Ever since the firstResident Evilgame came out in 1996, the franchise has been seen as one of the biggest names when it comes to horror survival games. Over the years, the series has evolved quite a bit, but a handful of things have stayed the same. For example, the series still features a big cast of beloved characters, many of whom have appeared in multiple games.
While some of thebest characters inResident Evilare women, it’s hard not to acknowledge their male counterparts, too. Icons like Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield have led the series for decades, while other male characters have become fan favorites thanks to their cheesy one-liners and cool character designs. The characters here have been ranked largely based on how memorable they are as well as their wider role in theResident Eviluniverse.
Despite being nameless and only appearing in one entry (and its remake), the Merchant has become aResident Evilicon. A fan-favorite character in one ofthe bestResident Evilgames, the Merchant is responsible for keeping Leon and the player stocked with weapons and upgrades throughoutResident Evil 4.
Fans don’t know his real name or his motivations. It’s also not entirely clear if he’s human. What players do know, however, is that every time they hear the words “Over here, stranger!” or “Got somethin' that might interest ya,” they’re in for a treat. With his creepy design, catchy quotes, and mysterious nature, the Merchant has become the ultimateResident Evilmeme template. Without a backstory or name, he can’t really be ranked any higher, but the Merchant holds a special place in manyResident Evilfans' hearts.
HUNK has appeared in a lot ofResident Evilgames, both main entries and spin-offs, yet fans barely know anything about him. All players have been told of his backstory is that he’s an Umbrella Security Service operator who led the doomed Alpha Team, and he’s a complete badass.
Most ofResident Evil’s characters have had fancy redesignsover the years, but HUNK never needed one. Wearing black SWAT-style armor and a gas mask, he’s devoted to getting the job done, whatever it may be. He’s one of the series' coolest characters, and the less players know about him, the better. Unlocking HUNK as an overpowered playable character is always a treat.
Terrible fathers are a bit of a theme in gaming. Albert Wesker might be one of theworst fathers inResident Evil, but thankfully, his son, Jake Muller, is anything but a chip off the old block. One of the few good things aboutResident Evil 6is Jake Muller and his campaign.
Jake’s backstory alone is enough to make him interesting. He grew up not knowing who his father was and ended up working as a mercenary to support his mother. While he starts off as a bit of a jerk who’s only interested in the pay, he experiences a fair bit of character growth, and by the end ofResident Evil 6, he evolves into a genuinely likable character. He’s charismatic, witty, and genuinely wants to help people.
Good old Barry first appeared in the originalResident Evilas Jill’s guardian angel. He had a habit of turning up at just the right time to make sure Jill was safe and well-stocked with weapons and ammunition. In his next appearance,Revelations 2, he did the same thing by protecting Natalia.
Barry Burton makes this list for being a good guy who repeatedly risks his life to protect others. It is no small feat when one considers the horrors often faced byResident Evil’s protagonists. He also makes the list because the man is behind some of the franchise’s most memorable and quotable lines. Of course, some of his lines from the first game are beyond cringeworthy, but that’s half the charm. His ranking is on the lower end because he’s not received much in the way of character development, and all things considered, he’s a pretty minor character.
6Ramon Salazar
An Eccentric Villain Who’s Hard To Take Seriously
Resident Evil 4was a fairly big departure from the earlier games. It had a larger emphasis on action, and at times, Leon felt more like an 80s action hero than a horror game protagonist. That change of tone was reflected in one of the game’s main antagonists: Ramon Salazar.
Salazar is a cheesy villain who looks like he’d be more at home in a Saturday morning cartoon. When push came to shove, he wasn’t even one ofResident Evil 4’s hardest bosses. All this being said, he’s one of the reasons the game was so memorable; he added a lot of flavor and was a refreshing change from the serious antagonists the series often featured. The remake tried to make him a little less silly and a bit more intimidating, but there’s a limit to how scary a 3-foot-6 Renaissance-era-looking reject can be.
Jack Baker is the very definition of the father-in-law from hell. He makes the opening hours ofResident Evil 7a living nightmare for Ethan Winters as he stalks him through the Baker estate, popping up at the worst possible times. His highlight reel includes cutting off his son’s hand, chopping a cop’s head in half, and smashing through a hallway wall at the exact moment the player first lets their guard down. He is also responsible for several ofResident Evil’s scariest jump scares.
He might not sound that different from past enemies like Nemesis or Mr. X, but what made Jack so special was the way he taunted the player. It really felt like the player was being hunted, not just being followed around by some dumb AI. Jack is also one of the franchise’s most tragic characters. As evil as he may be inResident Evil 7, the game slowly reveals that Jack was once a kind and caring family man, twisted into a sadistic monster by the influence of the mold. After his death, he appears in a vision to Ethan, in which he expresses remorse and explains what had happened to his family. It’s a surprisingly touching moment that almost makes players feel bad for killing him.
4Ethan Winters
An Ordinary Man Who Becomes A Hero
Ethan getting the fourth spot is likely to upset someResident Evilfans. Designed to serve as an everyman character in his first appearance as the protagonist ofResident Evil 7, Ethan can be a little vanilla. Beyond reacting to the multiple terrible things that happen to him throughout that game, Ethan doesn’t really respond much.
That said, he’s arguably had one of thebest character arcs inResident Evilhistory. He’s killed countless monsters, including a hillbilly mold family, werewolves, and pseudo-witches. In the process, he’s lost more than one limb, been attacked by his possessed wife, and stitched back together his dismembered body. That’s a lot for one guy to take. Ethan started out as an average Joe thrown into a horror movie and endedResident Evil 8as a complete badass who was willing to blow himself up to save the day.
3Albert Wesker
An Iconic Villain Who Goes To Great Lengths To Achieve His Goals
Albert Wesker isResident Evil’s most iconic villain and the kind of bad guy gamers just love to hate. In the originalResident Evil,he was introduced to fans as the founder of S.T.A.R.S. and Alpha Team’s captain. He’s then revealed to be a traitor and member of the villainous Umbrella Corporation who orchestrated the events at the Spencer mansion so he could see what special forces would do against the BOWs.
From there, Wesker went from being a guy who betrayed his team to a full-on supervillain. Driven by ambition and being one ofResident Evil’s most selfish characters,Wesker infected himself with a serum that made him incredibly powerful while retaining his human look. Up until his final transformation, Wesker remained a cool, charming, and deliciously evil antagonist who stole every scene he was in. He’s been sorely missed since he met his end inside a volcano inResident Evil 5.
2Chris Redfield
A Hero Intent On Saving The World
Chris Redfield has been around since the earliest days ofResident Evil.He’s gone from being a S.T.A.R.S. agent betrayed by Wesker to helping found the BSAA, the Bioterroism Security Assessment Alliance. For years, he has led the charge against BOWs and those who dare either produce or try to sell them.
Despite the untold horrors he’s faced, Chris has remained a good guy, even if, at times, he’s had to cross the line by an inch or two. Following the loss of Ethan, he mourned deeply and took in Rose as if she were a member of his family, becoming her mentor. He’s a true hero whose determination and bravery make him one of the bestResident Evilcharacters.
1Leon S. Kennedy
A Skilled Special Agent And A Great Source Of Comedy
Leon first appeared inResident Evil 2as a rookie cop having the worst first day ever, and his career hasn’t gotten much better. After seeing Raccoon City destroyed, he was coerced into joining the military and becoming a special agent who answered to the president. Rookie to special agent might sound like a promotion, but it wasn’t long until Leon found himself fighting infected villagers while searching for the president’s kidnapped daughter.
Leon has faced some ofResident Evil’s most terrifying threats and repeatedly comes out on top. From rookie to hero, he’s gone through a lot of character growth but remains the slightly awkward, cheesy guy fans first fell in love with inResident Evil 2. If nothing else, he deserves the top spot for the many action-hero style one-liners he delivers throughout both versions ofResident Evil 4as well asResident Evil 6.
