Resident Evil Requiem is the most ambitious entry in the franchise yet, splitting its campaign between two playable characters with radically different gameplay styles. Whether you’re a survival horror veteran or a newcomer drawn in by the hype, these spoiler-free tips will help you survive your first hours.
For our full coverage of the launch, check out our Resident Evil Requiem launch article.
Grace vs Leon — Two Very Different Games
Requiem features two playable protagonists, and their gameplay couldn’t be more different:
Grace Ashcroft (FBI Analyst) plays classic survival horror. She relies on stealth, distraction, and puzzle-solving. Grace can crouch, sneak to reduce noise, hide under objects like tables, and throw glass bottles to lure enemies away. Enemies track her by sound — even through floors and ceilings — making every footstep a calculated decision. Her sections are tense, resource-scarce, and closer to RE2 in feel.
Leon S. Kennedy (DSO Agent) plays action horror. He wields firearms, a degradable hatchet, and can perform melee moves like German suplexes and tactical parries. Leon can pick up enemy weapons and use them. His sections are faster, louder, and more reminiscent of RE4.
Tip: The game alternates between characters at story-driven intervals. You don’t choose — both campaigns interweave into one story.
Pick the Right Difficulty
Requiem offers three difficulty settings on your first playthrough:
- Casual — Aim assist enabled, more forgiving health, weaker enemies. Ideal if you’re here for the story.
- Standard (Modern) — The intended experience. Traditional save system with autosaves and manual saves at any save point.
- Standard (Classic) — For purists. Grace must use Ink Ribbons to save manually, with limited autosaves. This adds genuine tension — deciding when to save becomes part of your resource management. Leon’s saves are unaffected.
Recommendation: Start on Standard (Modern) for your first playthrough. Classic is excellent for a second run when you know the map layouts.
First-Person vs Third-Person — You Can Switch Anytime
Unlike RE Village which required a separate save file, Requiem lets you toggle between first-person and third-person at any time from the pause menu. Both perspectives are fully supported for combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving.
Third-person gives better spatial awareness for combat. First-person heightens horror immersion. Reviewers note the game “works in first but is made for third.” Try both and switch based on the situation — use first-person for creepy exploration and third-person for intense combat encounters.
Resource Management Tips
Ammunition and healing items are carefully distributed and limited, especially as Grace. Here’s how to stretch your resources:
- As Grace, don’t fight everything. Glass bottles are abundant — use them to distract enemies rather than wasting ammo. Stealth past anything you can.
- Grace’s Blood Crafting System is a game-changer. She acquires an extractor device that lets her collect infected blood from downed zombies or environmental sources. Combine blood with scrap or herbs to create healing items, buffs, or offensive tools like injectors that cause zombies to burst. Prioritize finding this device early.
- Leon’s hatchet degrades with use. A “sharpen” prompt appears when durability is low — don’t ignore it. Running out of hatchet durability mid-fight is dangerous.
- Manage Grace’s inventory carefully. She has limited carrying capacity, so make hard decisions about what to keep. Drop key items at save rooms if you’re running out of space.
Combat Tips for Both Characters
Grace: When forced to fight, aim for the head to conserve ammo. Environmental kills (pushing enemies into hazards) save resources. Remember that enemies hear you through walls, floors, and ceilings — firing a gun attracts everything nearby. Use her lighter sparingly in dark areas; it attracts enemies.
Leon: Melee is your friend. Stagger enemies with gunfire, then follow up with a melee finisher for a clean kill without spending extra ammo. Parrying with the hatchet has a generous timing window — practice it early. Pick up enemy weapons whenever possible; they’re free damage.
Save Room Strategy (Classic Difficulty)
On Classic difficulty, Ink Ribbons are limited and only Grace uses them. Save before:
- Boss encounters (you’ll know — the game telegraphs them with save rooms nearby)
- Entering new major areas
- After finding key items or solving major puzzles
Don’t waste ribbons saving after every room. The autosave system still catches you at certain checkpoints, even on Classic.
Quick Tips
- Explore thoroughly — ammo, herbs, and key items hide in drawers, shelves, and breakable objects
- The game is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC
- Save rooms are safe — enemies cannot enter them
- Check your map frequently; it highlights rooms with uncollected items
- Don’t sell everything at merchants — some items are needed for crafting or puzzles later
