Endearing protagonists and campy antagonists alike have long carried the Resident Evil franchise. Arguably just as much as its scary monsters have. However, assisting many of the iconic mainstays are the just-as-memorable side characters.
The recent Resident Evil Requiem has proven that new characters can make a big splash with fans. Conversely, it’s also proven that nostalgia sells and we love seeing beloved heroes and villains return for a new adventure. I know I do, which is why I’ve ranked the best Resident Evil characters who should return in the future.
5. HUNK
Most characters on this list have been playable for a Resident Evil campaign, yet that’s not the case for HUNK. The “Grim Reaper” was introduced as the playable character in The 4th Survivor, a canon minigame from Resident Evil 2. He’s since mostly been relegated to non-canon minigames.
On the one hand, it’s not like we haven’t seen him recently. On the other, HUNK is a no-nonsense badass that we’d love to see more of. Whether it’s in a game that furthers the timeline or takes place earlier on, we’ll be happy with as much HUNK as we can get.
4. Barry Burton
As a character from the very first game, Barry Burton has always held a special place in the fanbase’s collective heart. Aside from some sporadic non-canon appearances, it wouldn’t be until 2015’s Resident Evil: Revelations 2 that he would become a playable protagonist in a story.
It took too long for him to be playable then and now it’s been too long since we’ve seen him. The family man gun expert already stands out as a unique character type in this series. Plus, it helps that he was a delight in his first playable appearance and was left with some questionable plot threads.
3. Carlos Oliveira
One of the benefits of HUNK is that he is a pure mercenary who is more familiar with weapons and killing than other series protagonists. Resident Evil 3’s Carlos Oliveira is much the same, being a member of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service.
What makes him more interesting than HUNK is that he is a rounded character. His experience and distaste for Umbrella could easily lay the groundwork for a fun return. It also helps that he became a true fan favorite with the Resident Evil 3 remake.
2. Sherry Birkin
After being introduced as a child in Resident Evil 2, Sherry Birkin would essentially be pushed to the side. It wasn’t until Resident Evil 6 that we saw her return as a capable agent with regenerative abilities. More recently, she took the role of Leon’s handler in Resident Evil Requiem.
As the daughter of Resident Evil 2’s main antagonist, Sherry comes with a lot of unique baggage. She’s also visually aged and changed the most of any character in the series. Potential aside, she deserves a better playable appearance than the godawful Resident Evil 6.
1. Sheva Alomar
Chris Redfield and Albert Wesker are huge highlights of Resident Evil 5, but so is Chris’ partner Sheva Alomar. She’s a fun addition that keeps up with the other two’s superhero actions, contrasts well with Chris in gameplay, and simultaneously helps his character grow throughout the story.
Her status as the only Black character to headline a Resident Evil game, as well as one of the most popular Black women protagonists in gaming, means a lot. Seeing her again in a remake or a new entry would be awesome. Especially if we can touch upon her interesting background that was sadly relegated to a text file.
Capcom has done a wonderful job introducing fun new characters that have become favorites in the Resident Evil community. They’ve also managed to elevate older ones to new heights, so who’s to say they can’t do the same with some of these side characters? I’d certainly love to see more of them.
