twenty second March 2026 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Japanese launch of Resident Evil — or Biohazard — on PlayStation. To rejoice, we’ll be publishing numerous articles this week targeted on Capcom’s quintessential survival horror sequence.
After three full a long time of Capcom cooking up brown-trouser-inducing undead encounters in mansions, police stations, army installations, rustic European villages, and elsewhere, we have stepped into the footwear of many totally different characters, most of whom have turn out to be online game icons for the reason that RE sequence started in 1996.
Whether or not you performed them for your entire recreation or took management for simply tiny sections, virtually all of them have gained a particular place in our hearts as we survived the horrors unleashed by Umbrella Corp. and its assorted viruses. Immediately, we need to discover out which RE playable character is your absolute favorite.
Earlier than we remind ourselves of their faces, some floor guidelines. We’re focusing at the moment on individuals from the mainline video games, so you will not discover characters playable solely in spin-offs. (Sorry, Barry.) Likewise, we’re sticking to the campaigns and associated story content material, so no Mercenaries-only characters, both. (Sorry, Albert.) Past that, in the event that they had been controllable throughout a story phase, nonetheless briefly, you may discover them beneath.
So, let’s take a stroll down reminiscence lane in roughly chronological order, lets? We have included the primary mainline recreation every character is playable in, plus an amusing quote (nicely, we had been amused, at the least). We start with one half of the Redfield duo…
Chris Redfield
First playable in: Resident Evil
A person of many abilities and several other faces, Chris was there from the very starting within the S.T.A.R.S. workforce that visited the Spencer Mansion again in 1996.
“You are pitiful. That is your saviour? You say this failure is your saviour?”
Jill Valentine
First playable in: Resident Evil
The opposite facet of the playable character coin in RE1, Jill would make a memorable return in RE3, stalked by Nemesis by means of the streets of Raccoon. Does anybody name it simply ‘Raccoon’? If not, they need to do.
“Effectively, he was speaking in regards to the world’s strongest organic weapon, referred to as Tyrant or one thing, I feel.”
Leon S. Kennedy
First playable in: Resident Evil 2
After his RE2 debut, Leon Scott Kennedy would go on to star in 4, 6, and Re9uiem (hmm, yeah, pretending the ‘q’ is a 9 is a stretch, Capcom).
“Claire! Claire! Wait, wait! Man, why does not anybody ever hearken to me?”
Claire Redfield
First playable in: Resident Evil 2
The opposite half of the Redfield clan, Claire would workforce up together with her brother in Code Veronica.
“Do not shoot! I am a human.”
Carlos Oliveira
First playable in: Resident Evil 3
Muscling in on Jill’s recreation, Carlos gave the S.T.A.R.S vet a serving to hand in RE3.
“I am not a zombie. My identify’s Carlos, corporal of Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Drive.”
Ada Wong
First playable in: Resident Evil 2
Easy operator and espionage extraordinaire, Wong debuted in RE2 however was solely playable very briefly in Leon’s department. Her first main playable function got here in RE4 with the Separate Methods bonus part added to the PS2 model.
Ah, Ada. We are able to hear the sound of your chuckle by means of the wall… as you mow down zombies.
“Leon, it is over. Simply let me go.”
Ashley Graham
First playable in: Resident Evil 4
The president’s daughter won’t be the first character you’d name on when confronted with a horde of Ganados advancing in your place, however she will conceal in a bin with the most effective of ’em. We’re hoping she’ll get to ditch the damsel-in-distress function in a future instalment.
“Hey, what are you !?”
Rebecca Chambers
First playable in: Resident Evil
Technically, Rebecca is playable within the authentic RE in sure eventualities should you’re taking part in as Chris, though her team-up in RE0 with the following character on our listing was her fundamental starring function within the sequence…
“My first mission and I’ve already disobeyed orders. A lot for my nice regulation enforcement profession.”
Billy Coen
First playable in: Resident Evil 0
With just one sequence look to his identify up to now, we marvel if convict Billy would possibly reappear in future entries.
“If you have not observed there are some fairly freaked out issues on this practice and I for one need to get out of right here.”
Sheva Alomar
First playable in: Resident Evil 5
One other one-and-done character on the time of writing. As with Billy, we would prefer to see what Sheva’s been as much as since 2009, again when she teamed up with Chris and at last took down [REDACTED] as soon as and for all (absolutely?).
“We’re companions, to the tip.”
Jake Muller
First playable in: Resident Evil 6
Jake has the misfortune of starring within the least-revered entry within the sequence, however his place within the RE pantheon is safe, if solely because the son of Albert Wesker. Perhaps in the future we’ll see him in a extra celebrated recreation.
“I am not a kind of roided-out freaks, you morons!”
Sherry Birkin
First playable in: Resident Evil 2
Technically playable, briefly, in RE2, it was RE6 the place Sherry, daughter of William and Annette, acquired her first starring function. As with Jake, the parental baggage right here is heavy.
“Leon’s not simply anybody. He saved my life again in Raccoon Metropolis.”
Helena Harper
First playable in: Resident Evil 6
A Secret Service agent with a sister whose identify was Deborah (it by no means suited her), RE6 went out of its technique to introduce new playable characters, and Helena is one other protagonist we have but to see return.
“You are not fully sane, are you?”
Piers Nivans
First playable in: Resident Evil 6
The final of RE6’s one-game wonders, Piers is just a little totally different to most different characters right here, as he will get augmented talents because of just a little C-virus mutation. Larvely.
“You’ll be able to’t think about my delight at having to escort your ass outta right here.”
Ethan Winters
First playable in: Resident Evil 7
Talking of augmented talents, Ethan’s fairly useful, too.
Winters spanned REs 7 and eight, and is the one faceless individual within the character lineup. You’ll be able to technically see his face in RE8 should you’re fast, however he is way more attention-grabbing should you concentrate on his palms and picture he appears to be like like…nicely, somebody attention-grabbing.
“Man, screw this fort!”
Grace Ashcroft
First playable in: Resident Evil 9
And eventually, the newest protagonist to affix the RE ranks. FBI agent Grace has taken some stick for being a “scaredy cat”, however frankly, we will not all be as jaded and resistant to the survival horrors as a Leon or a Chris, can we? We predict she handles all of it remarkably nicely.
*heavy respiration* “The hell?” * heavy respiration*
And there you’ve gotten it! Tell us which of the characters above are your absolute favourites within the ballot beneath, and scooch on right down to the feedback if you wish to elucidate, or if — horror of horrors — we have gone and forgotten somebody!
