Leon Must Die Forever: Capcom has done it again. Just when you thought Leon S. Kennedy had survived every possible nightmare—zombies, mutants, cultists, and even a towering tyrant in a trench coat—the developer has thrown him into a new kind of hell.
It’s called Leon Must Die Forever, and it’s not a threat about retiring the beloved character . It’s a free new game mode for Resident Evil Requiem, and it’s available right now for anyone brave (or foolish) enough to attempt it.
But here’s the catch: this isn’t the mode fans were expecting. And that has the community deeply divided.
What Exactly Is Leon Must Die Forever?
Unlocked after completing Resident Evil Requiem’s main campaign, Leon Must Die Forever is a free roguelite minigame that trades survival horror for relentless, time-pressured combat. Think of it as Ethan Must Die from Resident Evil 7 but longer, more chaotic, and with a ticking clock.
The premise is simple: Leon has unfinished business. “Grace made it home safely, but Leon still has work to do,” reads Capcom’s official blurb. That work? Fighting through 20 increasingly brutal stages, facing stronger enemy variants, and ultimately defeating the final boss, Victor Gideon.
Key features at a glance:
- Cost: Completely free (requires main story completion)
- Format: Roguelite with permadeath
- Stages: 20 total, ending with Lv. 20 boss Victor
- Difficulty: 5 increasing ranks (Rank 2 is where things get brutal)
- Timer: Race against the clock in each stage
Unlike the main campaign’s measured pacing, Leon Must Die Forever is fast-paced action first and foremost. You clear stages, fill an enhancement gauge by killing enemies, and unlock random “enhancer abilities” to power up Leon mid-run. Weapons appear randomly in crates. Enemy placements and ability options shuffle each playthrough. Death means starting over from the beginning.
How It Actually Works
Let me break down the mechanics so you know what you’re walking into.
The Stage Progression
There are 9 distinct stages you’ll fight through, but they unlock progressively as you reach higher difficulty levels:
| Level | Stage Name | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Lv. 1 | Main Street | Starting area |
| Lv. 2 | Care Center: Rehabilitation Ward | From Main Street |
| Lv. 5 | Care Center | From Main Street |
| Lv. 9 | East Raccoon City: Streets | From Main Street |
| Lv. 9 | East Raccoon City: Central Camp | From Care Center |
| Lv. 11 | Commander | From Care Center |
| Lv. 10 | Blisterborne | From E. Raccoon City |
| Lv. 12 | Super Tyrant | From E. Raccoon City |
| Lv. 20 | Victor Gideon | Final boss |
You advance by finding a glowing door in each stage—check your map to locate it. The “Lv.” number indicates enemy health and damage output. Enemies grow significantly tougher as you climb.
The Enhancer Ability System
This is where the roguelite DNA really shows. As you kill enemies, you fill an enhancement gauge. Once full, you can use L1+Triangle to choose one of three random abilities. These can dramatically shift your playstyle:
- Ruthless Judge: Near death for 30 seconds, attack power increases by 200%, zombies explode when killed, and attacks don’t consume ammo or durability
- Lone Berserker: Close combat attacks become ultimate attacks, increasing melee power by 500% (but reducing firepower by 50%)
- Phantom Slayer: Increases chance to perform gun finishing attacks, firepower boost to 150% (but reduces melee power by 50%)
The catch? You cannot choose your abilities freely. The game offers three random options each time. Some runs you’ll get a perfect synergy. Other runs you’ll pray for a merciful death.
Enemies Have Rules
Pay attention to enemy colors—they tell you how to fight:
- Glowing blue enemies: Defeat with hatchet parries
- Glowing red enemies: Defeat with melee and explosives only
- Midas Spinners (small gold spiders): Kill them to get extra time on the clock
And here’s a critical tip: don’t worry about wasting ammo. Enemies drop it abundantly, and you’ll find more in crates and on the floor. This mode wants you shooting, not hoarding.
Permanent Unlocks
As you play, you earn CP (Completion Points) to unlock permanent upgrades—but these only work within Leon Must Die Forever. Grind enough, and you can unlock:
| Unlock | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hellblaze | Replaces hatchet, burns zombies when cutting | 25,000 CP |
| RPG-7 | Anti-tank weapon (once per playthrough) | 35,000 CP |
| Case Upgrade (8×13) | Permanently expands attachment case | 10,000 CP |
| Aurora Spinners | Midas Spinners give more time when defeated | 3,000 CP |
| Assistant: Wolf Mode | Start with REVO3, Hatchet, and Surveyor ability | Complete Rank 1 |
| Assistant: Turbo GT | Start with MSBG 500, Hatchet, and Strategist ability | Complete Rank 2 |
| Assistant: Axe-orcist | Start with 2-star Hatchet and Maverick ability | Complete Rank 5 |
There are also cosmetics, including new outfits, and additional dialogue lines from Leon himself. For the truly dedicated, Capcom has even released official “Leon Must Die Forever” merchandise—t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts—available through Amazon Japan.
The Mercenaries Problem
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
When Capcom teased a new mode for Resident Evil Requiem, the community assumed one thing: Mercenaries mode. That beloved arcade-style gauntlet where you control different characters, chain combos, and rack up massive scores has been a franchise staple since Resident Evil 3.
Instead, we got Leon Must Die Forever.
And the reaction has been… complicated.
What fans are saying:
Some are defending it:
“Getting new perks and mixing them for different builds is super satisfying.”
“It reminds me of Resident Evil Village mercs, but as a nice change of pace.”
But many are frustrated:
“I can’t upgrade my equipment at all and have to rely purely on weapon drops and good enhancements. I’ve seen all the available enhancements in 3 games in.”
“This just feels more bullshit and less fun. Ethan Must Die was good because it felt like a puzzle to solve.”
“Raccoon City zombies are just so unfun to fight. It’s almost crazy how unfun they are.”
The pattern is clear: players who came in with zero expectations are enjoying it. Those who played Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Mercenaries mode in 2023 are experiencing genuine disappointment.
And here’s the economic reality that stings: Resident Evil 4 Remake launched with full Mercenaries mode. Resident Evil Village launched with Mercenaries mode. Resident Evil Requiem, a bigger and pricier game (up to $480 for collector’s editions), delivered a minigame two months after launch while charging separately for upcoming story DLC.
Some fans feel Capcom is “drip-feeding post-launch content at a pace that feels deliberately conservative,” saving the real goods for paid expansions.
Who Should Actually Play This?
Based on community feedback and my analysis of the mode’s mechanics, here’s who will enjoy Leon Must Die Forever and who should sit this one out:
| Player Type | Worth Your Time? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New to Resident Evil Requiem | Yes | Great way to revisit the combat loop after the main story |
| Roguelike fans | Yes | Randomized builds and permadeath scratch that itch |
| Completionists | Yes | Cosmetics, achievements, and unlocks tied to the mode |
| Casual players | Yes (Rank 1 only) | Rank 2 onwards is a completely different game |
| RE4 Remake Mercenaries veterans | No (or manage expectations) | You will feel the downgrade in depth and polish |
| Ada Wong / Grace fans | No | Neither character is playable; Leon only |
| Anyone who hates RNG | Probably not | Success depends heavily on random ability drops |
The difficulty spike between Rank 1 and Rank 2 is particularly brutal. Many players report that Rank 1 is a fun, chaotic victory lap. Rank 2 feels like the game actively hates you.
Tips for Surviving (From Those Who Have)
If you’re determined to conquer Leon Must Die Forever, here’s what you need to know:
- Hunt the Midas Spinners. Those small gold spiders hiding around each stage? Kill them. They’re your only way to add precious seconds to the timer.
- Follow the glowing door. Check your map frequently. The exit isn’t always obvious, and wasting time wandering means losing to the clock.
- Parry wisely. You cannot sharpen the hatchet mid-run. Instead, look for glowing green hatchet repairs scattered around stages.
- Embrace the chaos. You cannot control which weapons or abilities appear. Adapt to what the game gives you rather than forcing a specific build.
- Don’t skip levels. The game technically allows you to jump from Lv. 1 to Lv. 9 to Lv. 20. This is a trap. You will be underpowered and destroyed.
- Grind CPs. The permanent unlocks—especially the case upgrade and alternate starting loadouts—make subsequent runs significantly more manageable.
The Final Verdict
Leon Must Die Forever is free, functional, and flawed. It’s worth downloading and trying—especially since it costs you nothing but time. The combat is still brilliant, Leon is still iconic, and watching enemies explode from the Ruthless Judge ability is genuinely satisfying.
But this isn’t the mode fans campaigned for. It’s not Mercenaries. It’s not the character-swapping, score-chasing, combo-chaining experience that has been a series highlight for two decades.
If you go in expecting a roguelite diversion—a few hours of randomized, high-octane chaos—you’ll likely have a good time. If you were hoping for the next evolution of Mercenaries mode, you’ll leave frustrated.
Play Rank 1. Enjoy the chaos. And maybe, just maybe, don’t try Rank 2 unless you’re prepared to lose your sanity along with Leon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is Leon Must Die Forever free?
A: Yes. The mode is completely free for anyone who owns Resident Evil Requiem and has completed the main story.
Q: How do I unlock Leon Must Die Forever?
A: Complete the main campaign of Resident Evil Requiem. After updating your game, the mode will appear under “Additional Games” in the main menu.
Q: Is Leon Must Die Forever the same as Mercenaries mode?
A: No. It’s a roguelite gauntlet with permadeath and randomized abilities, not the arcade-style Mercenaries mode fans expected.
Q: Can I play as other characters?
A: No. The mode is Leon-only. Neither Grace nor Ada Wong is playable in this mode.
Q: Is there a time limit?
A: Yes. Each stage has a timer. You can extend it by killing Midas Spinners (small gold spiders) found throughout the map.
Q: Will Capcom add Mercenaries mode later?
A: Currently, there’s no indication that Resident Evil Requiem will receive a Mercenaries mode. Capcom has announced a story DLC is in development, but details remain scarce.
Q: Is there merchandise for Leon Must Die Forever?
A: Yes. Capcom has released official merchandise including t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies available through Amazon Japan.
