Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Resident Evil Requiem by developer, Capcom:
Resident Evil Requiem (Nintendo Switch 2)
The Resident Evil series has been horrifying gamers for decades, dating back to its first release in 1996 for the Sony PlayStation. It defined the survival horror genre with its challenging gameplay and limited resource management that kept players on their toes from beginning to end. You would constantly question yourself, ” Should I lay waste to these zombies now, or save my bullets for a more dangerous threat?” Your survival was constantly in the balance, and being wasteful could ultimately mean your downfall later on in the game.
Resident Evil Requiem, also known as Resident Evil 9, is the latest instalment in the Survival Horror series and has been released across multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2. It isn’t a Cloud version like BIOHAZARD or VILLAGE was on the original Switch (which now have native versions on Switch 2). It is a fully native game and can be purchased digitally from the Nintendo eShop or physically, although the latter is in the form of a Game Key Card, ugh!
The story of Resident Evil Requiem follows two distinct characters: Grace Ashcroft, a brand-new character with ties to another character in the franchise, and Leon S. Kennedy, an RE veteran who is looking much worse for wear as the T-Virus takes its toll on his body. Grace is an FBI analyst who is tasked with investigating a series of bizarre homicides, with the last one occurring in a rundown hotel where Grace’s mother was murdered eight years previously. Leon, on the other hand, is investigating the murders for his own reasons, as all of the victims were Raccoon City survivors. His Handler Sherry Berkin passes Leon information on a person of interest: Dr. Victor Gideon. The doctor was once a researcher who worked for the Umbrella Company and was involved with the original T-Virus. The fates of Leon and Grace become entwined as their independent investigations lead them to one another, and they will have to face the demons of their past if they are to stand a chance of overcoming the trials that lay ahead of them.
I don’t want to go too much into the story by spilling details that may spoil the experience. What I will say, though, is that I found Resident Evil Requiem’s story to be exceptionally well done and kept me motivated from beginning to end. I simply could not get enough. The individual plot lines and how they come together are peak, and I love the character development for Grace as she fights to overcome her fears and anxieties.
When it comes to gameplay, Resident Evil Requiem is split between two particular playstyles. There is the survival horror akin to that of the original Resident Evil games, and then there is the action-adventure part that the series later developed into. When the player takes control of Grace Ashcroft, the game is full-on survival horror with plenty of jump scares, limited resources, and constant tension to keep you on edge at all times, especially when giant monstrosities are patrolling the halls and will aggressively chase you if you are spotted. I lost count of how many “underwear changing” moments I encountered during my playthrough. I am not really one to jump at jumpscares in films and video games, but every scare in this game has hit its mark. I applaud Capcom for making each one count and doing it in a way that is not overdone or feels cheap, but is genuinely terrifying and makes my heart race.Â
Leon’s gameplay segments are a direct contrast to Grace’s. Ammo and resources are much more abundant. You can take on enemies head-on, parry their attacks, and actively fight back. These sections are much shorter in comparison to Grace’s segments, but are a great way to relieve the tension that has built up whilst trying to survive. It is a perfect blend of build and release, with both parts complementing one another. It also works really well with each character. Grace is thrown in at the deep end with no experience in how to defend herself or how to deal with the horrors of the infected. Leon, however, is a seasoned pro at this point, and it is just another day at the office for him. Gone are his early days starting as a rookie police officer at Raccoon City Police Department when the viral breakout first happened. Now, he has been fighting the infected and Umbrella for 28 years; there is very little that can freak him out.
Both Grace’s and Leon’s segments can be played in either first or third person perspectives. By default, to enhance the horror experience, Grace’s story is set to first-person, whereas Leon’s perspective is set to third-person. You can change either of these independently on the camera settings menu to suit your personal tastes, but having played around with the settings, the default camera options were definitely the best way to experience Resident Evil Requiem.
Due to the scarce nature of items in Grace’s segments and, on the flip side, their abundance in Leon’s case, you can combine items to help increase their effects whilst reducing their capacity in your inventory. Things like herbs can be mixed to create stronger healing agents, whilst gunpowder and scraps can be used to make bullets. The crafting mechanic is key to keeping yourself well-provisioned (within reason) and leaving enough space for key items. Throughout the game, you will find several safe rooms where you can save your progress, and a container where you can store items. It is a good idea to store items that you may have in excess in the container. Things like scrap and herbs are a lot more common than other items, so it is not a bad idea to squirrel some away in a container, which you can come back to later and use when required.
One classic trope that is prominent in Resident Evil games is puzzles and Resident Evil Requiem is no different. Throughout the game, you will find the likes of devices, containers, safes, and the like that require some sort of code or combination needed to unlock them. The answers can be found somewhere within the level, but they may not be in the immediate vicinity of where the puzzle is. They are hidden in files, photos, and other objects that may require you to read or rotate them so you can reveal the answer. Some puzzles can be quite tricky, with some of the combinations not being particularly clear, and others can be staring you right in the face, and you can be completely oblivious to them. In the first few hours of the game, I thought that a particular object was a makeshift weapon, but I didn’t have space for it in my inventory at the time. It wasn’t until much later that I realised that it was, in fact, a key item needed to unveil a hidden code, duh! While not all puzzles are obligatory to solve, I do appreciate that some of them actually have benefits that do come in handy as you play.
I very much like the callbacks to previous entries in the series, most notably Resident Evil 2, with both Grace and Leon having to face their pasts and how everything all ends up back where their stories started. I also quite like that some zombies even have roles and continue to carry out their menial tasks that seem to be like echoes of the past from when they were still alive. The singers continue to sing, the cleaner is scrubbing the floors, the chef is busy preparing a meal, and there are even a zombie or two that are obsessed with turning off the lights. They will all actively try to kill you if they spot you, but it is quite amusing to observe them doing more humane things than tearing flesh and eating brains.
Seeing as I have gone on for too long with this Explain & Play review, it is time for me to bring it to a close. I could talk more about Resident Evil Requiem, but I think this is really a game you need to experience for yourself. Simply put, Resident Evil Requiem is one of the BEST games I have played on Nintendo Switch 2. It looks amazing on both 4K and non-4K TV’s and plays effortlessly on both. The RE Engine on which this game was developed has been used to its full potential, and the end result is one of the finest games it has ever produced.
Even though I am not a die-hard fan of the series (I have only ever played a handful of Resident Evil games in my lifetime), I was really invested from beginning to end. The two unique gameplay styles really work well together, and are a perfect blend of built-up tension followed by the sweet release of adrenaline-induced action. In short, Resident Evil Requiem is pure perfection that encapsulates both gameplay styles of Resident Evil that helps wrap up the long and somewhat convoluted story of the series, whilst opening the door for a new chapter to begin.
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Game Specifications:
Developer: Capcom Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Capcom
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Physical)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Shooting
No. of Players:Â 1 (Single System)
Release Date:Â March 5, 2026
Price:Â $69.99
File Size: 27.6 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
