Alternate costumes are a beloved Resident Evil tradition, and Resident Evil Requiem keeps it alive with extra outfits for its cast - headlined by protagonist Grace Ashcroft, with series veteran Leon also featuring. Costumes are a low-stakes but satisfying slice of the post-game: they reward exploration and completion, give replays a fresh look, and are a staple of the "unlock everything" checklist. This guide explains how costumes generally work in the series and in Requiem, how they tend to unlock, whether they change anything beyond looks, and how to approach collecting the full set so none slip past you.
How costumes work in Requiem
In the modern Resident Evil games, alternate costumes are overwhelmingly cosmetic - they change how your character looks without altering stats or difficulty. That keeps them as pure reward: a fun flex for finishing content rather than a power boost. Requiem follows this pattern, offering alternate looks for its characters that you equip from a menu once unlocked.
Because they are cosmetic, you can use them freely without worrying about trophies or difficulty requirements that forbid modifiers - though it is always worth checking any specific costume's description, since the occasional series entry has tied a small effect to a special outfit. As a rule, treat Requiem's costumes as the game rewarding you for playing, not as a gameplay system to optimise. That makes them refreshingly stress-free: there is no "best" costume to chase for power, only the looks you personally like, which is exactly the point of a cosmetic reward.
How costumes unlock
Costume unlocks in the series typically come from a mix of completion rewards, bonus-currency purchases, and sometimes special-edition or pre-order bonuses. You might earn an outfit for beating the game, clearing a challenge, finding collectibles, or spending points at an unlockable shop. Deluxe or special editions of Requiem may also bundle extra cosmetic outfits as a purchase bonus, which is standard for Capcom releases.
Because the exact unlock conditions vary per costume, the practical approach is to play the game fully - finish the story, poke at the bonus content, and gather collectibles - and the outfits will largely accumulate along the way. For the last few, a completion checklist or trophy guide usually spells out the specific conditions, such as a particular difficulty clear or a challenge completed a certain way. Keep an eye on the unlockable shop too; often the simplest route to a missing outfit is to bank bonus currency from your runs and simply buy the ones you have not earned organically.
Grace, Leon and the cast
Requiem's costume set spans its playable and featured characters. Grace Ashcroft, as the game's central figure, naturally has the widest selection of alternate looks, ranging from story-alternate outfits to more playful cosmetic skins. Leon's return brings his own set of outfits for fans of the long-running character, which is a nice nod to series history.
Collecting outfits for each character is part of the completionist appeal, and swapping them in for a replay is a nice way to freshen up a second run - especially a New Game Plus or a victory-lap playthrough where you already know the beats and want a different vibe. None of it affects the horror; it is simply the game letting you personalise the experience once you have earned the right. For many players, trying on a favourite outfit is part of the reward ritual after a hard-won completion.
| Aspect | Typical behaviour |
|---|---|
| Effect | Cosmetic only (check each outfit's description) |
| Unlock sources | Completion, bonus currency, edition bonuses |
| Characters | Grace, Leon and the featured cast |
| Best used | Replays and New Game Plus runs |
Collecting them all
To collect every costume, approach it as part of a completion pass rather than a single activity. Finish the campaign, clear the bonus and harder content that tends to gate rewards, and gather collectibles, keeping an eye on any unlockable shop where you can spend bonus points on outfits you have not earned organically.
If a platinum or full-achievement run is your goal, costumes often overlap with the completion trophies anyway, so you will pick them up on the way without extra effort. The key is simply to stay aware of what remains: check your costume menu periodically to see which slots are still empty, and cross-reference a checklist so you know whether a missing outfit comes from a challenge, a difficulty clear, or the shop. Our unlockables guide maps out the broader reward set, and our trophy guide covers the completion conditions that tend to hand out cosmetics.
Cosmetic unlocks beyond outfits
Costumes are the headline, but they are part of a wider cosmetic reward layer that completionists enjoy working through. Resident Evil games commonly bundle a gallery of extras alongside outfits - concept art, character and creature models you can inspect, soundtrack selections, and other behind-the-scenes material that rewards you for engaging with the full game. These sit comfortably next to costumes on the "unlock everything" checklist and tend to unlock through the same mechanisms: completion, bonus-currency purchases, and clearing optional content.
None of this affects gameplay, which is exactly why it is a relaxing part of the post-game. Once the tension of the campaign is behind you, browsing the gallery and trying on outfits is a low-pressure way to appreciate the craft that went into the game. If you are the kind of player who likes to see everything a game has to offer, treating cosmetics and gallery extras as a single collection goal - rather than ignoring them until a trophy forces the issue - makes the completion loop more enjoyable.
Using outfits across your runs
One underrated benefit of alternate costumes is how they freshen up repeat playthroughs. By the time you are on a second or third run - chasing a difficulty trophy, sweeping collectibles, or just enjoying an unlimited-ammo victory lap - you have seen the default look plenty. Swapping in a different outfit for Grace or Leon gives the familiar story a new visual flavour and keeps long completion runs from feeling stale. It is a small touch, but it is the sort of personalisation that makes the grind toward a platinum feel like your own.
If you stream or capture your playthroughs, costumes also give your runs a distinct identity, and many players enjoy coordinating a particular look with a particular run - a tougher outfit for an Insanity attempt, a playful one for a relaxed replay. There are no rules here; the whole point of a cosmetic reward is that it exists purely for your enjoyment, so use the outfits however makes the game more fun for you.
Special editions and bonus content
If cosmetics matter to you, it is worth knowing where edition bonuses fit in. Capcom releases frequently offer deluxe or special editions that include extra cosmetic outfits, and sometimes other digital bonuses, on top of what you unlock in-game. These are a purchase choice rather than something you earn, so if a particular look is only available that way, no amount of play will unlock it - that is simply how bundled bonus content works across the industry.
For most players, the in-game costumes earned through completion are the heart of the collection, and the edition extras are a nice-to-have rather than essential. If you are deciding between editions, treat the bonus outfits as cosmetic flavour, not a gameplay advantage, and buy based on whether you want them for their own sake. Keeping the distinction clear - earned unlocks versus bundled bonuses - saves confusion when a checklist lists an outfit you cannot seem to unlock through play.
Starting with the wardrobe open
Costumes are meant to be earned, and gathering them is a pleasant part of the completion loop that rewards you for engaging with the full game. That said, some players returning for a replay - or coming to the game purely for the look and the atmosphere - prefer to have the wardrobe open from the start so they can experiment freely.
If that is you, a Resident Evil Requiem modded save on the Resident Evil Requiem services hub can include the unlockables so you can mix and match outfits immediately. It is an optional convenience for replays and completionists; first-timers lose little by letting the costumes trickle in as rewards, and the sense of unlocking a new look after a tough clear is part of what makes the post-game satisfying. Either way, knowing how the unlock sources work means you will never be left wondering why an outfit is still greyed out.
Related Resident Evil Requiem guides
- Resident Evil Requiem unlockables guide
- Resident Evil Requiem trophy guide
- Resident Evil Requiem New Game Plus
- Resident Evil Requiem all weapons guide
- Resident Evil Requiem beginner tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Are costumes cosmetic in Resident Evil Requiem?
Overwhelmingly yes - in the modern series alternate outfits change your character's look without altering stats or difficulty. It is always worth checking a specific costume's description, since the occasional entry ties a minor effect to a special outfit, but as a rule they are pure reward.
How do you unlock costumes in Requiem?
Through a mix of completion rewards, bonus-currency purchases at an unlockable shop, finding collectibles, and sometimes special-edition bonuses. Playing the game fully accumulates most outfits; a checklist helps with the last few.
Do costumes affect trophies or difficulty?
Because they are cosmetic, costumes generally do not disable trophies or modify difficulty, so you can use them freely. Always confirm with any outfit that advertises a special effect, just in case.
Does Grace or Leon have more outfits?
Grace Ashcroft, as the central character, typically has the widest selection, while Leon's return brings his own set. Collecting outfits for each is part of the completionist appeal.
Can I unlock all costumes from the start?
A modded save on the Resident Evil Requiem hub can include the unlockables so the wardrobe is open immediately, which suits replays and completionists. First-time players lose little by earning costumes as rewards.