In Resident Evil Requiem, difficulty isn’t just about taking more hits. It decides how often you can save, how scarce ammo and healing items are, and how careful you need to be with every step. Unlike most action games where “hard” just means enemies hit harder, Resident Evil 9 makes you plan, think, and sometimes panic. Whether you want a smooth story run, a classic survival experience, or a real nightmare challenge, picking the right difficulty changes how the game feels from the first zombie to the last boss.

mr raccoon care center re9 requiem
All Mr. Raccoon Figures in the Care Center in Resident Evil Requiem

Find all 10 breakable Mr. Raccoon Memoriams in Resident Evil Requiem's Care Center with this guide.

Which Difficulty Should You Choose in Resident Evil Requiem?

Resident Evil 9 Difficulty Options Image via Game Rant; Source: Capcom

For Standard difficulties in Resident Evil Requiem, there are Modern and Classic. Standard (Modern) is the balanced route. Enemies hit reasonably hard, resources are fairly available, and autosaves happen often enough that you won’t constantly fear retracing your steps. It’s great if you want tension without turning every hallway into a panic-fest. Completing this mode gives you its own trophy or achievement, so you still get that sense of accomplishment.

Standard (Classic) is more old-school. Autosaves are limited, so you need to plan carefully and use every save wisely. Ink ribbons are a resource you have to manage — forget to stock up, and you could be retracing entire corridors just to save. Enemy damage is the same as Modern, but with tighter resource management, the pressure ramps up naturally. Like Modern, finishing Classic has its own trophy or achievement, letting you show off that you handled a proper survival challenge.

If you’re not up for that kind of stress, Casual eases things with weaker enemies, more healing items, and ammo. Perfect if you just want to experience the story or if this is your first run in Resident Evil.

Insanity Difficulty Explained

resident evil requiem raccoon city syndrome Image via Capcom

Insanity unlocks after you’ve completed Resident Evil Requiem once, on any difficulty. This mode increases enemy health and damage, reduces resources, and still requires ink ribbons to save. Item and enemy placement can also shift, keeping even seasoned players on their toes. It’s brutal, and mistakes can be costly, but finishing it earns the Insanity trophy or achievement, a clear sign that you survived the game’s toughest challenge.

resident evil requiem tag page cover art
Survival Horror
Action
Adventure
Shooter
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 95%
Released
February 27, 2026
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
Resident Evil Requiem Psychological Horror New Ground

WHERE TO PLAY

PHYSICAL

Genre(s)
Survival Horror, Action, Adventure, Shooter