Resident Evil Requiem’s Non-Canon Ending Feels Like a Complete Waste

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Though brief, the adventure in Resident Evil Requiem offers two different endings depending on a choice players make at the very end. While alternate endings aren’t uncommon in Resident Evil games, the one in this title feels a bit unnatural. One ending, in particular, is so dramatically different that it comes across as contrived, raising questions about its purpose.

The ending of Resident Evil Requiem centers around a crucial decision: whether to release or destroy a chemical compound called Elpis. Throughout the story, Elpis is presented as a potential cure, but also hinted at being another dangerous weapon. Choosing to release it is considered the main ending, motivated by Grace’s desire to save Leon. However, players can also choose to destroy Elpis, which leads to a different, less favorable outcome.

Resident Evil Requiem’s “Bad” Ending Is Ridiculously Bleak

When Elpis is destroyed, the platform where Grace, Leon, and Zeno are fighting collapses, bringing down the entire hidden Umbrella facility with it. Leon manages a final attack on Zeno with his axe and gets Grace to safety, but he’s too weak from the infection to save himself. Zeno defeats and kills Leon, then falls with the facility into a massive explosion. Grace is the only one who escapes.

Even though Grace escapes with the help of soldiers she finds outside, the ending is heartbreaking for fans of Resident Evil who have followed Leon Kennedy for years. The sudden and violent way Zeno kills Leon is shocking, and it mirrors how Leon has defeated countless zombies throughout the series. Leon’s last words, where he accepts his death knowing Grace is safe and burdened by his past in Raccoon City, are incredibly sad and difficult to believe.

Players familiar with Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 know Leon is a tough survivor, making his death in Resident Evil Requiem feel jarring. His final battle with Zeno is swift and brutal, almost as if designed to punish the player. This “bad” ending doesn’t fit the game’s overall mood or the dedication Leon and Grace showed in facing such difficult challenges.

Only One Real Outcome Makes The Most Sense For The Game’s Story

The way Leon’s storyline in Resident Evil Requiem ends – with a quick, shocking death – feels more like a dark alternate take on the story than a true conclusion. It’s so sudden that the game immediately lets you undo the critical decision that led to it. This suggests Capcom didn’t fully believe in the “bad” ending and wanted players to see the “good” ending as the real, official one.

The best ending sees Grace deceive Zeno using Elpis, which is revealed to be a virus-killing program, not a weapon. Elpis strips Zeno of his abilities and also cures Leon, allowing him to battle Victor in a climactic showdown. This provides a more satisfying conclusion than having a beloved character die at the end. The ending also features extra dialogue between Leon, Grace, and others, and hints at a possible story direction for a future Resident Evil 10.

Capcom’s Guidance To Help You Pick The “Good” Ending Implies There Shouldn’t Be Multiple Endings At All

The ability to immediately jump from the “bad” ending to the “good” one reveals that Capcom strongly prefers fans experience the latter. It suggests the game doesn’t see the endings as equally valid paths, but rather as one desirable outcome and one less so. Looking back, this makes the “bad” ending feel insignificant – almost like an extra, humorous scene instead of a meaningful conclusion to the story of Resident Evil Requiem.

Even though this Resident Evil game is excellent, particularly its combat, the inclusion of a negative ending feels pointless. The game provides enough clues in its cutscenes to suggest the correct decision regarding Elpis – that destroying it would be a mistake. Finding the password to access Elpis was the biggest challenge in the final chapter, and resolving it as a story-driven choice, rather than a simple puzzle, could have created a more satisfying experience.

Despite the game’s overall success, the ending feels pointless and unfairly punishes players for missing details. It would have been compelling to see Leon die, presenting his sacrifice as a meaningful alternative to the standard happy ending. However, the current “bad” ending doesn’t land effectively, and it feels like Capcom themselves don’t take it seriously, treating it more like a hidden bonus than a legitimate outcome.

What are your thoughts on the different endings in Resident Evil: Requiem? Share your opinion in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-05 23:12