Resident Evil 6's maximalist approach. That title featured multiple leads and a ridiculously bloated campaign, resulting in a subpar release. I then played a Requiem demo that squashed that concern, but birthed a new one: Would Resident Evil 9 play things too safe? Would Capcom be too afraid to mix things up? It turns out that Requiem is a maximalist Resident Evil entry, but in the best possible way. It celebrates a series that has delivered hit after hit since Resident Evil 7 revived the survival-horror genre, expertly blending the best parts from recent releases.

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You play as a newcomer, FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, and a series veteran, DSO agent Leon S. Kennedy, as they are pulled into a conspiracy that leads them back to the location where the Resident Evil nightmare began so many years ago: Raccoon City. Unlike other series entries that feature dual protagonists, these characters couldn't be more different from one another. Grace is timid and scares easily, whimpering at creaks in the dark and stammering over her words. Leon, on the other hand, is as cool as the other side of the pillow. Age hasn't slowed him, and he still fires off corny one-liners that are so bad, they're good.

These differences aren't superficial character traits; they deftly define the characters' gameplay. Grace's sections are slower, more puzzle-heavy sequences that emphasize horror, much like Resident Evil 2. Conversely, Leon's sections are action-forward sequences, similar to Resident Evil 4. Their stories unfold simultaneously, sometimes moments apart.

In gameplay, Requiem draws its inspiration more from those recent remakes than from Resident Evil 7 or Resident Evil Village, though it offers the option to play in first-person, as those titles do. In fact, the game even suggests playing Grace's sections in that way to maximize tension.

Gameplay: An Exciting Blend of the New and Classic Styles

No matter which character you play, Requiem remains a shooter at heart. I'm biased toward the badass Leon sections, but Grace's sheer horror when facing the various monsters is endearing in its own right. In one section, I laughed and cheered as Grace sprinted through a blood-soaked corridor, her arms flailing as she panted and screamed. Many Resident Evil protagonists stare stone-faced into the eyes of horror, so I found Grace's reactions refreshingly human.

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Requiem ping-pongs between both characters during its early hours, letting Grace have the spotlight and then switching to Leon at the end of her sections as a palette cleanser. It's a satisfying balance—at first. Just as the formula begins to feel a little stale, Requiem brilliantly shifts to a semi-open world that flips the gameplay on its head, building on design ideas introduced in Resident Evil Village. 

It's in this new area that Leon’s gameplay morphs into something new and awesome. It’s as though Capcom implemented mechanics from The Mercenaries, a mode that makes its way into most Resident Evil entries. Kills score points, and you use those points to buy gun upgrades. The arcade-like gameplay loop, coupled with the non-linear structure, is the shot in the arm that Requiem (and the series) needed.

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Leon moves through the zombie hordes like John Wick cutting through a crime syndicate. He parries attacks, grabs items to toss at monsters, and leverages a weapons-packed attaché case. Slamming a hatchet into a stunned zombie's head or roundhouse kicking a zombie and watching its head explode is immensely satisfying.

Leon's sections are so good that they somewhat dampen Grace's. It's not that Requiem would be a better game without Grace; it's just that her slower, more traditional moments stand in stark contrast to Leon's shoot-'em-up thrills. Despite my Leon preference, Capcom mostly nails this balancing act. Requiem juggles different gameplay flavors, serving up just enough to keep you from getting bored. Still, I hope that when the eventual Resident Evil 10 arrives, the non-linear, semi-open-world design is the direction the series takes going forward.

Requiem combines Resident Evil Village's semi-open environments with Resident Evil 7's genuine horror, Resident Evil 2's puzzle-focused environments, and Resident Evil 3 and 4's high-octane action—and refines them with near-perfect precision. I was impressed with how the different elements blended together. Still, it's not as daring a series departure as Resident Evil 7 was in 2017 or Resident Evil 4 in 2004. That's why Silent Hill f, another horror title, resonated with me so much last year. It could've easily followed the template laid out by the Silent Hill 2 remake, but it largely forged its own path and was better for it. Requiem is a confident game, but it's content to play the hits, as excellent as they are.

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This is evident in the way Requiem handles its boss fights, which are surprisingly one-note battles. While most are large in scope, they typically dissolve into shooting glowing spots until the enemy collapses. It's big and explosive, but it's not necessarily deep or engaging. Likewise, the puzzles are fun, but not particularly difficult.

Story: A Heartfelt Requiem for the Dead

I can't delve too deeply into the details of Requiem's story due to spoilers. However, I can say it's the first time Resident Evil has had a story with genuine themes. Resident Evil games are mainly survival-horror affairs that follow their characters' journeys through hell. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village attempt to inject humanity into the narrative through the literally faceless Ethan Winters. But it truly works in Requiem because both characters are connected to Raccoon City, the setting in many Resident Evil releases.

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Grace is investigating a string of mysterious deaths. The victims all died of mysterious causes, but they all happened to be survivors of the Raccoon City Incident, the zombie outbreak that's the backdrop for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. Her investigation leads her to Victor Gideon, a mysterious, disfigured man who seems to know a lot about Grace and her mother, Alyssa. Meanwhile, Leon is also investigating the murders and is hot on Victor's trail. When Leon arrives, Grace is already in Victor's grasp, which jumpstarts his pursuit for answers.

Survivor's guilt and regret permeate Requiem in a meaningful way. In Grace's case, it's revealed that she's the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a lesser-known Raccoon City survivor who hard-core fans might remember as a protagonist in the Resident Evil Outbreak games. Grace blames herself for her mom's death, while Leon is haunted by the events of Raccoon City.

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With that in mind, the game's subtitle becomes clearer. It's not subtle–Leon literally carries a giant magnum called Requiem–but remembrance, regret, and repose come into play in major ways. The narrative has several flaws, as it's packed with unanswered questions and loose plot threads. But it's one of the strongest stories in the series' history, at least thematically.

Graphics and Performance: RE Has Never Looked Better

Requiem runs on the RE Engine, the same one that's powered Capcom's games since Resident Evil 7. It's proven itself extremely versatile, spanning a wide range of genres and titles, including Dragon's Dogma II and Street Fighter 6. That said, Requiem just might be the best use of it I've seen so far.

A great deal of work went into curating Resident Evil's trademark atmosphere. The lighting, for example, is excellent. I was impressed by the shadows cast in abandoned hotels, the glow of a red emergency light cutting through a dark hallway, and the clouds floating over a destroyed city. There were moments where Requiem looked photorealistic, despite the distinctly unrealistic circumstances. I also enjoyed the environmental details, which were great in third-person mode and fantastic in first-person mode. The character models look incredible, too. Compared with Resident Evil 2, an impressive-looking title from only a few years ago, Requiem is a huge upgrade and doesn't suffer from any of the stuttering and graphical artifacts that have become common in Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater and other Unreal Engine 5 releases.

I reviewed Requiem on the PlayStation 5 Pro, which let me play at 4K/60fps with ray tracing enabled. That said, you can deactivate ray tracing to achieve frame rates above 60fps (if you have a high-refresh-rate display). Requiem is a gorgeous game that deserves a high-quality gaming monitor, whether you’re playing on a PlayStation Pro or not.

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I played with ray tracing enabled. Although I didn't experience any noticeable frame drops, the extra tech didn't particularly make the experience any better or worse. It certainly speaks to RE Engine's efficiency, and perhaps how unnecessary the PlayStation 5 Pro is at times.