Resident Evil Requiem The Nightmare Returns Full Review, Hidden Horrors, DLC Secrets & More (2026)
Resident Evil Requiem The Nightmare Returns
Capcom had a lot to prove with Resident Evil Requiem. After the gothic grandeur of Village and the near-perfect execution of the RE4 remake, expectations were sky-high for the next mainline chapter. The question wasn’t whether Requiem would be good it was whether it could top what came before.
The answer? It absolutely does. Resident Evil Requiem is the boldest, scariest, and most ambitious mainline entry in years and with over 7 million copies sold in its first two months, the gaming world agrees. Whether you’ve already finished the campaign and are hungry for more, or you’re considering jumping in for the first time, here is your complete guide to everything Requiem offers plus the latest on its incoming May 2026 DLC.
What Is Resident Evil Requiem?
Resident Evil Requiem also known informally as Resident Evil 9 is the latest mainline chapter in Capcom’s legendary survival horror franchise. It was developed by Capcom’s Division 1, directed by Koshi Nakanishi (the director of Resident Evil 7), and launched on February 27, 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), and Nintendo Switch 2.
It is a direct sequel to Resident Evil Village and continues the series’ overarching storyline but it introduces a brand-new protagonist while also bringing back one of the most beloved characters in franchise history.
The Story Grace Ashcroft, Leon Kennedy & the Return to Raccoon City
Requiem’s story is set in October 2026 28 years after the destruction of Raccoon City. It follows two protagonists whose paths intertwine across a shared nightmare:
Grace Ashcroft is an FBI intelligence analyst and the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a protagonist from the cult-classic Resident Evil Outbreak (2003). Capcom describes Grace as “an introverted bookworm who feels powerless” a deliberate choice to contrast with the combat-ready heroes the franchise typically features. Grace isn’t a fighter. She’s a survivor, an investigator, and a woman with a deeply personal stake in the horror unfolding around her. The investigation brings her to the Wrenwood Hotel the very location where her mother was murdered. That personal history is what drives her into the nightmare.
Leon S. Kennedy returns as the second playable character, and this is a major deal. It marks Leon’s first playable role in a mainline Resident Evil game since Resident Evil 6 in 2012 a 14-year absence from the frontlines. Older, grizzled, with stubble now flecked with grey, Leon is still the most dangerous man in any room. He is called in to investigate unusual incidents at a chronic care center, and within minutes, everything spirals into chaos.
Most thrillingly of all, Requiem marks a full return to Raccoon City the iconic setting that was destroyed in Resident Evil 2 and has remained an untouched crater in every sequel since. The reveal trailer’s glimpse of the barely-standing RPD police department sent chills through the entire fanbase and the game delivers on that promise.
The Gameplay Two Characters, Two Completely Different Games
This is where Requiem makes its boldest design statement. Grace and Leon don’t just have different personalities they play in fundamentally different ways, making Requiem feel like two games masterfully woven together.
Playing as Grace Ashcroft
Grace’s sections are pure survival horror in the tradition of RE7 and Village. She has limited weapons, scarce ammunition, and no combat training to fall back on. Enemies track her by sound they can hear her movements through floors and ceilings, making every step a calculated risk.
She has one unique ability: a blood extractor. Grace can harvest blood from infected enemies and use it at crafting stations to produce weapons, ammunition, and supplies from armor-piercing bullets to instant-kill blades. This mechanic incentivizes engaging with enemies rather than avoiding them entirely, creating a compelling tension between the terror of confrontation and the reward of resources.
Her ultimate last resort is a powerful hand cannon called Requiem but its ammo is extremely rare, making every shot a serious decision. If players ignore enemies entirely, those same enemies have a tendency to rise again in more dangerous, mutated forms bulging, grotesque variants that are far harder to put down the second time.
Grace’s chapters handle the game’s most complex puzzles and feature Nemesis-like pursuers relentless monsters that chase her across locations and can’t simply be killed, only evaded.
Playing as Leon Kennedy
Leon’s sections deliver the kinetic survival-action fans last experienced in the RE4 remake. Fast, dangerous, and endlessly quotable, Leon can perform German suplexes on dazed enemies, tactical parries with his combat knife, and explosive hatchet throws. His chapters are about momentum, crowd control, and finding creative ways to dismantle waves of infected before they can overwhelm him.
The contrast between the two playstyles is extraordinary and Capcom has executed it with precision. You’re never stuck in one mode long enough for it to feel repetitive. Just when Grace’s slow-burn dread becomes genuinely nerve-wracking, Leon’s chapters arrive like a pressure valve release.
Camera Flexibility
For the first time in the series, players can freely toggle between first-person and third-person perspectives at any point during gameplay not just per chapter. Grace defaults to first-person for maximum immersion and tension. Leon defaults to third-person for the action flow. But the choice is always yours, and it’s a feature that makes the game remarkably accessible to every type of Resident Evil fan.
👉 Read GameSpot’s full Resident Evil Requiem coverage 👉 Check out the official Capcom Resident Evil page
Why Critics & Players Love It
Requiem launched to widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its dark tone, story, atmosphere, and the balance it strikes between survival horror and action gameplay.
The numbers speak loudest: Requiem sold 5 million copies in its first five days alone, and exceeded 7 million units within two months making it the fastest-selling Resident Evil game in the franchise’s history.
Critics highlighted Grace as a genuine breakout character her vulnerability making the world feel genuinely threatening in a way that more combat-ready protagonists can’t replicate. And Leon’s return after 14 years of mainline absence was treated as the crowd-pleasing event it deserved to be.
The game runs on Capcom’s RE Engine the same technology that powered RE7, Village, and the RE4 remake and it pushes the engine further than ever before. Larger environments, more dynamic enemy behavior, and lighting systems that make Raccoon City’s ruins feel genuinely lived-in and horrifying all contribute to what is arguably the most visually striking entry in the series.
The Infected Smarter, Stranger & More Terrifying
One of Requiem’s most talked-about design choices is what Capcom has done with its infected enemies. Rather than mindless, shambling monsters, Requiem’s infected have retained fragments of their former personalities meaning players might encounter an infected chef who mindlessly chops meat with a cleaver, or an infected caretaker still obsessively scrubbing the floor they used to work on.
This detail is subtle but deeply unsettling. It transforms the infected from obstacles into tragedies and it makes the world feel like something that was once real and human before it shattered. Combined with the game’s acoustic enemy AI (enemies that track Grace through sound alone, even through solid surfaces), Requiem creates an atmosphere of dread that is relentless without ever feeling unfair.
Editions & Pricing
| Edition | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | Full game, all platforms |
| Digital Deluxe | $89.99 | Game + bonus content, early access (Feb 25) |
| Switch 2 Generation Pack | Bundle price | Requiem + RE Village Gold + RE7 Gold Switch 2 exclusive |
All pre-orders included an exclusive “Apocalypse” costume for Grace Ashcroft a stylish nod to the chaos she’s about to walk into. The Switch 2 Generation Pack is a particularly outstanding value for Nintendo players new to the modern era of Resident Evil.
DLC What’s Coming in May 2026 & Beyond
This is where things get exciting right now because Requiem is far from done. Capcom has confirmed a two-part post-launch content plan
The May 2026 Mini-Game Update (Free)
Capcom confirmed that a mini-game mode is being added to Requiem in May 2026 free to all players, but only unlockable after completing the main story campaign.
The exact nature of the mini-game has been kept deliberately vague, but during a recent interview with Denfaminico Gamer, producer Masato Kumazawa encouraged players to use Japan’s Golden Week holiday to finish the main campaign and prepare for the incoming content. Some fans have connected clues from fake slides in the announcement video particularly a poker-table scene featuring antagonist Victor Gideon and speculated the mini-game involves a card game or gambling mechanic. Nothing is confirmed, but the community speculation is buzzing.
A Photo Mode update has also been confirmed alongside the mini-game already partially live on some platforms letting players capture and share their most cinematic moments from the game.
Story DLC (In Development)
The bigger news came on March 10, 2026, when director Koshi Nakanishi posted a personal video message to official Resident Evil social channels. Nakanishi confirmed that additional story content is actively in production, describing it as content that will “delve deeper into the world of Requiem.” No title, release window, or specific character focus has been revealed yet.
Community speculation is pointing to a fall 2026 release for the story expansion possibly bundled with a Mercenaries mode in the same way RE Village’s Winters’ Expansion packaged both story content and the beloved extra mode together. Given Grace and Leon’s dramatically different combat styles, the case for a Mercenaries addition practically makes itself.
👉 Follow the official Resident Evil Twitter/X for DLC updates 👉 Join the r/residentevil community on Reddit
Is Resident Evil Requiem Worth Playing in 2026?
Without question and the answer applies equally whether you’re a franchise veteran or someone considering their very first Resident Evil game.
For longtime fans, Requiem delivers on every front: the return of Leon, the return of Raccoon City, a genuinely compelling new protagonist, and the most technically accomplished RE Engine experience Capcom has shipped to date. This is the game the series needed to prove it could still innovate after nearly three decades.
For newcomers, Grace’s arc is remarkably self-contained you don’t need to have played every prior game to feel the weight of her story and the terror of her world. The adjustable difficulty settings, including a Casual mode with generous gameplay assists, make the experience accessible without sacrificing the horror.
And for everyone: there’s more coming. With story DLC confirmed, a free mini-game dropping this month, and the community more active than it’s been in years, right now is the perfect time to either start your first playthrough or dive back into Raccoon City for another.
Resident Evil Requiem is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Atlas Gaming will have full DLC coverage the moment Capcom drops the May update. Bookmark us and check back.
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