Resident Evil Requiem.

The Gavler Review.

Resident Evil Requiem Review: Capcom's Survival-Horror Crown Stays Put

Resident Evil Requiem ranks number 2 on Gavler's Best PS5 Games of 2026 list with a 8.8, and it arrives as continuation rather than reinvention — which, for a franchise on as strong a critical run as recent Resident Evil, is exactly the right call. Capcom's ninth mainline entry pairs the RE Engine's now-signature oppressive atmosphere with a renewed focus on resource scarcity and dread, and it backs that up with numbers: an 88 Metacritic score and one of the highest Metacritic user scores of any major release in years, on the way to becoming the series' fastest-selling entry ever. Buy it if you want the current gold standard in mainstream survival horror. Skip it if resource-management tension and slow-burn dread aren't your thing — Requiem doubles down on both rather than softening them for a broader audience.

What it is

Resident Evil Requiem is Capcom's ninth mainline numbered entry in a franchise that, over the last several years, has quietly become one of the most consistently well-reviewed series in all of gaming. It's built on the RE Engine — the same technology behind the acclaimed Resident Evil 2, 3, 4, and Village remakes and reimaginings — and it supports both first-person and third-person perspectives, letting players choose the vantage point that suits their preferred balance of immersion and combat clarity.

The story follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates events connected to the fallout of the Raccoon City disaster, the franchise's foundational catastrophe. It released on February 27, 2026, across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC — a broad, simultaneous multiplatform launch that reflects Capcom's confidence in the game's commercial and critical prospects.

In use

The critical reception has been strong and specific. ClutchPoints' review captured a common thread in the coverage: "Resident Evil Requiem is a grand and nostalgic ride" — language that speaks to how deliberately the game leans into the series' history and tone rather than chasing a dramatic reinvention. That's a meaningful choice for a ninth mainline entry; Capcom clearly judged, correctly according to the reviews, that the modern Resident Evil formula didn't need fixing, just another confident execution of it.

What stands out most in the reception data isn't just the 88 critic aggregate — it's the gap between that number and the community response. Requiem posted one of the highest Metacritic user scores of any game in recent memory, and it became the fastest-selling entry in the entire Resident Evil series, moving more than 7 million copies. That combination — strong critical reception plus an even stronger fan response plus record-breaking commercial performance — is a rare alignment, and it suggests Requiem hit exactly the notes the franchise's core audience wanted.

In practice, that means Capcom's tried-and-tested formula: tight resource management where every bullet and healing item is a real decision, environments designed to build and release tension through pacing rather than constant jump scares, and the RE Engine's now-trademark ability to make derelict, decaying spaces feel genuinely oppressive rather than just visually detailed.

Where it shines

• A record player response. One of the highest Metacritic user scores of any recent release, reflecting a fanbase that responded to Requiem even more enthusiastically than critics did.
• The fastest-selling entry in series history. Over 7 million copies sold — real commercial validation on top of critical praise.
• Flexible first-person or third-person perspective. A meaningful design choice that lets players tune the balance between immersion and combat clarity to their preference.
• The RE Engine's continued technical excellence. Consistently among the best-looking, most atmospherically effective engines in the survival-horror genre.
• Broad simultaneous multiplatform launch. Available day one on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC — no long platform-exclusivity wait.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

Requiem is one of the year's standout releases, but the honest caveats matter:

• It's an evolution, not a reinvention. If you're hoping for a dramatic departure from the modern Resident Evil formula, this isn't it — Requiem's strength is confident execution of an established approach, not a bold new direction.
• Resource-scarcity tension isn't for everyone. The genre's core pleasure — carefully managing limited ammunition and healing items under pressure — can read as frustrating rather than tense if you prefer more forgiving action games.
• Franchise fatigue is a real consideration. Nine mainline entries in, some players may simply feel they've had enough of the survival-horror-in-a-decaying-facility formula, however well executed.

How it compares

On its own list, Mina the Hollower sits at rank 1 — a completely different genre and scale, a tight retro-styled action-adventure rather than a big-budget survival-horror epic, but a useful reminder that 2026's best PS5 games span very different kinds of ambition. Just behind Requiem, 007 First Light at rank 3 offers another strong 2026 contrast: a stylish action-stealth thriller from the Hitman studio that's earning some of the same "best in genre in years" praise Requiem has, in a completely different tone and setting.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.8, backed by an 88 Metacritic score, one of the highest Metacritic user scores of any recent release, and record-breaking sales that made it the fastest-selling Resident Evil ever. Resident Evil Requiem doesn't reinvent the series — it simply executes the modern Resident Evil formula about as well as it's ever been executed, and both critics and fans agree. For survival-horror fans, this is one of the clearest buys of 2026.

Common Questions

Is Resident Evil Requiem worth buying?

Yes — it ranks number 2 on Gavler's Best PS5 Games of 2026 list with a 8.8, backed by a 88 Metacritic score and one of the highest Metacritic user scores of any game in recent memory. It was also the fastest-selling entry in the entire Resident Evil series, moving over 7 million copies.

Is Resident Evil Requiem first-person or third-person?

Both — the game supports switching between first-person and third-person perspectives, built on Capcom's RE Engine. That flexibility lets players choose the more immersive first-person view for tension or the more traditional third-person view for combat and navigation, depending on preference.

What is Resident Evil Requiem about?

The story follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft as she investigates events tied to the aftermath of the Raccoon City disaster — continuing the series' modern hot streak of tense, atmospheric survival horror built on limited resources and oppressive environments.

Why does Resident Evil Requiem's community score outpace its critic score so much?

At a 95 community rating versus an 88 critic aggregate, it's an unusually wide gap in the series' favor with players. It reflects both a genuinely enthusiastic fanbase reaction and the game becoming the fastest-selling entry in Resident Evil history, with over 7 million copies sold.