Image credit: Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem is almost here. While the return of Leon Kennedy, now transformed into a silver fox, is cause for celebration, so too is the decision to embrace its horror roots. Despite being one of the most renowned horror franchises, Resident Evil doesn’t always lean into traditional horror; instead, it favors action to deliver an explosively intense experience.
Even though this blending of genres works well, Resident Evil undoubtedly excels when it dials up the atmospheric tension of things that go bump in the night. Having braved the scariest moments of the IP for this feature, I hope Resident Evil Requiem matches the ominous dread of these spine-tingling moments.
The labyrinthian terror of House Beneviento – Resident Evil Village
Dripping with foreboding energy, Resident Evil Village’s House Beneviento is regarded as one of the most haunting segments of not only the game but of the franchise as a whole. Having just traversed the sprawling corridors of Castle Dimitrescu, its tight quarters needle you as you venture deeper into the decaying manor.
Arguably, the giant baby chasing you gets the heart pumping; however, it’s that creeping dread from the moment you cross the threshold that sets the scene for this grotesque creature. If Grace’s horror sequences use House Beneviento as a template, Resident Evil Requiem will gain my seal of approval.
Marguerite’s calculated stalking of Mia – Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Every member of the Baker family is nightmare fuel, but Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s Marguerite has an unmatched malevolence. Even though her final form is deemed one of the scariest bosses of the title, her slow and deliberate stalking of Mia is far more terrifying, mostly because Marguerite is quietly unrelenting.
This, combined with the suspense found footage evokes, creates an outstanding sequence in which every sound sets you on edge. Similar to House Beneviento, it’s the slow-burning tension that riles you up without any provocative jumpscares or cheap tricks.
A repugnant meal with the Baker family – Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Truth be told, the whole of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a tour de force of horror. Having been among the fans disappointed with the action-heavy gameplay of Resident Evil 6, RE7 was a welcome and necessary change for a franchise that had started to lose its horror mastery. Consequently, there are no end of suitable moments I could select.
However, the Baker family meal is truly special. Grounded in the normality of a family dinner, we’re forced to directly participate in their corruption at the hands of Eveline. What’s particularly outstanding is the marrying together of interactivity and cutscene, so that we’re always engaged in this repulsive gathering. Like Ethan, we’re forced to endure against our will.
Face-to-face with the first zombie – Resident Evil
By today’s standards, the original Resident Evil is tame, yet upon its release, it shocked players because of how uniquely jarring it felt. Arguably, the moment that epitomizes its emotive power is the first zombie reveal, aka the turning around zombie.
Even as pixelated as the OG scene is, the slow turn is unsettling. We’re frozen in place, unable to look away as the zombie takes its time to turn to meet our gaze. In drawing out this exchange, the discomfort lingers, gnawing away at your nerves. It’s on par with the Baker family meal, which speaks volumes; Resident Evil set a high bar from the very beginning.
Our first encounter with a Licker – Resident Evil 2
Although I could have used the scene from the Resident Evil 2 remake, I decided to focus on the original Licker reveal. Dated though it is, like the first zombie, it has a je ne sais quoi that the remake lacks.
In the original RE2, a cutscene forces you to take a long, hard look at this new enemy. It may seem cheesy when compared with the remake, but consider how shocking this reveal is – we’ve never seen this creature before, so we need to use those valuable seconds to take in the gravity of the situation. We’ve unwittingly walked into its domain, and in doing so, we need to think fast.
FAQs
The Resident Evil Requiem release date is February 27, 2026.
If you’re ready to return to Raccoon City, you can do so via PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
The original three titles in all of their pixelated glory are readily available on PC via GOG. But if you want a slight graphical upgrade, you can also play the remastered HD versions on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
As always, every fan has their own thoughts on this; for me personally, I find RE7 by far the most frightening of the series. It doesn’t shy away from the horror, resulting in a visceral experience that stays with you long after you complete it.
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