Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in Capcom's iconic horror franchise and has earned widespread acclaim for its high production values and diverse gameplay. The story picks up where Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (currently available on Steam for $8) left off, once again placing players in the shoes of Ethan Winters. Hoping for a peaceful life with his wife Mia after the horrors in Louisiana, Ethan's world is shattered when series veteran Chris Redfield unexpectedly shows up, seemingly kills Mia and abducts their daughter Rose. Ethan regains consciousness in a wrecked van, stranded in a remote, snow-covered village somewhere in Eastern Europe. The area is crawling with grotesque creatures – werewolves, vampires, talking dolls and twisted mutants – all ruled by the enigmatic Mother Miranda and her four sinister “lords.” To rescue his daughter, Ethan must confront each of them, navigating terrifying environments filled with puzzles, peril and relentless enemies.
While Resident Evil 7 leaned heavily into pure horror, Resident Evil Village shifts the balance toward action without abandoning its survival roots. The game is still experienced from a first-person perspective and maintains key survival elements like limited resources and inventory management. Central to the experience is the village itself, which acts as a hub that gradually reveals new paths and secrets in true Metroidvania fashion. Combat is more intense and varied, with players able to upgrade their weapons through the eccentric merchant known as "The Duke." Crafting also plays a key role, allowing players to create ammo and healing items from gathered materials. What really sets Village apart is its variety. Each area – whether it’s the gothic grandeur of Castle Dimitrescu, the eerie Beneviento House or the grim industrial factory – introduces unique enemies, gameplay styles and tones. At times, the focus is on fast-paced combat; at others, it’s on psychological tension or puzzle-solving. This mix makes Resident Evil Village appealing to both long-time fans of the series and newcomers alike. Adding even more replayability is the return of the Mercenaries mode, where players face waves of enemies in timed challenges, rack up points and unlock special abilities in pursuit of high scores.
Reviews: Strong presentation, but story falls short
In its review, the German gaming magazine GameStar highlighted Resident Evil Village’s outstanding presentation, praising both its visuals and sound design. The detailed environments and the effective use of lighting and audio create a gripping atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. The blend of fast-paced combat, challenging puzzles and exploration across a surprisingly large game world was also well received. According to GameStar, this variety keeps the gameplay engaging from start to finish. Thanks to its wealth of optional content and the return of the Mercenaries mode, which adds competitive replay challenges, Village offers plenty of reasons to return even after the credits roll.
The main criticism of Resident Evil Village centers on its story, which is said to be overloaded and at times illogical. The protagonist, Ethan Winters, is seen as somewhat bland, and the main villain failed to leave a lasting impression in GameStar’s review. Gameplay-wise, while the overall mix is compelling, a few elements fell short. Weak hit feedback, an unconventional button layout and underdeveloped melee mechanics slightly detract from the experience – but not enough to overshadow the game’s strengths. GameStar ultimately awarded a solid 88 out of 100 points. A similar picture emerges on Metacritic, where the game holds a Metascore of 83 and a User Score of 8.4. However, Resident Evil Village shines brightest on Steam, boasting over 80,000 reviews with an “Overwhelmingly Positive” average rating of 95%.
75% discount on Steam
Released in May 2021, Resident Evil Village typically sells for around $40 on Steam. But for the first time ever, it’s now available at a 75% discount – bringing the price down to just about $10. This limited-time offer runs until June 19, and according to SteamDB, the game has never been more affordable.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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Image source: Shirrako via YouTube