Resident Evil Requiem Will Be Scarier Than Village, But RE7 Remains Capcom’s Horror Benchmark
Capcom has offered new insight into how it measures horror across the Resident Evil franchise, and it turns out that Resident Evil 7: Biohazard still plays a crucial role behind the scenes. In a recent interview, Kōshi Nakanishi, director of the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, explained that the seventh entry has effectively become the internal benchmark for how far the series can push fear.
According to Nakanishi, Resident Evil Requiem is being designed to deliver a more intense horror experience than Resident Evil Village. While Village leaned more heavily into action elements and spectacle, Requiem aims to restore a stronger sense of tension, vulnerability, and psychological pressure—elements that many fans associate with the series’ most frightening moments.
However, despite this increase in intensity, Capcom does not plan to surpass Resident Evil 7 outright. Nakanishi noted that Biohazard remains the most terrifying entry in the series by design. Player feedback following its release consistently described it as overwhelmingly frightening, which directly influenced the studio’s creative decisions moving forward.
That reaction led Capcom to deliberately scale back the horror in Resident Evil Village, seeking a balance that would appeal to a broader audience without losing the franchise’s identity. This approach now continues with Requiem, which is positioned as a middle ground: darker and scarier than Village, but more controlled than the relentless fear of RE7.
By treating Resident Evil 7 as a reference point rather than a target to exceed, Capcom hopes to fine-tune the series’ horror pacing. The goal is to deliver a sustained sense of dread that complements exploration and storytelling, instead of overwhelming players to the point of fatigue.
For fans, this philosophy offers a clearer picture of what to expect from Resident Evil Requiem. It signals a return to deeper horror roots, guided by lessons learned from past entries, and confirms that Capcom remains highly attentive to player reactions when shaping the future of the franchise.
According to Nakanishi, Resident Evil Requiem is being designed to deliver a more intense horror experience than Resident Evil Village. While Village leaned more heavily into action elements and spectacle, Requiem aims to restore a stronger sense of tension, vulnerability, and psychological pressure—elements that many fans associate with the series’ most frightening moments.
However, despite this increase in intensity, Capcom does not plan to surpass Resident Evil 7 outright. Nakanishi noted that Biohazard remains the most terrifying entry in the series by design. Player feedback following its release consistently described it as overwhelmingly frightening, which directly influenced the studio’s creative decisions moving forward.
That reaction led Capcom to deliberately scale back the horror in Resident Evil Village, seeking a balance that would appeal to a broader audience without losing the franchise’s identity. This approach now continues with Requiem, which is positioned as a middle ground: darker and scarier than Village, but more controlled than the relentless fear of RE7.
By treating Resident Evil 7 as a reference point rather than a target to exceed, Capcom hopes to fine-tune the series’ horror pacing. The goal is to deliver a sustained sense of dread that complements exploration and storytelling, instead of overwhelming players to the point of fatigue.
For fans, this philosophy offers a clearer picture of what to expect from Resident Evil Requiem. It signals a return to deeper horror roots, guided by lessons learned from past entries, and confirms that Capcom remains highly attentive to player reactions when shaping the future of the franchise.