Resident Evil Village Vs Requiem

A trick Resident Evil used well to its advantage is modernizing the franchise. That way, the earlier praise for the survival horror series, despite some bumps in the road, never really died out. Today, fans enjoy action-horror at its finest, which is the best kind if you ask me. I want my body, mind, and soul to all be sweating it out, all at the same time. 

Frantically scrambling to press the right inputs while my skin crawls. These games won’t necessarily make you scream. But they sure will leave you drenched in fear. But how do earlier games differ from the recent launch? Find out in our Resident Evil Village Vs Requiem comparison guide.

What is Resident Evil Village?

So far, we’ve had over 30 Resident Evil games by Capcom. That’s mainline entries, remakes, and spin-offs, combined. And mind you, there’s a film, too. Resident Evil Village lands in the eighth place among mainline entries, launching in 2021. It followed the series’ survival horror genre, following 2017’s Resident Evil: Biohazard. 

What is Resident Evil Requiem?

Resident Evil Requiem, on the other hand, is the latest mainline entry, ranking in ninth place. It was launched in 2026 by Capcom in the survival horror genre as well. 

Story

Now, the franchise has always been storied, with often connections you can draw between past and recent titles. It’s a zombie franchise, you may have heard, about the Umbrella Corporation developing the bioterrorism T-Virus and G-Virus that turns humans into zombies and monsters.

In Resident Evil Village, the story follows Ethan Winters, the same protagonist from earlier Resident Evil Biohazard. He plays the role of a systems engineer who finds himself deep in the bioterrorism warfare and strives to save his family. Right off the bat, he introduces an ordinary human protagonist, unlike the previous games’ agent Leon S. Kennedy. And this adds layers of relatability to the story.

While Ethan Winters searches for his missing wife in Resident Evil Biohazard, he searches for his kidnapped daughter in Resident Evil Village. The setting moves from the abandoned Louisiana Baker family mansion and plantation to a remote, frozen, infected European village. 

But Resident Evil Requiem changes protagonists, introducing a new character, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and returning agent Leon S. Kennedy. They investigate several murders in Raccoon City, the center point of the T-virus outbreak, including Grace Ashcroft’s mother. 

It’s interesting because Resident Evil Requiem features two protagonists, switching between their perspectives. And because Grace is less experienced, her sections focus on survival horror, while Leon is the skilled soldier, whose gameplay focuses on heavier action. You can freely switch between first and third-person perspectives as well for both protagonists.

Gameplay

The same dual-protagonism also influences gameplay. In Resident Evil Village, the focus is on both survival horror and first-person (or third-person) action. The world exploration feels more immersive than Biohazard, drawing inspiration from the Victorian era. Ethan Winters is more skilled here, mastering stronger military tactics against enemies. Yet, some enemies remain best avoided.

Noteworthy was the additional focus on combat more than survival horror, something fans have always had gripes with. So, Resident Evil Requiem stepping back to familiar survival horror territory definitely earns it a more positive reception. All of Grace Ashcroft’s scenes are deliberately helpless, maximizing stealth and running away when push comes to shove.

Rather than the more open-ended, larger areas in Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Requiem opts for more claustrophobic spaces. And those corridors are the worst places to be when a monster is hot on your tail. Moreover, the gameplay itself limits your inventory and ammunition. Mindlessly firing away isn’t an option, raising the tension higher up.

I admit, featuring two protagonists focused on survival horror and action is a great idea. It’s Capcom saying yes, they can please everyone, ensuring that you never stay too long with one character, and thus keeping your experience fresh. While Grace is drenched in fear, avoiding monsters who’re bullet sponges, solving puzzles, and managing limited resources, Leon S. Kennedy reminds you who’s boss, coming out swinging with a decent variety of weapons.

Graphics

It’s no surprise that Resident Evil Requiem is superior in graphics to Resident Evil Village. With five years apart between releases, it’s expected that Requiem has better lighting and textures. The difference in years shows, not just in the environmental details, but also in atmospheric effects and character models.

Yet, Resident Evil Village still rules in structure. Its world is more varied, moving from a castle to a snowy village. Boredom takes a while before it hits, if it even does, when you’re enjoying discovering new domains that feel dense and steeped in gothic horror.

Verdict: Resident Evil Village Vs Requiem

Resident Evil stories have often followed a similar structure. But Resident Evil Requiem switches gears, following dual protagonists. And the end-result doesn’t just impact the story but the gameplay outcome, too. You might think that the story ends up disjointed because of two protagonists. Yet, Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy’s paths merge seamlessly, eventually telling a more cohesive story than Resident Evil Village, if you can believe it.

Yet, Resident Evil Village thrives more in its more varied environments that often feel refreshing to explore and discover. They are more open-ended and larger than the previous Biohazard. Still, Resident Evil Requiem’s world design feels more claustrophobic, especially during Grace Ashcroft’s sections. And by the series’ roots, result in more stressful escapes from monsters.

You’ll also find more return to the series’ survival horror roots in Resident Evil Requiem, thanks to Grace Ashcroft’s focus on survival horror. She’s practically helpless compared to Leon S. Kennedy’s more action-focused gameplay. And this balance between survival horror and action makes Resident Evil Requiem a more familiar, appreciated experience among fans. 

Both games have their strongholds: Village offers more varied world design and intriguing exploration, while Requiem has more survival horror sections and peak tense moments. The deal breaker is then Resident Evil Requiem’s more advanced graphics: details, textures, lighting, and atmospheric effects.