From main entries to spin-offs, there has been a litany of Resident Evil games. And while many characters have appeared in several instalments, this isn't generally a series that sticks to a single cast. Of course, you expect changes to the antagonists and possibly supporting players. But what is interesting about RE is how often protagonists come and go.
The core group of Chris, Leon, and Jill usually show up every few games, but other heroes only make the odd appearance. As such, the developers, fans, or a combination of the two don't always give them the proper respect. Some villains and secondary characters are also overlooked. Here are the individuals that deserve more attention.
10 Marvin Branagh
Marvin has got a very defined role in the story of Resident Evil 2, as it's on him to explain what's going on to the protagonist and help them get started. Then he serves as the first real tragedy of the tale when he perishes.
Those two things don't equate to much screen time, but they're important. And in the 2019 remake, Christopher Mychael Watson gives an outstanding vocal performance for the character, which helps make Marvin stand out even more.
9 Alex Wesker
Alongside Albert, Alex Wesker was the other success story of the Project W experiment. Yet, you don't see her until Resident Evil Revelations 2. She could've ended up being Albert-lite, but she makes her own mark. One thing that stands out about her is her unique motives.
While there are power-hungry and world domination-seeking elements to her motivations, she also wants to save herself. The woman is dying of an illness, after all, so she wants to transfer her consciousness into another body. This makes her more compelling than several of the other main Resident Evil villains.
8 Billy Coen
There are a lot of playable characters in the Resident Evil series, but few have as interesting of a backstory as Billy Coen. While serving in the military, his squad mates gunned down an innocent village. Billy protested but was knocked out for his trouble.
Then he was blamed for the incident and eventually sentenced to death. When you find this out in Resident Evil 0, it becomes easy to sympathize with the man. On top of that, his charisma makes it easy to like him, too.
7 Moira Burton
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Thankfully, in Resident Evil Revelations 2, Moira avoids bringing shame on the Burton name. Instead, she's an enjoyable part of the experience. This is thanks to the development she makes as a character throughout the narrative.
At the start of the story, she is a rookie survivor with a fear of using guns, supporting the more capable Claire. However, during the adventure, she gets over her fear of firearms and transforms into a strong survivor. As such, together, she and Barry make up one of the most iconic families in gaming.
6 Lisa Trevor
Lisa Trevor has one of the most tragic backstories in Resident Evil. She was among Umbrella's first test subjects after they discovered the Progenitor Virus. And she was a very successful one at that, so the company used her for many years. She was certainly more useful for research than her mother, who Umbrella ended up executing, which caused further pain for Lisa.
By the time the protagonist meets her in Resident Evil, her mind is gone, and she's simply a dangerous creature trying to kill you. It's impossible not to feel sorry for her, though, which is rare for a Resident Evil monster.
5 Sheva Alomar
Sheva has a difficult time in Resident Evil 5, as despite technically being a main protagonist, the story revolves more around Chris Redfield. In fact, it seems she's only in the title to make RE5 a co-op game.
This doesn't make her a bad character, though. Throughout the adventure, Sheva comes across as likable and charming. And it's very admirable that she wants to stay and fight countless B.O.Ws to save her people. If she'd made additional appearances in the series, she may have been as popular as the likes of Chris, Jill, and Leon.
4 Rebecca Chambers
Poor Rebecca Chambers goes from one dangerous situation to another in Resident Evil 0 and the original Resident Evil. She's only an 18-year-old rookie at the time, too. Yet, the woman still manages to survive because, along with being sweet and caring, she's also a badass. This is part of what makes Rebecca memorable, as she's a lot more capable than she looks.
She's also a very versatile character, as she excels in both the lead and supporting roles. As such, it's odd that fans haven't seen more of her over the years, especially in the games. She's very overdue for a comeback.
3 Barry Burton
You can't say that fans underrate Barry, as he's very popular in the players' eyes. But the developers clearly underutilize him, as he rarely appears in the series. This is despite him being one of the easiest-to-like Resident Evil characters ever.
The reason he's so loveable is because of how protective he is of the people around him. Whether it's Jill in the original Resident Evil or Natalia in Revelations 2, he does everything to keep them safe. That's not to mention how much he cares for his family. After all, he visits a monster-filled island in Revelations 2 in the faint hope that his daughter is still alive.
2 Jake Muller
The whole idea of Jake being the son of Albert Wesker feels a little contrived and just an excuse to keep the villain's presence in the universe. However, Jake is actually a good character and one of the most interesting protagonists in Resident Evil 6.
For starters, his outrageous fighting skills make for some thrilling cutscenes. Plus, his arrogant personality makes for a nice change in a series filled with very squeaky-clean heroes. And he even provides several laughs due to his constant quips - some are cheesy, but that is expected in Resident Evil.
1 Claire Redfield
Claire Redfield is among the most famous characters in the Resident Evil series and is very popular with the fanbase. Yet, she still feels a little underrated, particularly by the developers.
At one time, she was on the same level of importance as Chris, Jill, and Leon. But in recent years, she's been absent from the main games. In fact, she's only ever been in one primary numbered entry, which is less than the likes of Ada Wong, Sherry Birkin, and Rebecca Chambers. This is despite her being a charming and witty badass. Hopefully, one day, she will make a significant return to the series.