After the Resident Evil franchise showed signs of collapse Capcom released Resident Evil 7 to reboot the series and bring it back to its horror roots and it worked really well. The Remakes have been a fun distraction, but on some level Capcom knows it can’t coast on nostalgia forever and long-term success requires reinvention.

While most of the details about Resident Evil 8 is from leaks that may or may not be correct it does paint a unique picture that could be the change the series need. Assuming the rumors are correct it could not only change the franchise, but the genre of survival horror.

10 Weapons Mean Little

For a while survival horror leaned on the action a little too much and players became unstoppable machines of destruction. The genre recently did a course correction to the other extreme where some games refuse to the give the player any means to defend themselves such as Outlast 2.

The leaks have claimed that players will have access to weapons like a handgun, but it’ll mean little against the game’s primary enemies. Having weapons to tackle the small foes but function as distractions or deterrents for tougher enemies is a nice new trend that needs to keep going.

9 Beasts

Survival horror has been in a rut lately when it comes to the nature of its enemies. Zombies, mutants, and ghosts seem to be the go-to. That’s not to say it’s necessarily a bad thing, Visage’s ghost was absolutely terrifying and the Resident Evil 3 Remake zombies and mutants were a blast to face, but it’s time for something new.

Apparently, the new title will have enemies that resemble werewolves. Whether this is literal shapeshifting monsters or beast-like foes it’s clear they’ll be animalistic in some way. Facing beasts will be a nice change of pace that could affect future games if it goes well.

8 No Science

This might be a controversial opinion considering its Resident Evil, but having a problem not be the result of scientific means could do wonders for the genre. That’s not to say it should leap to the other extreme and have everything be supernatural, but something in the middle would be nice.

The leaks suggest that the chaos will be the result of some parasite, or hallucinogenic, or other such plot device. Stepping away from mad scientists, shady corporations, or shadowy governments is good for both the franchise and the genre.

7 Folk Horror

Adding to the point above it’s been mentioned that the game will be utilizing folk horror. Folk horror typically involves paganism, occult rituals, and sacrifices for its scares. Instead of underground biolabs the player would be stuck in backwards villages or crumbling castles, which has been hinted at in the leaks.

Instead of the familiar urban environments or the technology laden halls of the large facilities found in more recent games, sending players to primitive areas with cultists would be a refreshing shake up.

6 Magic

Some of the rumors have hinted that magic or some unexplained power might be at play in Resident Evil 8. If this is the case it would be a huge shift for both the franchise and the genre.

Too much of this would obviously be cheesy, but just a bit would present new challenges and horrors. How do you face an enemy that defies the laws of physics? Imagine a Nemesis that can plunge the area into darkness before attacking or who can teleport short distances during a chase.

5 First Person

Fans were divided on whether the games moving forward should be first-person or not. By and large it’s down to a matter of personal preference and quite a few lean towards third-person out of nostalgia or because mainstream games like Fortnite have made it the new norm.

But if anything has become clear over the last few years is that first-person is better for horror and third-person is better for action. Not to say there isn’t crossover or even exceptions, but Resident Evil 7 did really well with first-person and having it in Resident Evil 8 will be another step in the right direction for the genre.

4 Invincible Enemies

Predator mechanics are big right now with the Remakes really knocking them out of the park. Being chased by a large seemingly invulnerable enemy is terrifying and makes for some fun gameplay.

The rumors for Resident Evil 8 suggest that this predator will either be a ghostly figure who cannot be harmed or a laughing witch or both. Having a cackling spectral figure that can pop out of walls and chase you sounds like a nightmare. Getting more creative with predator mechanics is going to be a big part of this new age of survival horror and Resident Evil 8 seems ready to experiment with that.

3 Paranoia

Something that current survival horror games haven’t been utilizing is paranoia, the sense that not everything is as it seems and you don’t know who to trust. Creepy atmospheres, devious NPCs, and multiple betrayals is surprisingly lacking in today’s horror.

If Resident Evil 8 does this right it can have a big change on how survival horror functions. Can you really trust the person giving you directions? How about the one who just saved your life? Can you even trust yourself and your own memories?

2 Hallucinations

Adding to that early point it’s also bee rumored that hallucinations are going to play a big role. While the specifics haven’t been revealed it could make for a very interesting experience if you can’t even trust what your in-game eyes are seeing.

Are there really werewolves or is this something your mind conjures up? Is there really a witch/ghost chasing you or is it all an illusion? Do you even dare test the theory? Hallucinations are a great mechanic that appeared briefly in games like Deadspace 3, but haven’t been fully utilized in general. This is a shame considering today’s technology and hopefully Resident Evil 8 turns this around.

1 Focus On The Horror

Finally the biggest change Resident Evil 8 could bring to the table is a focus on horror. The Remakes brought the dread and intensity of being chased by powerful enemies and games like The Forest gave us visual horror, but not many survival horror games have captured that more primitive terror that comes from a creepy atmosphere, chilling enemies, and a feeling of powerlessness while still being able to kill enemies and wield weapons.

Resident Evil 8 could put players in a mindset where obtaining a shotgun isn’t a game-changing event that turns the game into an action shooter where you no longer fear enemies, but instead brings a small sense of relief that if running and hiding fails you can buy yourself a few moments to get away or try hiding again.

NEXT: 10 Things We Already Know About Resident Evil 8: Village