Jan 15, 2026
Resident Evil Requiem Before You Buy: Gameplay, Horror & What’s New
Resident Evil Requiem before you buy guide. Gameplay changes, Leon vs Grace, combat, horror systems, difficulty modes, and PC features explained. Photo by: X
Resident Evil Requiem Before You Buy: All You Need to Know
Resident Evil Requiem is more than just a sequel. It juggles action and survival horror elements, so players need to change their strategies based on which character they're playing and how much danger they're comfortable with.
This guide gets straight to the point. Here's what you need to know before you buy Resident Evil Requiem, based on what we've seen and heard from the people making it. No fluff, just the facts.
Two Playable Characters, Two Completely Different Experiences
Requiem centers on Leon S. Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft, who are made to be very different from each other.
Leon: Fast, Aggressive, Tactical

Leon's gameplay focuses on calculated moves and being a force to be reckoned with up close.
Here's what's different:
The usual knife is out, and a tomahawk is in for melee.
Leon can now parry strong attacks, even chainsaws.
Stealthy kills and brutal finishing moves are in.
Enemies sometimes drop weapons (like chainsaws) that you can snag for a bit.
Leon doesn't need a merchant to keep his melee weapon in good shape. He sharpens it himself, which keeps the game moving.
When playing as Leon, it's all about staying in charge, not just reacting.
Grace: Survival Horror at Its Most Intense

Grace Ashcroft is a different kind of character entirely.
Her gameplay is all about:
Close quarters
Not much ammo
Staying out of trouble instead of fighting
The mental game
Grace is meant to feel vulnerable. She's new to this biohazard situation, and the gameplay shows how scary that is.
With Grace, you have to ask yourself: Do I fight, or just try to survive?
Combat System: More Brutal, More Dynamic
Resident Evil Requiem adds a lot more depth to fighting enemies up close.
What’s New
Limb damage directly affects enemy behavior
Environmental executions (walls, cubicles, confined spaces)
Context-sensitive melee finishers
Temporary heavy weapon usage
Leon’s close-range combat rewards positioning, while Grace’s combat punishes mistakes.
The Requiem Revolver: Why Ammo Scarcity Matters
Grace’s signature weapon is the Requiem, a large-caliber revolver.
Feature | Impact |
|---|---|
Piercing shots | Can hit multiple enemies |
Ammo availability | Extremely limited |
Use case | Emergency situations only |
This weapon isn't for everyday fighting. Think of it as a last-ditch option that really ups the survival stakes.
Crafting, Infected Blood & Tactical Choices
Grace gathers these things to make stuff:
Scrap metal
Plants
Infected blood (taken with a special tool)
The infected blood is mainly for making special injectors.
Hemolytic Injector (Key Item)
Enemies might explode when they die.
Corpses won't change.
Crafting stuff is hard to come by.
Do you take out the enemy now, or wait and see what happens? That's the choice you have to make.
Why Enemies in Resident Evil Requiem Behave Like Humans

Infected enemies aren't just mindless zombies.
For example, you might see:
A butcher still cutting meat.
A maid who can't stop cleaning.
Or a worker stuck flipping a light switch.
These behaviors do a few things:
They add to the story of the place.
They create chances to sneak around.
They hint at enemy behavior in fights.
It's a type of horror that comes from watching, not jump scares.
Major Threats: Stalkers and Massive Mutations
Requiem features:
A stalker enemy that keeps coming after you.
A huge, mutated threat with no name.
The game suggests that if you don't manage your resources well, the world will become much more dangerous.
Story Core: Elpis and Moral Ambiguity
At the heart of Requiem lies Elpis, a concept linked to hope—or perhaps something much more sinister.
Here are the key themes:
Hope versus consequence
Hidden truths
Personal guilt
Elpis links:
Grace's mother's death
Victor Gideon's actions
Leon's secret past
The story is intentionally layered, encouraging players to finish the game to get answers instead of revealing them all at the beginning.
Difficulty Modes & Classic Survival Options
In Requiem, you can pick from different difficulty levels.
Mode | Description |
|---|---|
Casual | Story-focused, aim assist |
Standard | Balanced modern Resident Evil |
Classic | Limited saves via ink ribbons (Grace-only) |
Classic mode brings back the challenge but keeps some modern autosave features.
Performance & PC Features
The PC version of Requiem will include:
Path tracing tech
DLSS multi-frame generation
Better lighting and reflections
Capcom is still working on performance tests, but top-tier PCs should see a visual upgrade.

Is Resident Evil Requiem Worth Buying?
Resident Evil Requiem is really for gamers who appreciate:
Classic survival horror elements
A good mix of gameplay styles
Resource management that matters
Two character storylines
Keep in mind, this game isn't just about shooting everything that moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Resident Evil Requiem more horror or action?
It's a mix. Leon's gameplay leans toward action, while Grace's focuses on survival horror.
Can I play as both Leon and Grace equally?
Yes, the game time is pretty evenly divided between the two.
Does Resident Evil Requiem use the old-school ink ribbon saves?
You got it, but only in Grace's sections on Classic difficulty.
Should I bother crafting in Resident Evil Requiem?
Definitely. Crafting and how you manage your stuff change how enemies act.
Is Resident Evil Requiem easy for new players?
The Casual mode makes it easy to get into. The harder settings are there for those who want a challenge.
Final Takeaway
Resident Evil Requiem isn't trying to be everyone's cup of tea. It's all about building tension, making your choices matter, and playing with light and dark. If you're into survival horror that has some meat on its bones, this is worth checking out - you'll probably want to play it ASAP.




