Part of Resident Evil's magic is the soap opera-esque storyline following numerous narrative threads and a large handful of characters. It also deserves commendation for never rebooting the story and always pushing forward. At any one time during the franchise, numerous characters are up to various activities.
Because of this, the series has put players into the shoes of various protagonists. The following list ranks them from worst to best. At the start of this list, many of the characters are truly lackluster or are the supporting character in some less-celebrated titles. Later on, it starts talking about heavy hitters who have been a part of the franchise since almost day one. Additionally, this deals with protagonists who are playable throughout an entire game or campaign, so small playable parts like Carlos Oliveira are not mentioned. Nor will it talk about spin-offs like Outbreak.
Updated on January 21, 2022, by Jason Wojnar: Resident Evil never stops chugging along. At the moment, fans are unsure where the future of the gaming franchise is heading. There will be single-player DLC for Resident Evil: Village, but no one knows what it will include. Resident Evil: Village's ending leaves the franchise open for an interesting future, however. Until that day, fans can spend their days continuing to debate over the best playable protagonists in Resident Evil. This list has been updated to continue this argument and even adds someone from the Resident Evil 7 DLC.
15 Jake Muller
- Playable In Resident Evil 6
2012's Resident Evil 6 has four different campaigns that each follow two characters. Jake Muller's is not only the weakest of them, but fans cannot help but give this character a thumbs down for being Wesker's son. Wesker is one of the finest villains in gaming, and this shadow just reminds players of all the series lost after Wesker's death.
14 Piers Nivan
- Playable In Resident Evil 6
Piers is Chris's partner in Resident Evil 6. As a personality, there is nothing standout about him. Furthermore, the action in Resident Evil 6 is constantly turned up to the highest degree, so players never have a moment of respite to learn about him. Players who do like Piers shouldn't get too attached. He does not make it through the one game in which he is featured.
13 Natalia Korda
- Playable in Resident Evil: Revelations 2
The distaste for Natalia has nothing to do with her as a person. She is a child after all. Anybody who played through Resident Evil 5 and 6 with a friend will be disappointed to see how simple Natalia's gameplay is. It works when playing with someone inexperienced with the medium, but it is boring for any Resident Evil veteran.
12 Helena Harper
- Playable in Resident Evil 6
Of the player 2 characters in Resident Evil 6, Helena Harper is the best for two reasons. For one, her campaign in the game with Leon is easily the most exciting and comes the closest to capturing the feeling of being overwhelmed by zombies. She also has a real impact on the story, with some serious drama revolving around saving her sister's life.
11 Moira Burton
- Playable in Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Having a Resident Evil protagonist who is afraid of guns is an interesting angle, but most just wish the gameplay was more satisfying.
There's definitely a great idea for a survival horror game with just melee combat, but in Revelations 2 her attacks serve more of a support role to Claire Redfield. Her development in the story and relationship with her dad is a saving grace, especially with the irony of her being afraid of guns.
10 Sheva Alomar
- Playable in Resident Evil 5
When it comes to co-op partners in Resident Evil, it is hard to get better than Sheva Alomar. While Chris is the star of the show in Resident Evil 5, Sheva has a great design and has just as much dialogue in cutscenes.
The gameplay in Resident Evil 5 also has a great blend of asymmetrical gameplay and times when players are side by side with their partner.
9 Sherry Birkin
- Playable in Resident Evil 6 and as a small part in Resident Evil 2 and its remake
Sherry Birkin gets ranked higher than the other co-op partners not because she is in Resident Evil 6, but because her involvement in the series goes all the way back to Resident Evil 2.
It is cool to see her as an adult in the sixth game, even if it is considered the worst in the series. It's cool for a game to show how characters grow up, as even video game heroes grow old. Even though Resident Evil 6 was poorly received, Sherry should return eventually.
8 Joe Baker
- Playable In Resident Evil 7's End of Zoe DLC
There are several DLC stories in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but the End of Zoe is the longest of them. In it, players control Joe Baker, the only member of the family who did not come under Eveline's control. He goes into the Baker estate to try and save Zoe.
Joe's story reminds us that the Bakers were wholesome people before Eveline turned them into murderous psychopaths. This unexpected hero gives Zoe a happy ending to her story where the main game sees her doomed without hope.
7 Ada Wong
- Playable in Resident Evil 4's Separate Ways campaign, Resident Evil 6, and a small portion of Resident Evil 2 and its remake
Ada Wong would probably be higher on the list if she was the playable character in a better game. However, she does get a separate campaign in re-releases of Resident Evil 4 that saw plenty of praise. However, her part in Resident Evil 6 is completely forgettable.
Ada was planned to be included in Resident Evil Village and there is concept art of her, but it was ultimately decided to leave her out of the final product.
6 Barry Burton
- Playable in Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Barry is one of the coolest members of S.T.A.R.S. and most can even forgive him for betraying Chris and Jill in the first game. He was just trying to protect his family, after all.
Players were pumped when he became one of the playable protagonists of Resident Evil: Revelations 2. This title was slower and more horrific than its contemporary mainline entries.
5 Ethan Winters
- Playable in Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village
Some theorized Ethan Winters from Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village was a character fans already knew. Turns out, Capcom just wanted a new face to be inexperienced in dealing with the horrors awaiting players in a Resident Evil title.
This is what makes playing him so thrilling. Being in his shoes brings back the horror players felt playing the first game way back in 1996 when they did not know what to expect behind the next door. Though he appears to be out of the picture by Resident Evil Village's conclusion, there is a possibility he is still around in some way and could show up in the future.
4 Chris Redfield
- Playable in Resident Evil and its remake, Resident Evil Code - Veronica, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil: Revelations Resident Evil 7's Not a Hero DLC, and a small part of Resident Evil: Village
One of the two protagonists of the debut entry, Chris shows up or is mentioned in almost every Resident Evil story. The only thing that keeps him from a higher place on this list is the constant redesigning.
He is barely recognizable as the Chris Redfield from Code Veronica in Resident Evil 5. In the seventh game, he looks completely different, only to change once again in Village. He seems more jaded and cynical in the most recent game, making his plans in the future all the more intriguing.
3 Claire Redfield
- Playable in Resident Evil 2 and its remake, Resident Evil Code - Veronica, and Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Claire is Chris Redfield's sister, though the two rarely appear together on-screen. Claire is playable in four major releases, including Revelations 2 and the recent Resident Evil 2 remake.
Interestingly enough, Claire was played by the same voice actress for over ten years, an impressive record for a series that switches actors so frequently. It has been so long since she has shared the screen with her brother, so it would be great to see them together again soon.
2 Leon Kennedy
- Playable in Resident Evil 2 and its remake, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil 6
Leon Kennedy has the virtue of being the playable character in two of the greatest games in the franchise, Resident Evil 2 and 4. The latter recently received a VR version for Oculus Quest which was also well received by critics and fans.
In the first entry, he is a rookie on the first day of the job. In the latter, he is tougher, meaner, and cracks some of the worst one-liners in the history of language. Resident Evil 2's remake reminds players of his vulnerability from the Raccoon City incident, however.
1 Jill Valentine
- Playable in Resident Evil and its remake, Resident Evil 3 and its remake, Resident Evil: Revelations, and in the DLC of Resident Evil 5
Along with Chris, Jill was one of the first two playable characters in the franchise. She goes through a lot during the series, including brainwashing by Wesker.
Her recent appearance in the Resident Evil 3 remake gives her a whole new style and vibe while remaining faithful to the character created all the way back in 1996. Fans would be more than happy to play as her in a new mainline entry someday.