RE9: Should You Play First-Person or Third-Person?

One of the most discussed features in Resident Evil 9: Requiem is the ability to switch between first-person and third-person camera perspectives. Understanding the RE9 first person third person system is important because each camera mode fundamentally changes how the game feels, and the default perspective varies by character. This guide explains the differences, how to switch, and which mode is best for different playstyles and situations.

Default Camera for Each Character

RE9 assigns a default camera perspective to each playable character based on their gameplay style:

• Grace Ashcroft: First-person (horror-focused)
• Leon S. Kennedy: Third-person (action-focused)

These defaults are intentional design choices by Capcom. Grace's first-person view creates a more claustrophobic and intimate horror experience suited to her stealth-oriented gameplay. Leon's third-person view gives better spatial awareness for his combat-heavy sections with parrying and crowd management.

First-Person Mode: Pros and Cons

Advantages of First-Person

• Greater immersion: Environmental details, jump scares, and atmospheric horror hit harder in first-person
• Better aiming precision: Fine aiming at enemy weak points is easier with the centered reticle
• Enhanced exploration: Reading notes, examining objects, and solving puzzles feels more natural
• True horror experience: Grace's stealth sections are significantly more tense in first-person

Disadvantages of First-Person

• Limited peripheral vision: You cannot see enemies approaching from the sides or behind
• Harder crowd control: Managing multiple enemies is more difficult without spatial awareness
• Motion sickness risk: Some players experience discomfort during fast movement or combat
• Parrying is harder: Timing Leon's parry is more challenging without seeing his full body animation

Third-Person Mode: Pros and Cons

Advantages of Third-Person

• Full spatial awareness: See enemies on all sides and plan movement accordingly
• Easier parrying: Leon's body animations provide visual cues for parry timing
• Better boss fights: Third-person gives critical awareness of boss attack patterns and arena hazards
• Comfortable for long sessions: Less fatiguing than first-person over extended play periods

Disadvantages of Third-Person

• Reduced horror impact: Jump scares and atmospheric tension are somewhat diminished
• Character model blocks view: In tight corridors, Leon or Grace's model can obscure items and enemies
• Less precise aiming: The over-the-shoulder camera makes precise weak point targeting slightly harder
• Breaks immersion in Grace's sections: Grace's stealth-horror design was built around first-person

Best Camera for Each Situation

After extensive testing, here are our recommendations for when to use each perspective:

Use First-Person For:

• Grace's entire campaign (as intended by the developers)
• Exploration and puzzle-solving sections
• Stealth encounters where precision matters
• Your first playthrough for maximum immersion

Use Third-Person For:

• Leon's combat encounters, especially against groups
• All boss fights regardless of character
• Insanity difficulty where spatial awareness is critical
• Speed runs where efficiency matters more than immersion

How Camera Affects Difficulty

The camera perspective has a meaningful impact on game difficulty, even though no stats or mechanics change between modes:

First-person on Insanity: Significantly harder. Limited vision means enemies can ambush you from blind spots, and the tighter parry timing without body animation cues leads to more failed parries and wasted Hatchet durability.

Third-person on Casual: The easiest combination. Full awareness plus forgiving enemy damage creates a relaxed action-horror experience ideal for players who want to enjoy the story.

For players attempting their first Insanity run, we recommend third-person for Leon and either perspective for Grace based on personal comfort. Review our difficulty guide for more Insanity-specific tips.

Settings to Optimize Each Camera Mode

Regardless of which perspective you choose, adjust these settings for the best experience:

First-person settings: Reduce camera shake to 50%, increase FOV to 90-100 degrees, and enable the center dot reticle for better spatial orientation.

Third-person settings: Set camera distance to "Far" for maximum awareness, enable aim assist on Standard and Casual difficulties, and reduce camera follow speed if the movement feels too snappy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you switch between first and third person in RE9?

Yes. Open the pause menu, go to Settings, then Camera, and toggle between perspectives. The switch is instant and has no cooldown. You can switch as frequently as you want, even during combat encounters.

What is the default camera in RE9?

Grace defaults to first-person and Leon defaults to third-person. These defaults reflect each character's gameplay focus: horror and stealth for Grace, action and combat for Leon.

Which camera is better for RE9 boss fights?

Third-person is generally better for boss fights because it provides wider spatial awareness for dodging attacks and reading boss patterns. This is especially true for the Super Tyrant fight and the final boss encounter.

Does camera perspective affect difficulty in RE9?

Not directly. No stats or mechanics change, but first-person is effectively harder because of limited peripheral vision and more difficult parry timing. Many players find Insanity difficulty significantly more manageable in third-person.

Now that you understand the RE9 camera system, check our beginner tips for more essential advice, or head to the parry guide to master Leon's combat mechanics in whichever perspective you prefer.