RE9 Insanity mode - all differences, items, and how to unlock

What is RE9 Insanity mode? We love a challenge, but Requiem's hardest difficulty mode can test the most seasoned zombie slayer. Between tough enemies that take entire clips of ammo to take down, plus a restrictive save system, a successful playthrough on Insanity mode requires a ton of preparation.

If you're familiar with the Madhouse or Nightmare modes of earlier horror games, you'll already have some idea of what awaits you in Resident Evil Requiem's tough-as-nails difficulty mode. Whether you're new to the challenge or shooting for a new speedrun record, we've got a full list of all Insanity mode differences to help you avoid a nasty surprise.

Insanity mode automatically unlocks after you complete RE9 for the first time.

You can select it from the list of difficulty modes when you head into a new playthrough of new game plus. Since it's impossible to play Insanity mode on your first playthrough, you'll always benefit from the additional features of NG+ at this difficulty. Play on Casual mode to unlock it early.

You have full access to Leon's supply crate right from the get-go, and the amount of credits he earns for defeating enemies is doubled via the Tactical Tracker. You can purchase weapons and equipment early on, but be aware that you can only upgrade Leon's Body Armor to level three in Insanity mode.

Insanity mode differences

All bets are off in RE9's Insanity mode, but knowing what to expect is half the battle. We've used our own Insanity playthrough to bring you a complete list of what's different while playing on this difficulty mode.

Here's everything different in RE9's Insanity mode:

• Enemies
• Item locations
• Save system
• Safe codes
• Antique Coins

RE9 Insanity enemies

Like most extreme difficulty modes, enemies in Insanity mode have more health and deal more damage. They also move faster and are notoriously difficult to stagger, which means you're more likely to be grabbed. If that weren't challenging enough, Blister Heads appear more often and much earlier in your playthrough, with the chance for regular zombies to mutate after you take them down.

RE9 bosses are particularly difficult to handle. The Girl is more aggressive on her patrols through the Rhodes Hill basement, and she soaks up a significant amount of damage before you can stagger her. Stock up on Molotov cocktails and Requiem bullets to stop her in her tracks.

The Hunk boss fight is another major challenge in Insanity mode due to his shortened parry window. Collect the Mortal Edge melee weapon from the supply box to make parrying his attacks a little easier - if it's not there, head into the special content shop to unlock it.

It's also worth mentioning that aim assist is disabled in Insanity mode. If you've been using it as a crutch in earlier playthroughs, we suggest getting a few unassisted runs on Standard difficulty under your belt before you take on these foes.

RE9 Insanity item locations

The locations of several key items and weapons are different in Insanity mode. While none of them are necessary to progress, their benefits extend across your playthrough, so we do recommend picking them up. You can find all the items that have changed locations and where to find them below.

Weapon locations

• Grace's B934 Handgun is on the reception desk in the East Wing Waiting Room.
• The R.I.P Knife is exclusive to Insanity mode and locked in the Parlor prize cabinet.

Item locations

• The unicorn trinket box with the Red Jewel is by the desk in the Chairman's Office.
• The pantry key appears in the East Wing Waiting Room closet, which requires a clearance band to access.

RE9 Insanity save system

Like in Standard (Classic) mode, ink ribbons are a requirement to save as Grace in RE9's Insanity mode. Thankfully, they appear in the same locations, so if you've played Standard (Classic), you should have some idea of where to find them.

You can also craft additional ink ribbons by combining two ink ribbon tins with 40 units of blood. With all ink ribbons and ink ribbon tins, you have a maximum of 25 ink ribbons to use across your playthrough.

The Infinite Ribbon can be used in Insanity mode, but you need to complete the story in under four hours to unlock it from the RE9 unlockables list. It isn't necessary, but it does save some time.

RE9 Insanity codes

All safes can be found in the same location as in Standard difficulty, though the RE9 safe codes are different in Insanity mode. The East Wing Waiting Room safe remains open, but unlike Casual and Standard mode, it's empty.

RE9 Insanity Antique Coins

The RE9 Antique Coin locations are also different in Insanity mode, and our dedicated guide can walk you through where to find them all. You still need 19 Antique Coins in total, but several must be retrieved from enemies this time around.

As for Antique Coin rewards, the Stabilizer and Steroids you can find in Casual and Standard modes are absent. Their replacements are also more expensive. Thankfully, the Hip Pouch is still available at the same cost.

The most important parlor reward in Insanity mode is the R.I.P. Knife. It does have a set durability and can eventually break, but the increased amount of Infected Blood you can collect after using it to defeat zombies is a crafter's dream.

While we can't play through Insanity mode for you, this difficulty guide should help you reach the end of this gauntlet and reap the rewards. Specifically, you receive 40k CP for completing the Remarkable Agent challenge, which in turn can unlock the most valuable weapons from the special content store.

If you're still having trouble, install RE9 mods for infinite ammo and other cheats to make Insanity mode easier. Don't forget to pick up supplies from the BSAA containers if Raccoon City's got you on the ropes.