Choosing the right difficulty in Resident Evil Requiem is more important than it looks at first glance. Capcom does not simply give you the usual easy, normal, and hard setup. Instead, the game offers four options with a notable split inside the Standard setting itself. The available choices are Casual, Standard (Modern), Standard (Classic), and Insanity, with Insanity serving as the hardest mode and only becoming available after finishing the game.
That means your first playthrough decision really comes down to three realistic picks. As a beginner, the best first run will be Standard (Modern), but the right answer depends on how comfortable you are with survival horror, manual saving, and limited resource management. Here is a full breakdown of what each difficulty does and which one you should pick first.
All Resident Evil Requiem difficulty settings explained
Resident Evil Requiem includes four total difficulty settings. Casual is the easiest option and is built for players who mainly want the story. Standard is split into Modern and Classic, with both versions sharing the same overall combat and resource balance but handling saving very differently. Insanity is the post-game challenge mode, where enemy pressure, damage, and item placement become far harsher.
The important thing to understand is that Standard (Modern) and Standard (Classic) are not different in the way players usually expect. They are not two separate combat difficulties. Instead, they are basically two different ways of experiencing the same core balance, with the biggest difference being how save management works.
Casual Difficulty Explained
Casual is the easiest way to play Resident Evil Requiem. It gives players strong auto aim support, lowers enemy danger, and keeps puzzles and item locations the same as the Standard modes. Basically, it is the game’s easy mode, with lower incoming damage, more forgiving aiming, and easier access to resources like ammo.
This makes Casual the best pick for players who are new to Resident Evil, new to survival horror in general, or mainly interested in the story and atmosphere. It is also a smart choice if you dislike repeating sections after death or if you want a more relaxed first run before trying tougher settings later.
Standard (Modern) Explained
Standard (Modern) is the mode most players should start with. It is the experience players coming from Resident Evil 4 Remake will likely expect, where enemies remain threatening but manageable, and autosaves are frequent enough that losing progress is less of a concern. Also, Modern removes the Ink Ribbon restriction and lets you save more freely while keeping the core challenge level of Standard intact.
This is the best first difficulty for the average player because it preserves tension without adding extra friction. You still need to manage ammo, healing, and inventory, but the game does not punish you as heavily for mistakes. If you want the intended balance of action, horror, and exploration without old-school save pressure, Standard (Modern) is the safest recommendation.
Standard (Classic) Explained
Standard (Classic) is where Resident Evil Requiem starts feeling more traditional survival horror. VGC explains that it uses the same enemy, puzzle, and item balance as Standard (Modern), but saving is tied to Ink Ribbons, and autosaves are much less common. Also, Standard (Classic) is effectively the tougher version available on a first playthrough because it forces you to think carefully about when and how often to save.
This changes the mood of the game quite a bit. Every trip away from a safe room carries more tension because mistakes can cost meaningful progress. It also adds another layer of inventory management, especially during Grace’s sections, since save items compete with other useful resources. Classic becomes more intense because you are juggling limited space and save tools at the same time.
If you are a longtime Resident Evil fan who loves the older style of pressure and planning, Standard (Classic) may actually be the best first run for you. But for most players, it is better treated as a second playthrough setting after you already know the map layout, puzzle flow, and key danger points.
Insanity Mode is Kinda “Insane”
Insanity is the true hard mode of Resident Evil Requiem, and it is not designed for blind first runs. In this mode, enemies hit much harder, enemy spawns increase, health pools go up, and certain items move to new locations. Also, Insanity features different item placements and safe combinations along with tougher, less predictable enemies.
On top of that, Insanity keeps the Ink Ribbon saving mechanic from Standard (Classic), while also raising resource scarcity and enemy damage even further. In practical terms, this means you need to know the game extremely well before attempting it. It is a challenge mode for confident players, not the right place to learn enemy behavior or map routing for the first time.
Which difficulty should you pick first?
As a new player, Standard (Modern) is the best first difficulty in Resident Evil Requiem. It gives you the intended balance of challenge and accessibility, preserves the survival horror feel, and avoids the harsher save restrictions that can turn a blind run into frustration. I recommend Standard (Modern) as the expected baseline for most players, while Standard is the intended overall experience from the developer’s perspective.
Casual is the better choice if you are mainly here for the story, scares, and characters, or if you generally do not enjoy strict resource management. Standard (Classic) is the better choice if you are already comfortable with Resident Evil and want your first run to feel closer to the older games, where every save matters. Insanity should be saved for later.
Best first difficulty based on your playstyle
If you want the smoothest recommendation, the answer is simple. Pick Standard (Modern) first. It is the mode that best suits most players because it lets the horror and pacing shine without stacking too much punishment on top of your first time through.
If you are a newcomer, Casual is perfectly fine, and there is no shame in starting there. Resident Evil games are often more fun when you are learning the world at your own pace instead of getting stuck on survival systems you do not enjoy.
If you are a veteran who misses old-school save tension, Standard (Classic) is likely the most rewarding first run. Just be aware that it is not harder because enemies suddenly become overwhelming. It is harder because the game makes each mistake more expensive.
Resident Evil Requiem’s difficulty system is smarter than a simple easy or hard menu. The real decision is whether you want a more forgiving modern survival horror experience or a more stressful classic one. The majority of players should just choose the Standard (Modern) mode as it is the best first pick because it offers the cleanest balance between challenge, pacing, and convenience. Casual works best for story-focused players, while Standard (Classic) is the better fit for Resident Evil veterans chasing that old-school tension. Insanity is where you go once you have already mastered the game.
