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Parents' Guide to

Resident Evil 7 biohazard

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Survival horror series redefines fear in gory new chapter.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 32 parent reviews

age 18+

the scariest game i ever played

I honestly don't undestand low age rating parents/kids reviews because this is not only the scariest game, but the most frightening cultural experience i've ever had, so much more than any scary movie. Besides, I really like this genre and consider it the best title of the series.
age 14+

Good game for teens

This game is awesome, I had fun playing it with my son. Yes it does have gory and disturbing scenes but as long as your child is at least a teen, this game is for them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32 ):
Kids say (58 ):

This survival horror game brings plenty of scares, with an experience that constantly brings players to the edge of their seat. More than two decades ago, the original Resident Evil helped give birth to the "survival horror" genre and coined the phrase for generations to come. Over the years, the series has strayed somewhat from its roots, focusing more on fast-paced action and drama rather than primal fear and a true sense of dread. Resident Evil 7 biohazard changes all of that, taking the franchise back to its roots and redefining the genre. While not a reboot, the game does mark a new beginning of sorts for the series. The new setting and characters create an independent story that's not weighed down by 20 years of dangling plotlines but is still connected to the overall lore. Best of all, the story's actually really good, with great pacing, surprise twists, and a genuine feeling of horror that's on par with or better than a lot of Hollywood offerings.

One of the problems of many recent "survival horror" games is that the "survival" part never seems to be in question: Players are near superhuman tanks blasting through hordes of enemies. Resident Evil 7 makes survival feel like a challenge and not a certainty, especially at higher difficulty levels. Weapons, ammo, health, and other essentials are sparse and have to be carefully taken into account. And while players may not have to face shambling swarms of the undead, single enemies feel much more threatening as they stalk Ethan through the claustrophobic corridors. In fact, everything about the game fits together seamlessly to kick your fight-or-flight response into high gear and make the player feel like surviving each encounter is a real accomplishment. If the level of fear wasn't already high enough, PlayStation owners can switch at any given time into VR mode using the PlayStation VR. While the VR mode does take a bit of a visual hit compared to the game's default high resolution, the sense of immersion more than makes up for it. It's possible to have too much of a good thing, though. Extended VR play has a nasty side effect of leaving many players feeling dizzy and disoriented. But regardless of how you play, the simple fact is that Resident Evil 7 biohazard is still a must-have for any survival horror fan with a return to form that breathes new life into the undead franchise.

Game Details

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