One of the most legendary game series of all time, Resident Evil, recently dropped their ninth installment into the mainline series, and probably their 20th installment into the series itself. Boy oh boy, this game did not disappoint.
For context, the previous game, Resident Evil Village, was released in 2021, leaving a 5 year gap in between mainline entries. Resident Evil Village was the last game to feature Ethan, leaving the playerbase a bit worried on how the series would continue. Obviously, series that carry on as long as Resident Evil tend to lose some of their steam in their later entries. This was a real worry for lots of fans.
On February 27th, 2026, Resident Evil 9 released simultaneously across console and PC. I bought it immediately, downloaded it, and truly hoped for the best. The best is what I got. After finishing the game, I wholeheartedly believe this could be one of, if not the best entry yet. I do NOT say that lightly.
To briefly cover the plot, Resident Evil 9 follows two characters: Grace Ashcroft, and Leon Kennedy. Grace Ashcroft is an FBI agent, sent to investigate the very hotel in which her mother died years ago. Leon Kennedy is a returning character in the Resident Evil franchise. If you don’t know who he is (you live under a rock), read my other article. Now an agent of the DSO (an anti bio-terrorism agency), he’s tasked with figuring out why the survivors of the Racoon City incident are suddenly experiencing disease-like symptoms.
I’m going to do my best and not talk about the plot, simply because I don’t want to spoil such an amazing story for anyone who may play the game in the future. Just know; it’s amazing. Immaculate, if I may. The writers at Capcom truly outdid themselves. The action packed survival horror we know and love from RE4 and RE2 comes back in full swing.
The gameplay is nothing to scoff at either. The game is split into two sections: The Grace sections, and the Leon sections. As you progress through the story, the game has you play as either character. As Grace, you get the survival horror experience from RE7 and RE8, with first-person camera angles and a limited arsenal. Grace truly has to fight to survive as she solves puzzles and attempts to escape her prison. As Leon, however, the script is flipped completely. Armed to the teeth with guns and ammo, you literally just kill everything in your path in 3rd person. Actually, let’s talk about Leon.
Leon in this game is just awesome. There’s no other word to describe it. He’s as powerful as ever, still has his one liners, and MAN is he wealthy. In the first cutscene alone, he’s got a Rolex on AND drives a Porsche. His drip is immaculate too. Without sounding too much like a chud, Leon really was at his best, and Capcom did their fans a great service with how they handled his character.
To get back to the gameplay, it was peak Resident Evil. Many different types of zombies and characters make their return, allowing for gameplay that you know and love to be mixed with new systems and experiences. I’m intentionally being vague, again I really don’t want to spoil anything. What I will say, though, is that the combat felt buttery smooth. Zombies took more damage depending on where they were shot, and they could sustain injuries when damage was inflicted. I had a load of fun simply hacking through zombies, as both Grace and Leon.
The story, gameplay, length and puzzles in Resident Evil Requiem all made the game so, so great. I really want to get more into it, but I implore you, reader, to play the game. Play the series while you’re at it. It was really, really good. I personally believe it’s a contender for one of the best Resident Evil games to date.
