Resident Evil Requiem Review in Progress – A Terrifying Return to Raccoon City

This is a Review in Progress. Resident Evil Requiem launches February 27, 2026. Our preliminary score of 8.5 is based on extensive hands-on preview sessions, critic impressions, and our analysis of everything Capcom has shown. We will update this review with a final score after launch. Check back after February 27 for the complete verdict.

Capcom is swinging for the fences with Resident Evil Requiem, and based on everything we have seen so far, they might actually connect. Here is our verdict on whether RE9 is worth your time and money when it drops later this week.

After the towering highs of the RE4 Remake and the polarizing Village DLC, the franchise needed a bold next step. Requiem appears to deliver exactly that: a survival horror experience that respects the series’ roots while pushing into genuinely new territory. For full launch details including editions and pricing, see our Resident Evil Requiem launch coverage.

A New Protagonist Who Earns Her Place

Grace Ashcroft is not just “the new character.” She is a fully realized FBI analyst whose sections represent the most nerve-shredding survival horror Capcom has produced since the original RE2 Remake. Preview sessions have shown that Grace’s gameplay strips away the power fantasy entirely. She cannot brute-force encounters. She crouches, sneaks, and throws glass bottles to distract enemies who track her by sound through floors and ceilings. Her Blood Crafting system, which lets her harvest infected blood from downed zombies to create healing items and offensive tools, adds a grim resource loop that makes every encounter feel consequential.

CGMagazine’s preview described Grace’s chapters as “genuinely terrifying in a way the series hasn’t been since 2017’s RE7.” We are inclined to agree based on what we have played. The first-person default for Grace’s sections amplifies every creaking floorboard and distant groan into something that burrows under your skin.

Leon Kennedy Returns in Peak Form

Leon’s sections are the counterweight: loud, kinetic, and dripping with the action-horror energy that made RE4 a masterpiece. His toolkit includes firearms, a degradable hatchet, German suplexes, and tactical parries. Where Grace sneaks past threats, Leon charges through them with a chainsaw fatality and a one-liner.

The split between the two protagonists is “almost equal,” according to director Koshi Nakanishi, structured similarly to Resident Evil Revelations. This tonal whiplash between survival horror and action horror is a deliberate design choice, and early impressions suggest it works. Eurogamer noted that the dual-protagonist structure “gives the game a rhythm that keeps you off-balance in the best way.”

The Perspective Toggle Changes Everything

Requiem’s first-person and third-person toggle is not a gimmick. You can switch between perspectives at any time from the pause menu, and both are fully supported for combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. First-person is the default for Grace; third-person is the default for Leon. But the entire 12-to-16 hour campaign can be played in either perspective if you prefer.

This is a first for the franchise, and it matters. Third-person gives better spatial awareness during combat. First-person heightens immersion during exploration. Having the freedom to choose moment-to-moment, rather than being locked into a single perspective for an entire playthrough, is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement that more games should adopt. If you want survival tips for managing both playstyles, we have put together a Resident Evil Requiem beginner tips guide.

The Leaker Controversy

Requiem’s pre-launch period was not without drama. Significant story spoilers leaked online in the weeks before release, prompting a strong response from Capcom and the wider development community. Hideki Kamiya, the original Resident Evil director, publicly condemned the leaks, calling them “an attack on the creative process.” Capcom issued DMCA takedowns across multiple platforms and urged fans to mute keywords on social media.

We will not spoil anything here, but the leak situation does underscore just how much anticipation surrounds this game. The fact that people are this desperate for details is, in its own way, a testament to the franchise’s enduring pull.

Performance Expectations and Platform Notes

Requiem is the largest download in Resident Evil history. The PS5 version weighs in at 72.88 GB, surpassing RE4 Remake’s 67 GB. Xbox Series X|S clocks in around 68.5 GB. Capcom’s RE Engine has consistently delivered excellent performance across platforms, and we expect the same here, but we will provide specific frame rate analysis and any PC optimization recommendations once we have tested the final retail build.

Notably, this is the first Resident Evil title available on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch, priced at $69.99 across all platforms. Deluxe Edition buyers get 48-hour early access starting February 25.

Where We Stand Right Now

Based on preview hands-on sessions, critic impressions from CGMagazine, Eurogamer, and others, Resident Evil Requiem looks like a confident and ambitious entry in one of gaming’s most storied franchises. The dual-protagonist structure is the kind of risk that could elevate the series, and early signs suggest Capcom has the execution to match the ambition. Our preliminary score reflects strong confidence, but we reserve final judgment for the full retail experience.