Resident Evil debuted in 1996, and Requiem, the ninth mainline game, returns to Raccoon City. It also splits the Resident Evil requiem game between two protagonists, Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy, and tries to be a horror game and an action game at the same time.
So is it scary, or is it coasting on nostalgia? Both, honestly.
The story
The game takes place about 30 years after the Raccoon City Incident. A string of unexplained deaths drags the city’s history back into view.
Grace Ashcroft is an FBI intelligence analyst investigating those deaths. The case gets personal when it leads her to the Wrenwood Hotel, where her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, was murdered. Leon is back as a veteran agent who has his own history with Raccoon City. Grace is out of her depth and knows it. Leon has seen this before.
A scared newcomer paired with a man who has dealt with biological threats for decades works. It also links the new story to the old ones without much effort.
Grace Ashcroft and the return of fear
Making Grace a main protagonist is the best call the game makes. She isn’t a soldier or a cop. She’s an analyst who ended up somewhere she shouldn’t be, and her chapters play that way. You explore, sneak, solve puzzles, and ration supplies. Every fight forces the question of whether the bullets are worth spending.
The Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center is the best location. The dark corridors and what lives in them bring back the dread the early games were known for. Grace’s chapters feel closest to Resident Evil 7. Ammo is scarce, enemies are hard to avoid, and even an empty hallway gets uncomfortable.
Leon Kennedy and the action side
Leon’s chapters are faster and louder. He has more weapons, more gear, and more chances to fight infected head-on. His hatchet can be used for defense or offense, which separates his combat from Grace’s careful play.
His look is the usual practical one. If you follow video game fashion or like recreating character outfits, the leon kennedy requiem jacket is the piece to look at.
After sneaking around as Grace, switching to Leon is a relief, and it’s fun. The downside is that the two halves sometimes feel like separate games that share a plot.
Gameplay and combat
Exploration still drives the game. You search abandoned buildings, hunt for keys, solve environmental puzzles, and scrape together supplies. As Grace, you plan around ammo, healing items, and escape routes. As Leon, you push ahead, upgrade weapons, use defensive moves, and fight larger groups.
You can switch between first-person and third-person views, so players who prefer one era of the series can pick the camera they like. If you want to be scared the whole time, though, Leon’s action stretches will probably feel too safe.
Graphics and sound
The RE Engine produces detailed environments, believable facial animation, and good lighting. The decaying buildings carry much of the mood. Rhodes Hill is the best example: its interconnected layout invites exploring but never lets you settle.
The sound is just as good. Strange noises, movement in the distance, and enemy sounds build tension without relying on jump scares. Silence and not knowing what’s coming are often scarier than the monster.
Where it falls short
Balancing two protagonists is the main problem. Grace’s chapters contain some of the best horror in the series, and when Leon’s action takes over, the mood shifts hard.
The story also leans on callbacks to earlier games. Returning to Raccoon City means something, but I wanted a few more surprises and a few fewer familiar references. Add the uneven pacing between the two play styles, and Requiem never feels like a fresh start for the series. It doesn’t ruin the game.
Verdict
Requiem is a big-swing survival horror game that tries to serve old fans and new ones. Grace gives it genuine tension, and Leon brings the action and history longtime players expect. The Raccoon City setting will hit hardest for people who have been playing since the beginning.
The story leans on nostalgia, and the two halves don’t always fit. But the horror, exploration, combat, and locations are strong enough that I’d recommend it.
Rating: 8.5/10
Requiem doesn’t reinvent survival horror. It’s still a good one.
Game: Resident Evil Requiem (Resident Evil 9)
Developer and publisher: Capcom
Genre: Survival horror
Release date: February 27, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
