Resident Evil Requiem: All Easter Eggs, References, and Hidden Secrets

The ninth installment in the Resident Evil series is packed with Easter eggs and secrets that will delight both newcomers and longtime fans. Beyond hidden crates and collectible charms, the game stands out for its attention to detail and atmosphere, fully immersing you in the experience. In this guide, we’ve gathered every discovered Easter egg in ]Resident Evil Requiem and listed their origins, so you can uncover every hidden reference.

Right at the start of the game, in the opening cutscene, Grace encounters a man who bears a strong resemblance to Mister X from Resident Evil 2. He wears the same coat and a distinct black fedora.

However, there’s also a true Mister X in the game, found in the abandoned Raccoon City police station.

There’s a neat detail when playing as each protagonist. When aiming, Grace’s hands visibly shake, making her aim unsteady. Leon, on the other hand, has a firm grip and precise shots. This difference isn’t limited to shooting—Grace’s sections are designed around classic survival horror, inspired by the newer entries in the series. Meanwhile, Leon’s chapters feel much closer to the action-driven gameplay and tone of Resident Evil 4–6.

Playing from different perspectives gives a completely different vibe. For example, during a chase as Grace in third person, you can see her stumble and genuinely fear the approaching threat. The game is full of details like this, so we highly recommend trying both camera views for the full experience.

In one of Spencer’s offices, you can find a bottle of Sanguis Virginis wine, crafted in the 15th century using the Dimitrescu family recipe.

After picking the first lock as Grace, you’ll unlock the Like Mother, Like Daughter achievement. This is a nod to Grace’s mother, Alice Ashcroft, and her lockpicking skills in Resident Evil Outbreak.

In concept art and during the final cutscene of the good ending, you can spot a ring glinting on Leon’s ring finger. This makes it clear that the police officer is married to a wonderful woman—though her identity remains a mystery.

If you use the singer zombie ability in the care center, the other infected will react with lines like So loud… and start covering their ears and convulsing.

In Grace’s childhood room, there’s a book called Shadow Ghost on a small table. This is a nod to the fairy tale told by Mother Miranda in Resident Evil Village.

The face of the main villain from Resident Evil Village appears on the antique coins you can find throughout the care center.

There’s also a painting featuring her in one of Spencer’s offices near the end of the game.

Emily reacts to gunshots fired in her direction.

The legendary mercenary and Umbrella Security Service agent returns in the ninth installment. The last time he was mentioned was in Resident Evil 4. Most likely, it really is HUNK—the matching black marks on his hand point to this, though there’s a chance he could be a clone. If you lose to him in the reaction mini-game, the commander will snap Leon’s neck just like he did in Resident Evil 4.

If you open the game zone in the care center as Grace, you can shoot one of the numbers on the board—say, 29—and then use the nearest drum. If you’re lucky, the number you picked will come up, and you’ll get an antique coin as a reward. This trick only works once per playthrough.

When Leon first drives into Raccoon City, a flock of crows takes off in front of his car. This intro is identical to the opening of the original Resident Evil 2.

In the last shot of the cutscene, you can also spot the abandoned gas station with the same pickup Leon was driving in that game.

In one of the ruined buildings, Leon Kennedy can climb up some nearby boards and pick up a key labeled JoJo from a hanging TV. This is a reference to the anime and manga series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, which Capcom once made a game for.

When you open the box with this name, you’ll find various retro games from the company: Street Fighter Alpha and the original Resident Evil on disc. If you look up, you’ll spot two zoo tickets—this is a nod to the Resident Evil Outbreak spin-off.

If you look closely at Leon Kennedy’s license plate, you’ll notice an interesting number combination: 9, 6, 4, 2. Coincidence or not, those are the numbered games in which the officer personally appeared.

The motorcycle chase segment with the officer is very similar to a scene from Resident Evil: Vendetta, where Leon tries to escape from mutated dogs while shooting back with his pistol.

It goes without saying that Zeno is not just a reference, but a full-on clone of the legendary Albert Wesker. He has the same abilities, incredible reflexes, and those signature sunglasses. The character is even voiced by the same actor who played Albert Wesker in Resident Evil 4.

In one of the playgrounds of the abandoned city, you can find a severed toy head. If you toss it through the basketball hoop, you’ll hear a mysterious phrase that’s part of a much bigger puzzle. This head actually appeared in the third installment, during Jill Valentine’s journey through the amusement park.

While exploring the streets of Raccoon City, you can find the old Kendo shop and his shotgun inside.

The Raccoon City Police Station is packed with references for fans. Here are some of the nods to different characters:

Chris Redfield’s jacket with the Made in Heaven print can be found in the office.

Jill Valentine’s beret is sitting on one of the desks.

Rebecca Chambers’ medical bag hangs on the wall.

If you go up the stairs in the library, you’ll find a book on the far right shelf. Inside is an interesting photo of a young Rebecca.

This photo gives you a clue for unlocking the black case in the office. Inside, you’ll find a charm with Albert Wesker’s sunglasses.

While exploring the police station, you can come across a photo of the very first S.T.A.R.S. members, dated May 24, 1996.

You can spot the hero of one of Resident Evil 2’s mini-games outside the walls of the police station.

After the destruction, the Raccoon City Police Station changed a bit. If you go to the second floor and step out onto the left or right balconies, you’ll see a broken railing that lets you easily drop down. This same feature was added during the Resident Evil crossover with Dead by Daylight, making it easier for killers to move around.

You can find a nameplate belonging to the former officer on one of the desks in the ruined building. Interacting with it, Leon will remember his old mentor and say: Hey, Lieutenant Branagh. Kennedy…reporting for duty.

In Resident Evil 2, Leon found a pretty hefty zombie who couldn’t reach the vending machine in the hall. In the ninth game, the same infected still never got his tasty treat.

On a desk in the police office, you can find a note from Barry describing his plans for the day. One of the items is training a rookie at the shooting range. That rookie was none other than Leon Kennedy.

In one corner of the abandoned station, you can find a human skeleton missing its lower jaw. Leon first encountered a zombie just like this in Resident Evil 2.

Behind the counter in the main hall, you’ll find broken versions of the typewriter and item storage box from Resident Evil 2.

In the same police station, you can spot puzzles Leon solved in Resident Evil 2. Interacting with them gives the officer a little wave of nostalgia.

You can’t save everyone

After entering the Raccoon City Police Station, Leon finds a note on a desk that reads You can't save anyone. Krauser said almost the same thing to Leon in Resident Evil 4: You can't save her. You can't save anyone!

I was a little tied up

After a run-in with Victor and breaking free from his restraints, Leon gets a call from Grace. He says, Sorry, I was a little tied up, which is a callback to Leon’s line in Resident Evil 4 when talking to Ingrid: Sorry, I couldn't get in touch sooner but I was a bit tied up.

I don’t have time to spare

There’s no doubt Zeno shares Wesker’s physical abilities, but the clone in the ninth game even copies the former captain’s way of speaking. In one scene, Zeno says, Sorry, but I don't have time to spare. Wesker had a similar line: Seven minutes is all I can spare to play with you.

Whatever it takes, count me in

During a heartfelt talk between Leon and Grace halfway through the game, Grace offers to help save the city, saying Whatever it takes, count me in. Leon can’t refuse—he once said almost the same thing to Ada Wong in Resident Evil 2: Whatever it takes to save this city…count me in.

I'll keep our friends busy

During the battle with monsters in the chapel, Leon says out loud: I'll keep our friends busy. Ada Wong made a similar remark about him in Resident Evil 4 when Leon was fighting off a horde of crazed villagers: So kind of you to keep our friends busy.

Feel like a million bucks

During one of the final stages of the game, Leon honestly describes how he feels with: Feel like a million bucks. He gave the same answer to Ashley Graham in Resident Evil 4 after having the parasite removed: How are you feeling? — Like a million bucks.

I was just resting my eyes

Before the game's finale, Grace wakes Leon up, and he says: I was just resting my eyes. This could be a reference to a similar line Ada Wong used during one of her story battles in Resident Evil 6.