When Resident Evil: Requiem was revealed back in July 2025’s Summer Game Fest, my partner and I knew we would be purchasing it day one and playing it as a priority once we could. What we didn’t predict was that we would finish it in one sitting.
Indeed, the plot, gameplay and overall aesthetic of Resident Evil Requiem kept us hooked throughout, so much so that we wanted to persevere to complete the game. We found the blend between genres kept the title fresh, and there was rarely a moment where gameplay sections went on too long. Where the sections as Grace Ashcroft felt tense, suspenseful and full of scares, the Leon sections were just like old-school Resident Evil – Thrilling, kick-ass and blood-pumping.
Interestingly, the sections with Grace really felt like the survival aspects of the series were kicked up to the extreme. If you thought that it was a struggle to keep on top of your bullets in the previous Resident Evil entries, get ready for these sections – Every bullet is valuable, even when you unlock the ability to make your own ammunition, so much so that it almost feels like you should sneak through or avoid some combat scenarios – Which not only makes sense for Grace’s character, but is also supported by the items she finds: Knives and syringes for sneak attacks or self-defense, as well as her weapons being mainly pistols or throwables like Molotov Cocktails for taking out big groups. This also makes sense with her character, the FBI Analyst with no field experience.
The Leon sections, however, utilise old-school Resident Evil gameplay, allowing for nostalgia throughout the entry, where you do classic melee follow-ups to strong weapon attacks with shotguns, assault rifles and SMGs. This dichotomy allows for two distinct experiences in Requiem, keeping that fresh perspective throughout it, and allowing for those consistent play sessions to never feel old.
The story really shines as well – And, of course, there will be some spoilers after this point.
Combining a new character with their own struggles, backstory and plot beats with a veteran of the franchise dealing with the events of his past coming to light is a great way to keep you engaged. Obviously, you’re going to care about Leon’s life since he left off in Resident Evil 6, and, even better, his current problems are all related to older games in the series, so expect to see plenty of references and familiar faces within his story.
Grace shines on her own as a new character as well, providing a completely new lens of the game through her eyes, both figuratively and literally, due to the difference between first and third person perspectives. Her role as the meek, shy, unsure agent is a great contrast to Leon’s confidence, and contributes a great amount to the world. She’s hopeful in comparison to Leon’s jaded personality, scared in opposition to Leon’s assuredness and I hope she becomes a familiar face throughout the rest of the series beyond this point.
It helps that she’s connected to the cast through her mother, Alyssa, too. And the game does a good job of explaining Alyssa’s connection to the overall plot of the franchise already, providing you with enough context to understand.
Character Development
While we’re discussing characters, let’s talk about antagonists. Victor Gideon is a good opposing force, providing overall intrigue about his motivations and keeping you wanting answers throughout. The questions about him only heighten once you learn, through Leon’s story, that he is connected to Umbrella, and lead you to wonder how he’s contributed to the woes of our protagonists.
This cast is only heightened by the return of the stalker-type enemy, through the enigmatic “Girl” who chases Grace around the Care Centre and beyond. Providing constant threat and horror throughout, including plenty of tense moments that will fill you with dread. The atmosphere is great, and the Resident Evil aesthetic is back in full swing.
This is all to say that there is tons to keep you hooked throughout Resident Evil: Requiem. Due to its combination of horror, action and story, which fully connects and continues to develop upon this already amazing franchise. I’m excited to see what happens next with the characters, whether that be their appearances in a follow-up title or some more content related to Resident Evil: Requiem in a story DLC, if any release.
