Resident Evil Requiem is a survival horror video game set 28 years after the destruction of Raccoon City. Requiem, as Capcom’s most successful attempt yet, blends horror and action without collapsing. The dual-protagonist structure allows two distinct gameplay identities, making it the franchise’s finest balance between survival horror and action. Critics frequently point out that earlier Resident Evil games struggled because RE6 leaned too far into action and RE7 into horror. The story follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft investigating a string of deaths linked to her mother’s death. Leon is an aggressive and experienced protagonist that give direct frontline combat experience. Resident Evil Requiem released on February 27, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 (February 27, 2026).
The Story — Back to Raccoon City, 28 Years Later
Resident Evil Requiem introduces a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. She’s the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, now working as an FBI technical analyst. She focuses more on investigation rather than on encountering enemies in combat. This new protagonist is very fearful, allowing the players to experience the horror scenes. The reason for her being so introverted is her mother’s death. So, she works on herself and becomes an FBI agent. Grace voluntarily joins the investigation at the hotel where her mother was killed years ago.
If you’ve played the previous titles like Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak File #2, then you must know who Alyssa Ashcroft was. Playing both as Leon and Grace simultaneously lets you feel the immersive experience in this new title. Each character has different gameplay styles, but the goal is the same.
The story shifts between these two characters while progressing in Resident Evil Requiem. Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy uncover the new mystery here. The story begins when a body is discovered in an abandoned hotel. Grace Ashcroft has been given the task of investigating the crime scene in the hotel. The Wrenwood Hotel itself is presented as a decaying, abandoned location with a history of murder. Requiem finally strikes the balance between action and horror that Capcom’s wrestled with for all these years, giving the game an 8/10 rating (PCGamesN).
Grace vs Leon: Two Ways to Play
You start your journey with Grace’s perspective in Resident Evil Requiem. Her sections are built around tense survival horror rather than direct combat action. Her perspective makes exploration and panic more intense while progressing. Players can feel overwhelmed while playing as Grace due to limited ammo and inventory space. Surviving till the last while solving the puzzles is the goal for Grace. She’s inexperienced, so expect no melee combat skill.
Leon in Resident Evil Requiem has an action-focused perspective, letting you enjoy the direct combat experience. This experienced zombie slayer excels at direct confrontation and crowd control. Leon’s kit heavily supports melee combat encounters, replacing the classic knife with a new combat hatchet system.
- Parries
- Melee finishers
- Door/obstacle interactions
- Close-range attacks
Leon uses pistols, shotguns, grenades, and upgraded firearms while fighting the enemies in Resident Evil Requiem. His Requiem Revolver is a hand-cannon-style weapon that can absolutely dominate the enemies. The best aspect that I really enjoy is the camera toggle in the settings. You can use this to switch between first-person and third-person whenever you want. Players are not forced to swap viewpoints between Grace and Leon. The game also lets you set a default camera per character or lock a single perspective.
- Grace represents survival horror (fear, scarcity, vulnerability)
- Leon shows action horror (control, combat, empowerment)
The game is planned to alternate tension and release. However, Grace’s sections push maximum horror, but Leon’s sections provide action-focused relief. The campaign is split nearly 50/50 between the two characters, so the gameplay feels like different genres inside one story.
Grace is a fearful FBI analyst with no combat experience compared to previous protagonists. Her limited combat ability & survival focus let you feel that you are underpowered and exposed. On the other hand, Leon’s sections provide action relief and combat mastery. Together, they built emotional rhythm: fear → relief → fear → escalation. This dual system is most critically praised for its gameplay design because it keeps the pacing fresh and varied. It separates the two styles cleanly instead of forcing them to clash.
Post-Launch Content — What Was Added
The developers behind the series confirmed multiple post-launch additions for Resident Evil Requiem and some early updates. A Photo Mode across all platforms was released on March 27, 2026. This allows the players to pause any scene and adjust the camera freely. It also let full camera control, posing, filters, and expression editing. Leon Must Die Forever is the mini-game released on May 8, 2026, as a free post-launch update. This allows the players to control Leon S. Kennedy in timed combat stages and reworks locations from the main game. The key design features are consistent.
- Time-attack / score-based runs
- Multiple difficulty tiers (including extreme mode)
- Randomized or variable enemy encounters
This mode is positioned as pure Leon-focused action gameplay and focuses on aggressive combat, mobility, and weapon use. Capcom has officially confirmed that a story expansion is in development. It will continue or expand the narrative of Resident Evil Requiem.
Porsche’s collaboration in this new title features the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. This vehicle is the in-game transport element tied to Leon S. Kennedy. The car is not just cosmetic but a symbol of performance and survival under pressure. Hamilton x Resident Evil Requiem Watch collaboration features two limited-edition watches. Each watch is directly tied to one of the two protagonists.
- Khaki Field Auto Chrono: Military-inspired aesthetic reflecting Leon’s field operative role
- American Classic Pan Europ: More refined and analytical aesthetic matching Grace’s FBI analyst role
Capcom is also releasing Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy amiibo figures on July 30, 2026, the first Resident Evil amiibos ever made. Both are tied to the Switch 2 version and unlock weapon skins and in-game customization.
Critical Reception and Verdict
PCGamesN’s review Resident Evil Requiem as an anniversary game in the truest sense. This new title creates a perfect balance between action and horror.
- The review sits at 8/10, making the game strong in every aspect.
- User review scores sit around the 9+ range, making it a top-tier 2026 release.
- Steam user reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive 90%+ positive range.
Grace’s sections deliver first-person survival tension, giving psychological horror pacing. For PC players who want to experience RE9 with full visual fidelity, a Resident Evil Requiem Steam Key from LootBar is the fastest way in at a smart price.
Conclusion
Resident Evil Requiem is a title filled with immersive experience due to multiple unsolved puzzles and mysteries. The gameplay has a strong grip on the storyline and two distinct perspectives. The narrative gets more appreciation for weaving nostalgia and franchise lore. Grace’s gameplay focuses on survival horror, scarcity, stealth, and puzzle tension. Leon’s gameplay, on the other hand, is more cinematic action, parries, firearms, and direct combat. Atmosphere is consistently praised as highly detailed and horror-focused. Most critics compare its presentation to a horror film with interactive control. For game keys across new releases, LootBar is worth checking out.
