Resident Evil Requiem's GOTY Hopes: Good, Not Quite Gold (And What That Means For Capcom, Eh?)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
*Resident Evil Requiem* is a critically acclaimed title, but despite the series' consistent presence at The Game Awards, its Metacritic scores and split critical reception suggest it's more likely a GOTY nominee than a winner for 2026. This raises a fascinating question about the future of the series: are new entries struggling to shine as brightly as the beloved remakes?
Right then, gather 'round, because I've been tinkering with the latest buzz, specifically around *Resident Evil Requiem*, and bloody hell, it’s a corker of a story. You know that feeling when you're brewing a potion, and you're *almost* certain it'll be a masterpiece, but then it just... *doesn't quite* sparkle? That, my friends, seems to be the vibe with *Requiem*'s chances at the coveted Game of the Year 2026 gong.
Now, I've been poring over the details from Polygon's excellent piece by Oli Welsh (which you can find), and it paints a rather fascinating picture of a game that's undeniably brilliant, yet might just miss that top-tier sparkle required to clinch the ultimate prize.
Capcom, bless their undead hearts, have been an absolute powerhouse with the *Resident Evil* franchise this past decade. Ever since *RE7 Biohazard* blew us all away back in 2017, they’ve been a reliable fixture at The Game Awards. We’re talking three GOTY nominations (for *Village* and the remakes of *RE2* and *RE4*), a stack of other nods, and even a Best Performance win for Lady D – remember that? Legendary stuff. It’s like *Resident Evil* always gets an invite to the biggest party, even if it often ends up being the bridesmaid, never the bride. A consistent, high-quality bridesmaid, mind you, with a wardrobe full of stunning dresses.
So, when *Resident Evil Requiem* rocked up, everyone, myself included, probably thought, "Right, another shoo-in for a nomination. Leon S. Kennedy can practically send his tuxedo – or bridesmaid’s dress, no judgment – to the cleaners." And for a nomination, that still looks pretty solid, mate. But true contention? That’s where things get a bit... murky.
The critical reception, which, let’s be fair, is the digital tea leaf reading we rely on for The Game Awards, has been uniformly positive. Nobody's slagging it off, which is a massive win in itself. But here’s the rub: it’s not quite universal acclaim. Polygon’s analysis highlighted the game’s unique, and frankly quite audacious, choice to offer two distinct flavors of *Resident Evil* in one package: terrifying, vulnerable first-person horror when you're playing as Grace, and rip-roaring, third-person action with our boy Leon.
Now, that’s a proper wizard move, a bold experiment! But, as sometimes happens when you try to fuse two powerful spells, some critics found themselves vibing harder with one style than the other, or found the tonal shifts a tad jarring. It’s like trying to mix a perfectly brewed potent health potion with an explosive firebomb – both are great, but the blend can be… unexpected.
Looking at the numbers, because awards voting is nothing if not a game of Metacritic bingo, *Requiem* currently sits at an 88 on Metacritic and 89 on OpenCritic. That’s bloody brilliant, don’t get me wrong. For most games, that’s a home run. But for Game of the Year contention? Historically, you’re usually looking for something north of 90. It’s a bit like trying to summon a legendary beast with 88% of the ingredients – you'll get something powerful, absolutely, but maybe not the *absolute* legend. Polygon wisely pegs it in the same league as a *Death Stranding 2* or an *Alan Wake 2* result – solid, acclaimed, but just a whisper short of the undisputed champion.
Funnily enough, previous *Resident Evil* GOTY nominees *RE2* and *RE4* remakes both hit the low 90s. Was that the nostalgia spell doing its work, alongside Capcom’s undeniable craftsmanship? Probably. *Village* snuck in with an 84, but that was in 2021, a historically weaker year where not a single nominee topped 90 – an anomaly, really, like finding a unicorn at your local pub.
So, what does this all mean for *Requiem*? Its fate as a nominee, let alone a contender, hinges on the sheer strength of 2026’s releases. If *GTA 6* actually makes its date (a big "if," I reckon!), if *Marvel’s Wolverine* and *Control Resonant* hit as hard as expected, and if wild cards like *Fable*, *The Blood of Dawnwalker*, and *Crimson Desert* all pan out brilliantly... well, *Requiem* could get squeezed out like a half-used tube of magical paste. And let’s not forget the indie scene, which, as we saw last year with *Hades 2* and *Hollow Knight: Silksong* breaking barriers, can pull off genuine wizardry.
Regardless of whether *Resident Evil Requiem* actually gets to hoist the big trophy, it's clearly another critical and commercial success for Capcom. That’s a win in my book, mate. But the Polygon article raises a rather fascinating, slightly thorny question that my curious brain keeps poking at: when the remakes consistently outscore the new mainline entries, and seem to be closer to the "center of game culture" (if GOTY nods are our measuring stick), does it mean the series’ creative lifeblood is starting to run a little thin? Are we seeing a reliance on past glory, even if it's brilliantly executed? It’s a thought, isn't it? A bit like wondering if our magic wand works better on old spells than new ones.
It’s an interesting moment for *Resident Evil*. Capcom is clearly at the top of their game in terms of polish and production, and *Requiem*'s serious, mournful tone and engagement with trauma – delivered in a glossy action package – is definitely catnip for the awards jury, who often seem to battle gaming's perceived "inferiority complex" by favouring thematic weight. But perhaps the real innovation, the truly boundary-pushing stuff, might need a different kind of spell altogether as the series moves forward. Food for thought, eh?
Tags: Resident Evil Requiem, Game of the Year, Capcom, Gaming Analysis, The Game Awards
Original article: Polygon