Summary
Next to its monsters andstellar survival horrorgameplay, theResident Evilfranchise is perhaps most well-known for its cast of iconic characters, who are recognizable not just among the horror community, but in gaming as a whole.
That being said, as much as fans love the series' mainstays, there are quite a few characters who, having faded into obscurity in the shadow of protagonists like Leon and Chris, are sorely missed. Focusing on characters who have yet to have their own solo outing (sorry, Jill), the list below compiles some oftheResident Evilcharacters that not only need to return to the franchise but should take the reins in a future installment.
7Helena Harper
Stepping Out Of Leon’s Shadow
Helena’spresence on this list is perhaps going to be the most contentious and least likely to happen, but she’s still worth mentioning. She had a lot working against her whenResident Evil 6dropped, most notably being that she was a series newbie paired with fan favorite Leon in an overall lackluster game. Add in the fact that fans were annoyed with her writing and would have rather had Claire take her place, and Helena, just like the rest ofResident Evil 6, became something fans wanted to forget.
Still, her character had potential. Her motivations and moral compass were initially murky, acting as a foil to Leon’s typical heroic characteristics in a way that felt fresh compared to his usual encounters with Ada. Plus, Helena’s backstory involving her sister has excellent foundations to tell a tale of grief and guilt in a future game, should Capcom rescue her from the reputation ofResident Evil 6.
6Sherry Birkin
What Has She Been Up To Since 6?
For all ofResident Evil 6’s flaws, one highlight of the game was seeingSherry Birkinall grown up and working as a federal agent. Not only that, her campaign eventually revealed that her exposure to the G-Virus had left her with regenerative abilities and that her blood was used to engineerResident Evil 6’s C-Virus.
Checking in on Sherry’s abilities and what she’s up to in theResident Evilworld has the potential to make for an interesting future story. With the upcoming ninth mainline installment,Resident Evil Requiem,returning to the ruins of Raccoon City,Sherry could be slated to make a surprise appearance, given her history with the city.
5Carlos Oliveira
The Resident Evil 3 Remake Showed His Potential
TheResident Evil 3remake was adisappointment to somefans in the community due to missing areas from the original game and the fact that Nemesis didn’t feel nearly as impactful as Mr. X fromResident Evil 2’s remake. That being said,RE3’sremake did give fans a new and improvedCarlos Oliveira, who no longer felt like a forgettable sidekick but a charismatic hero all on his own.
Carlos easily has the potential to rub shoulders with the likes of Chris Redfield, either in a mainline installment or in a spin-off story through theRevelationsseries.
4Ashley Graham
Damsel In Distress No More
2023’sResident Evil 4has already made moves to breakAshleyout of the damsel-in-distress mold. While she is still absolutely in need of rescue multiple times throughout the game, Capcom developed her writing so that she was more than just a victim. Ashley’s return to the franchise, older and more capable, in her own game or occupying an important role in one, would act as a form of catharsis not just for her character but for fans in theResident Evilcommunity, too.
Given how strong their relationship was in theResident Evil 4remake, a reunion betweena grizzled Leonand an experienced Ashley also has the makings of a solid story.
3Hunk
Fan Favorite Agent
Hunkis an enigmatic recurring character within the franchise that has earned fan adoration thanks tohis mysterious personaand bloody lore. While fans have been able to step into Hunk’s shoes on a few occasions, many are desperate to see the “Grim Reaper” get his time in the spotlight.
Like other characters on this list, Hunk is perfectly suited to take the leading role in a spin-off title. However, with part of his appeal being his mystery, and therefore at risk of overexposure, Hunk’s placement at the center of a game’s story is bound to require more finesse than usual on Capcom’s part to pull off.
2Sheva Alomar
One Of The Best Parts Of Resident Evil 5
As is the case with a number of entries on this list,Sheva Alomaris yet another character unfortunately trapped within the confines of a flawed game.Resident Evil 5marked the beginning of the series' descent into full-blown action nonsense, with the game being most memorable to some fans for Chris’s boulder-punching feats.
In the shadows of Chris’s biceps, however, is Sheva: a likable and brand-new character to the series who anyone would be lucky to getpartnered up within a zombie apocalypse. Sheva is perhaps the character on this list most deserving of her own arc, independent of mainstay characters like Chris and Jill.
1Ada Wong
No More DLCs
Ada Wonghas technically already taken the lead in the franchise in the form of DLCs and her own campaign inResident Evil 6. Said campaign, however, was smaller than the other three and, of course, trapped in a game likeRE6, leaving her deserving of a long-needed do-over.
A game centered on Ada and her shady schemes and dubious morals would make for a truly unique narrative in the franchise. It would also give Capcom a chance to fully dig into Ada’s backstory and develop her character beyond her connection with Leon, as much as fans love to see them interact.
