Released on February 27, 2026, Resident Evil 9: Requiem is an incredibly ambitious, dual-protagonist title that attempts to marry the atmospheric survival horror of RE7 with the high-octane action of RE4. Selling 5 million copies in its first week, it delivers a fascinating, though admittedly uneven, 15-to-20-hour, action-horror experience. The Horror Half: Grace Ashcraft’s Campaign The opening segments with new protagonist Grace Ashcraft are easily the standout, must-play portions of the game. Taking place in the Rhodes Care Center, these chapters rely heavily on tension, careful resource management, and stealth.
Innovative Zombies: Instead of mindless drones, enemies here retain slight flickers of their humanity, sometimes mopping floors or begging you to run before they attack. Each feels unique. Survival Gameplay: You have a smaller inventory, punishingly rare healing items, and limited ammo. Creeping around, relying on audio cues, and solving multi-room environmental puzzles truly capture the classic Resident Evil dread.
The Action Half: Leon S. Kennedy’s Campaign To offset the slow-burn dread of Grace’s sections, the game frequently shifts to legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. His segments take place primarily in a war-torn Raccoon City, functioning as an explosive pressure-release valve.
Mechanics: Leon features expanded carry capacity, weapon customization, and faster movement. His combat feels punchy and satisfying. Mixed Reception: While many enjoy the action, community feedback on Reddit and YouTube shows opinions are deeply mixed. Some fans feel his sections lack puzzle-solving, are too easy, and resemble a generic, linear shooter rather than classic horror.
Story and Replay ability
Narrative: The plot attempts to look back at franchise lore and fan service, which leaves some critics feeling that the story plays a bit too safe, especially in the latter half. However, Grace’s voice acting is widely praised as top-tier. Replay ability: Unlike previous franchise entries, Requiem unfortunately lacks robust extra modes like “The Mercenaries”. There are still plenty of unlockable cosmetics, New Game Plus options, and higher difficulties to tackle, but the long-term post-game content is noticeably slimmer.
The Verdict While Resident Evil 9 may suffer from its two disparate halves fighting for screen time, the sheer quality of its atmosphere during the horror sections makes it a massive success. It may not be a perfect, seamless masterpiece, but it remains one of the most exciting and historically rich titles in the franchise.
