It’s been roughly two months since Resident Evil Requiem dropped on February 27, 2026, and the internet has been on fire with hot takes. Some are calling it the best mainline entry since Resident Evil 4. Others say it’s too short, too linear, or that the new protagonist Grace Ashcroft gets on their nerves.

To be exact, I’ve now sunk 35.5 hours into the game and I’m currently on my second play through. Here’s my take on the RE9 adventure.

The Setup That Hooks You Immediately

Requiem follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates a wave of mysterious deaths tied to Raccoon City survivors. Her story intertwines with a returning Leon S. Kennedy, and you constantly switch between the two characters, each with their own distinct gameplay style.

I think this first-person/third-person trade off is a fantastic addition to the gaming experience especially for gamers like me who favor third-person when there’s so many first-person games I would love to play.

Grace’s sections lean hard into classic survival horror: scarce resources, tense exploration, inventory management, and pure dread. Leon’s parts deliver the over-the-top action that fans have come to love. The dual-protagonist structure works better than I expected — the narrative feels personal and emotional, especially in how their paths converge.

After 30+ hours, the story still sticks with me. It’s stays true to the rainy dark moodines of the RE series and faithfully renders the classic spooky hallways and cooridors of the early games. Capcom hit a perfect balance between jump scares and storyline.

What Feels Incredible

• Atmosphere and Tension: The opening hours with Grace are some of the most terrifying in the entire series. Dimly lit environments, incredible sound design, and smart enemy placement had me jumping more times than I care to admit.

• Two Game is One: The two narratives (Grace and Leon) felt like two games in one. The first half of the game is located in the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center with the second half outside in Racoon City and the underground ARK Umbrella facility.

• RE Engine Mastery: This might be the best-looking Resident Evil game yet. Rain-slicked streets, decaying interiors, and grotesque creature designs look stunning on PS5 and PC (I played on PS5).

• Pacing: The back-and-forth between Grace and Leon keeps things fresh. Just when one section starts to feel heavy, you switch and get a different flavor of horror/action. Returning to Leon’s weapon heavy gameply is refreshing.

• Replay Value: New Game+ carries over upgrades, there are multiple endings based on choices and collectibles, and the extra modes.

Where It Stumbles (Balanced Criticisms)

It’s not perfect, and after 30 hours those flaws become clearer:

• Length Complaints Are Valid for Some: The main story can be finished in 11–16 hours on a first playthrough if you’re rushing. That feels short for a full-priced AAA title in 2026. However, the depth comes from exploration, side content, and replays. If you only care about the campaign once and done, you might feel short-changed.

• Grace Can Be Polarizing: Her personality is more anxious and analytical than the stoic heroes we’re used to. Some players find her annoying or “whiny.” I actually grew to like her vulnerability — it makes the horror feel more human — but I get why it divides people. I will admit her wha wha wha’s are a bit excessive.

• Boss Fights and Puzzles: The bosses are visually impressive but for some they feel underwhelming mechanically. Puzzles are lighter than classic RE entries, which might disappoint longtime fans who loved the mansion-style brain teasers. But for the average player who withdraws from frustrating gameplay, this will be a rewarding experience.

• Technical Issues at Launch: Early patches fixed a lot, but some players still report occasional frame drops or crashes on Xbox Series X. On PS5 it’s been rock solid for me after the day-one update.

Is It Worth Your Time in 2026?

After 30 hours, here’s my bottom line:

If you love survival horror with strong narrative, excellent production values, and don’t mind a shorter main campaign that rewards replays — Resident Evil Requiem is excellent. It feels like a love letter to the series while trying new things with the dual protagonists.

If you’re expecting 50+ hours of dense, puzzle-heavy content on your first run like the original Resident Evil 2 remake, you might walk away disappointed.

Final Verdict for Zzenn Readers

My Personal Score: 8.5/10

Despite it’s short comings, RE9 is definitely my favorite Resident Evil ever. It’s a bold, atmospheric, and memorable entry that I’ll keep coming back to for the Mercenaries runs and alternate endings.

Have you finished Requiem yet? Did Grace grow on you, or did Leon carry the game for you? How many hours have you put in? Drop your thoughts in the comments or hit reply — I’m genuinely curious how the Zzenn community is feeling about it two months later.

Stay safe out there… and maybe keep the lights on while playing.

— Zzenn Loren