Capcom’s latest entry in its long-running survival horror franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, has arrived—and if the early buzz is any indication, the game is already staking its claim as one of 2026’s most celebrated releases. Released worldwide on February 27, 2026, Requiem marks the ninth mainline installment in the series and is available on PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox, and, somewhat surprisingly, the Nintendo Switch 2.
For a franchise that’s been redefining horror in gaming for nearly three decades, expectations were sky-high. Capcom, however, seems to have delivered in spades. According to Metacritic, Resident Evil Requiem boasts an impressive 88/100 score—surpassing the seventh and eighth main titles, which scored 86 and 84 respectively, though still trailing the critically acclaimed remakes of the second and fourth games. But numbers only tell part of the story.
The game’s technical prowess is drawing particular praise. Capcom’s optimization efforts mean Requiem runs smoothly even on the Nintendo Switch 2—a feat that’s not gone unnoticed by reviewers. On the PS5 Pro, the title offers two distinct modes: a 60 frames-per-second (fps) raytracing mode that many are calling the definitive way to play, and a 120Hz performance mode without raytracing for those who crave even smoother action, albeit with slightly blurrier graphics. This level of flexibility is rare for a third-party title and is being held up as a benchmark for future releases.
Critical reception has been effusive. As Destructoid put it, “Resident Evil Requiem is an exceptionally well-made nostalgia romp that elevates everything special about the series, showcasing the pinnacle of both survival horror and action horror in a package that has a little bit of everything but executes it all well.” Radio Times was similarly enthusiastic, noting, “Leon’s back with as many fresh one-liners as the team could fit into the game. Throw in some of the most tense and creepy exploration we’ve had to handle so far, and Resident Evil Requiem really is Capcom firing on all cylinders to deliver their best survival horror to date.”
So what’s the secret sauce this time around? Much of it comes down to how Requiem balances nostalgia with innovation. The game leans heavily into its legacy, referencing classic monsters and beloved characters, yet it also introduces new faces and mechanics that keep the experience feeling fresh. The campaign, which runs between 10 and 18 hours, puts players in the shoes of two protagonists: Grace Ashcroft, a rookie FBI agent, and series mainstay Leon S. Kennedy.
The story kicks off with Grace investigating a string of grisly murders at the Wrenwood Hotel—the very site of her mother’s mysterious death. Her mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, originally appeared in the PlayStation 2 spin-off Resident Evil: Outbreak, and left Grace a crucial clue about the nefarious Umbrella Corporation, the shadowy entity behind the viral outbreaks that have plagued the series. Grace’s investigation quickly takes a dark turn when she’s kidnapped by Dr. Victor Gideon, a steampunk-inspired villain with a penchant for the grotesque, and whisked away to the eerie town of Rhodes Hill. Meanwhile, Leon is hot on Gideon’s trail, searching for both the villain and a cure to a mysterious disease that’s begun to afflict him—a quest that ultimately leads both characters back to the ruins of Raccoon City.
Gameplay-wise, Requiem is a tale of two halves. Grace’s segments are pure survival horror, best experienced in first-person mode. Here, resources are scarce, enemies outnumber your bullets by a daunting five to one, and every encounter feels like a desperate scramble for survival. The crafting system, a staple of the series in recent years, has been refined to require players to make tough choices—should you craft an ink ribbon to save your progress, or use those resources to make more ammo or healing items? The return of ink ribbons, which require players to manage limited save opportunities, is a nod to series veterans and adds a layer of tension reminiscent of the franchise’s earliest days.
Leon’s sections, by contrast, are action-packed and cinematic. Armed with shotguns, rifles, and his trusty hatchet, Leon blasts his way through hordes of zombies and faces off against towering bosses that will feel familiar to longtime fans. The game’s set pieces have been lauded as some of the most thrilling in recent memory, with one unnamed sequence drawing comparisons to blockbuster action movies. As DualShockers observed, “Resident Evil Requiem is everything that RE fans could want out of the next entry in the series and more. It walks a tightrope of horror and action, but has perfected this balance in a way that delivers a heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping good time, regardless of what kind of RE fan you are.”
But Requiem isn’t just about fan service. There are enough fresh ideas—especially in Grace’s storyline and the reimagined resource management—to keep the experience from feeling like a simple rehash. The game’s audiovisual presentation has been singled out for special praise, with Atomix declaring it “a truly next-generation audiovisual presentation,” and calling Requiem “a very serious contender for Game of the Year 2026.”
Still, there’s a strong sense that Requiem is both a celebration and a farewell to an era. As one reviewer noted, “Requiem just might be the end of an era. Resident Evil is on top of the world again, and Capcom has seemingly cracked the formula for making banger after banger. With a new film adaptation coming from Zach Cregger, the director of Weapons, the franchise seems ready to shake things up. Requiem is one final opportunity to hit all the notes that have made the series shine for the past decade before it starts to sing a new tune.”
For newcomers, the game may prove daunting—its callbacks and layered references are best appreciated by those who’ve followed the series through its many twists and turns. But for fans, Requiem is nothing short of a homecoming, blending the best elements of survival horror and action with a reverence for the franchise’s storied past.
As Capcom looks to the future, Resident Evil Requiem stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of a series that refuses to stay dead. Whether you’re a longtime fan or simply love a good scare, this latest chapter is a ride worth taking.