Resident Evil has given rise to countless amazing characters, from their epic legacy heroes that are always saving the day to their supporting cast that help make every game so great. There are countless debates about the best characters in the Resident Evil games — everyone will have different favorites, ranging from villains like Wesker to heroes like Chris Redfield. We even have fresh faces like Grace Ashcroft, who made her debut in 2026.
Every Tyrant In Resident Evil
The Tyrant is one of the most iconic enemies in Resident Evil and different versions of it have appeared in games, movies, and TV series.
Whether it is down to their engaging personality, the deeds they have done, how competent they are, or the personal growth they have throughout their game(s), these Resident Evil characters are shining examples of how to create fantastic characters who fans can’t help but adore.
March 19, 2026, Update Notes (By Mark Sammut):
- Added Grace Ashcroft and Rebecca Chambers
- Added a Quick Picks section
Quick Picks: The Pillars of Resident Evil
Before we dive into our full 2026 rankings, here are a few essential characters who really define Resident Evil.
|
Character |
Role |
Why |
|---|---|---|
|
Leon Kenedy |
The Enduring Hero |
The most popular Resident Evil character, Leon, goes from an overwhelmed rookie to the ultimate badass. |
|
Jill Valentine |
The First Protagonist |
Alongside Chris Redfield, Jill is Resident Evil‘s original playable character, and she has remained a fixture ever since. |
|
Albert Wesker |
The Ultimate Mastermind |
Resident Evil‘s definitive villain whose shadow looms over so much of the series. |
|
Ethan Winters |
The Revival Era |
The face of Resident Evil‘s modern shift, representing a return to horror-first games. |
|
Grace Ashcroft |
The Present (& Future?) |
Resident Evil Requiem felt like the start of a new chapter, and Grace continues down the road started by Ethan. |
However, Resident Evil is way more than just Leon, Jill, and Wesker. Our 2026 re-ranking takes into account Resident Evil Requiem, while also giving a massive jump for Rebecca Chambers.
13
Moira Burton
Revelations 2 Grants Her Character An Excellent Arc
Moira Burton was a one-off character introduced in Revelations 2 to be a companion to Claire Redfield and her scenario. The two Terrasave agents are kidnapped when an office party is crashed by armed mercenaries, and they are taken to a penal colony called Sein Island to be unwilling participants in an experiment involving a virus that thrives under fear. The two women need to work together to escape — and purge themselves of the virus.
Throughout the course of the game, Moira has one of the best character arcs in Resident Evil, especially among the supporting characters who never really receive such treatment. She pushes through the trauma alongside Claire, remaining a good companion and even friend to her. She even overcomes her fear of firearms sparked by a childhood incident to save Claire’s life, and she learns to make peace with her father, Barry.
12
Ashley Graham
The Remake Gives Ashley A Much More Palatable Personality
The 2023 version of Resident Evil 4 proved to be one of the best remakes of not just the franchise but of all time. The graphics were phenomenal, the gameplay smooth, and the story and characters were more grounded and gritty, rather than overloaded with cheese like in the original version (though there’s still plenty of cheese to be found). Remaking this game was no small order, as it is held in high esteem by fans, but Capcom improved upon almost everything, most notably Ashley.
The new mechanics do, unfortunately, make her a little harder to protect, as players can no longer force her to wait at the start of the location, but her character overall is made not just bearable, but actually enjoyable. She isn’t as shrill or demanding and is less bratty, instead opting to make her a more well-mannered and civilized young woman who even voices concern for Leon at times. This is an Ashley that players might actually want to save, and not just one they are forced to complete the game.
While remake Ashley is better, the original version is iconic in her own right.
11
Ethan Winters
A Family Man Who Risks Life And Limb For His Wife And Daughter
Resident Evil 7 starred a brand-new protagonist in a brand-new game that eventually got a sequel in the form of Resident Evil Village. In RE7, Ethan travels to rural Louisiana in search of his missing wife, only to be beset by the Baker family, who have fallen to violent madness from the influence of the mold. In Village, Ethan is this time seeking to retrieve his daughter from the Four Lords and Mother Miranda, who have taken her as part of a ritual.
Resident Evil: 10 Best Friendships In The Games, Ranked
Plenty of strong bonds have been formed throughout the Resident Evil series, but these particular friendships are easily among the best.
Unlike most other protagonists, Ethan is a man with no real combat experience, yet he rises to the challenge with unfaltering bravery. Even though he is infected by the mold himself, he proves to be resilient as he doesn’t fall into fits of maddening rage, instead continuing to be the caring man he is, placing the well-being of his wife and daughter above his own. Even death doesn’t stop him from being a guiding light for his daughter, Rosemary.
10
Alcina Dimitrescu
This Gargantuan Vampire Captured The Hearts Of Fans
At the forefront of the marketing for Resident Evil Village was Lady Dimitrescu, a shockingly tall and beautiful vampire who was wholly different from all the other Resident Evil villains that had appeared in the franchise so far. In truth, her role in the game was short, but she made such a lasting impression during the limited amount of screen time she had that the influence of her popularity cast a large shadow over Village.
She was an effective stalker enemy while exploring the castle, forcing players to reroute in terror when they ran into her in the hallways. She was not the only occupant of the castle, as her three daughters also presented a threat. Her portion of the game was like a fresh new take on the story of Dracula, only she had much more power — and an intimidating monster form — at her disposal.
Lady Dimitrescu would have been ranked higher if she had played a bigger role in RE Village.
9
Grace Ashcroft
The Ultimate “Out Of Her Depth” Resident Evil Protagonist
Honestly, it feels a bit premature to mention Grace as one of the best Resident Evil characters, considering she only joined the franchise in 2026; however, she is essentially an evolution of Ethan’s archetype, albeit with a more well-defined personality. His backstory aside, Ethan is a player-insert protagonist to an extent, which puts a ceiling on his characterization. In comparison, Grace is far more fully rounded, offering a bit more depth than most other RE leads.
Best Weapons & Upgrades in Resident Evil Requiem
For Leon, you’ll want to use these weapons and attachments in Resident Evil Requiem for the most powerful performance in any playthrough.
Suffering from PTSD following a trauma, Grace has spent years isolating herself from the world, and even her role as an FBI analyst mostly keeps her indoors and on a metaphorical island. She is eventually assigned a task to investigate a series of killings related to Raccoon City, dragging her into a mess that she is not remotely prepared to take on. Grace isn’t a badass in the traditional sense, and she spends most of the campaign scared and trying desperately to stay alive. She represents Requiem‘s horror side, while Leon handles the action.
Grace is complicated. On the one hand, she is arguably Resident Evil‘s most “normal” and nuanced protagonist, and it is great to see her gradually confront her past and fears. However, she lacks the “cool” factor that defines so many of the franchise’s most famous faces, and many people who play RE want a conventionally strong MC who faces threats without flinching too much. She might grow into that role in due time, but she isn’t quite there yet.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
8
Rebecca Chambers
Resident Evil’s Underappreciated Medic
Due to her (relatively) limited appearances and somewhat timid nature, Rebecca Chambers tends to be overshadowed by Resident Evil‘s bigger and more inescapable personalities, such as Chris, Jill, Leon, and (obviously) Wesker. She is rarely spotlighted by Capcom, and Resident Evil Zero is still her only starring role. However, she has not been forgotten by any means, as she featured in two Resident Evil animated movies (Vendetta and Death Island) and is even a playable Survivor in Dead by Daylight.
Technically, Rebecca is Resident Evil‘s first heroine, at least chronologically. More impressively, she survived the mayhem of Resident Evil Zero and immediately walked into Spencer Mansion. Considering she is presented as a rookie who specializes in chemistry rather than action, the fact that she lived through those back-to-back nightmares speaks to her resilience. She grows too, developing from a medic to a high-level BSAA consultant, and she can be deadly when the situation calls for it. With some help, she took down the Proto-Tyrant and the Queen Leech, which would be an accomplishment for any character.
7
Jack Baker
The Patriarch Of The Baker Family Helped Make Resident Evil 7 A Terrifying Experience
Resident Evil 7 was celebrated after lackluster titles such as RE6 completely changed the formula of the games, as they placed a heavier emphasis on over-the-top combat. Part of what made RE7 great was its smothering and terrifying atmosphere, along with the main threats of this title: the Baker family.
The Bakers were an ordinary yet rather reclusive family living close to the bayou, who took in Eveline after she washed up at their guest house. They were rewarded with her gift as thanks, transforming them into terrifying monsters capable of dastardly deeds. The patriarch of the family was no exception, taunting his prey as he pursued them doggedly through his properties, quite ready to kill them with whatever he had at his disposal. He even sometimes made witty one-liners, which all around made him an excellent yet terrifying villain.
6
Albert Wesker
Though Wesker Can Be Cheesy, It’s All Part Of His Villainous Charm
Originally a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team in the first Resident Evil game, it turned out that Wesker is actually a double agent. His betrayal was eventually revealed in the game, which gave rise to one of the most iconic video game villains of all time, who went on to reprise his role in games such as CODE: Veronica and Resident Evil 5.
8 Most Hateable Resident Evil Characters, Ranked
Resident Evil has many action-packed heroes and grotesque villains, which is why there’s a clear distinction that makes some characters hateable.
The latter title is when Wesker is truly at his zany, over-the-top best self, with goals of unleashing Uroboros across the entire goal. The cheesy nature of Wesker was just what RE5 needed, which was proving rather divisive among fans. Many desire his return to the franchise, despite meeting his demise in a volcano, which is just further proof of how excellent this villain truly is, as players don’t normally root for the return of the bad guys.
5
Ada Wong
The Duplicity Of This Double Agent Creates An Air Of Intrigue
Debuting in Resident Evil 2, Ada has since been a frequent flyer in the franchise, often appearing to tease Leon and offer a cryptic yet helpful hand. This is especially apparent in Resident Evil 4, the game in which she saves his life multiple times, making it quite clear he wouldn’t have gotten very far without her intervention.
7 Best Resident Evil Games With Playable Ada Wong, Ranked
The fan-favorite Resident Evil spy, Ada Wong, has been playable in numerous entries, but which is the best option for fans of the character?
Her vested interest in keeping him alive sometimes conflicts with her own goals and motivations, as seen by her crossing him in RE2 and throwing her lot in with Wesker. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep track of whose side she is really on, but this mystique only makes Ada all the more compelling. She has a way of leaving people wanting more, and this is true for both Leon and the players themselves.
4
Chris Redfield
A Staple Hero In The Franchise
Resident Evil
- Released
-
March 22, 1996
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
Chris Redfield is undoubtedly one of the staple heroes that helped make the franchise what it is from his very first appearance in the first installment of the series. He is one of the bravest characters, always ready to pick up a gun and save the world from whatever biological threat it faces next, as evidenced by his character having the most appearances out of the other legacy protagonists.
His close partnership with Jill is touching to see, which is especially evident in Resident Evil 5, which made some…interesting changes to his character. He may be a bit more jaded in the latter entries in the series, but this doesn’t stop Chris from doing what he must to be the hero the world needs, even if that would mean sacrificing himself. He has dodged death so far, but it is clear from Chris’s characterization that he would take a bullet for the people he cares about.
