Promotional key art from Resident Evil Village, showing a dramatic, close-up portrait of Chris Redfield looking downward with a stern expression. His face is heavily shadowed, and the background features rugged, snow-capped mountains under a bleak sky with sparks drifting in the air.

Resident Evil: Village

Played on:
  • PlayStation logo
Time played:
15 hours
Rating:
Liked

My first completed Resident Evil game in a very long time! If I remember correctly, the last entry in the franchise I actually finished was the original all the way back around 1996 or 1997. I've played a little bit of the Resident Evil 4 Remake, but since I haven't finished it yet, it doesn't count.

Horror isn't my favorite genre by a long shot, so I've played very few spooky games over the years. Honestly, I don't even know what possessed me to pick up this game in the first place, but I am so incredibly glad that I did! It managed to completely surprise me.

One of the best things about it is the pacing. Short, tightly focused games feel like a rare breed these days, and this one was the perfect length. It is a brief but intense experience that felt incredibly refreshing compared to the usual open-world bloat.

The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic and keeps you on edge the whole time. The game does a brilliant job of blending gothic horror with tense action, making every new area you explore feel distinct, beautiful, and deeply unsettling.

Paired with that atmosphere is some top-tier sound design. Every creak, groan, and distant sound is masterfully crafted. If you play this game using headphones, the audio design actually makes it terrifying!

It just goes to show you don't need to be a die-hard fan of a genre to appreciate a masterpiece. Resident Evil Village is a wild ride, and I'm so happy I took the plunge!

Title screenshot showing a dark, atmospheric scene showing a massive medieval gothic castle looming over a snowy mountain landscape at night. Twisted, leafless tree branches frame the foreground, and the game title text VILLAGE RESIDENT EVIL is centered in white.
A close-up screenshot of an elderly, sinister-looking woman with gray hair, pale eyes, and a wide, unsettling grin. She is wearing a dark, hooded cloak adorned with trinkets and stands outdoors in a snowy environment next to a staff topped with a skull.
A first-person perspective gameplay screenshot inside a dark, stone dungeon tunnel. The player holds a handgun, aiming at several tattered, hooded ghoul-like enemies with open, fanged mouths rushing forward near wooden barrels.
A low-angle, close-up screenshot of one of Lady Dimitrescu's daughters peering down menacingly. She wears a dark, tattered hood, has blood smeared across her wide smile, and exposes pale skin marked with a tattoo on her forehead.