Resident Evil Requiem is one of the strongest entries in the entire franchise, bringing forth a story filled with an awesome blend of wild action and sweat-inducing horror. As a die-hard Resident Evil fan, I had high expectations for this game. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional, though. Resident Evil Village‘s finale was a bit heart-wrenching, but Requiem dives even deeper into the emotional depth that the iconic zombies series is capable of. Resident Evil Requiem feels like a new era for the franchise, and it may have The Last of Us games to thank.
In the past, the Resident Evil franchise has been well-known for its scares and over-the-top moments. Chris Redfield punching a boulder is one of the most notable and goofiest examples. Even in Requiem, Leon can parry rockets if you really nail down the mechanic. The series hasn’t exactly been known for emotional storytelling, though. Resident Evil Requiem really demonstrated how future chapters can have all the staple Resident Evil tropes and balance them with meaningful storytelling. The Last of Us series is still one of the best stories in horror gaming, and the first game has Resident Evil 4 to thank. The latter helped inspire The Last of Us, but it now feels like Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic tale has influenced Requiem in a few key aspects.
Major spoilers ahead for Resident Evil Requiem and The Last of Us Part 2.
Leon in Resident Evil Requiem Raises the Bar for Future Parry Mechanics in All Games
Resident Evil Requiem raises the bar for its own franchise, but Leon’s wild parry abilities set a new standard for gaming in general.
The Last of Us May Have Been a Much Different Game if Resident Evil 4 Never Got Made
Back in 2013, ex-Naughty Dog designer Ricky Cambier shared some of the inspirations for The Last of Us in an interview with MMGN. He said, “We always wanted to take the character building and interaction, look at something as far back as Ico, and blend it with the tension and action of Resident Evil 4.” There have been a lot of games inspired by Resident Evil 4 since its launch in 2005. Its influence on The Last of Us may not be as clear-cut as games like Dead Space, but Naughty Dog definitely took its tension to heart when developing its own zombie story.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
The Last of Us‘ approach to its main characters is also reminiscent. Although Naughty Dog made Joel and Ellie incredibly unique protagonists, it’s easy to see how Leon’s main mission of escorting Ashley helped inspire what direction The Last of Us would take with its two characters.
The Last of Us‘ first chapter was already emotionally heavy, but The Last of Us Part 2 dove in even deeper. The Last of Us Part 2‘s story is controversial, but it feels as though some of Naughty Dog’s choices influenced Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi. Besides the more emotional story, two of the most obvious similarities between these games have been the grounded, gritty gameplay and dual protagonists. Resident Evil is no stranger to dual protagonists, but this is the first time the series has used two main characters in this particular way.
Playing as Grace and Leon in Resident Evil Requiem feels incredibly distinct, just like Ellie and Abby did. Of course, Ellie and Abby were at least both hardened by their world, so they are far more capable in survival scenarios than Grace is. They both still feel quite different when playing, though. Resident Evil Requiem takes this approach and makes the difference feel even more drastic. The age gap between Leon and Grace also gives off some serious Ellie and Joel vibes. It may not be as much of a father/daughter relationship, but it’s clear that the duo have become close by the end of Requiem‘s story. In the post-credits scenes, Leon checks up on Grace at work after she returns to her job as an FBI analyst. The two feel very much like brother and sister in the finale, which leans into The Last of Us‘ theme of creating a chosen family after so much loss.
Both Grace and Ellie Have Dealt With Sudden, Tragic Losses
Grace and Ellie end up losing their parental figures in horribly violent and unexpected ways. Joel’s death in The Last of Us Part 2 still inspires debate. Alyssa Ashcroft’s death in Resident Evil Requiem may not be nearly as controversial, but the harsh violence of both deaths parallels one another. Because of how sudden and heartbreaking Alyssa’s death is, it wouldn’t be surprising if Requiem‘s dev team used Joel’s murder as a template to work from.
Trauma in general is a huge theme in both Resident Evil Requiem and The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2. Grace and Leon have their own demons to confront in Requiem, and Joel and Ellie have lived through more than any person should have to. Leon’s story in Resident Evil Requiem brings him back to the place that started all of his guilt, and it’s a wonderful evolution of the character. The two games do a beautiful job at exploring trauma in unique ways that also feel true to their respective worlds.
Resident Evil Requiem Sets a New Standard for the Series’ Future
Now, the question on a lot of fans’ minds is what the next Resident Evil game after Requiem will have in store. It’s going to be a few years before Resident Evil 10‘s release date gets here, but there have already been plenty of theories. Requiem told a gripping and well-made story, but it also left a lot of loose threads that Capcom hopefully plans on tying up in the next mainline chapter.
Capcom has even confirmed that a Resident Evil Requiem DLC is already in the works. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but it will hopefully either answer the questions left hanging after Requiem or set the stage for Resident Evil 10. At the moment, all fans can do until then is speculate about what awaits players next. Requiem proved that Resident Evil has what it takes to land its emotional moments, and the next chapter hopefully explores that even further.
- Released
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February 27, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
