To celebrate three decades of survival horror supremacy, Capcom went straight to the source: the official Resident Evil Portal ambassador community. The results of this massive 30th-anniversary popularity poll—published in the official Nikkei Entertainment! BIOHAZARD 30th Special art book—finally put an end to decades of debate.
Leon S. Kennedy took gold as the top protagonist, while Albert Wesker proved unbeatable as the franchise’s ultimate mastermind. Here is a breakdown of the official rankings, key surprises, and where the community stands on the results.
Top 10 Heroes: The Faces of Survival
The protagonist side was a clash of classic icons and modern remakes, but Leon’s momentum from recent titles like Resident Evil Requiem secured his crown at the top spot.
| Rank | Character | Key Appearances |
| 1st | Leon S. Kennedy | RE2, RE4, RE Requiem |
| 2nd | Chris Redfield | RE1, RE5, RE6, RE7, RE Village |
| 3rd | Jill Valentine | RE1, RE3, RE: Revelations |
| 4th | Ada Wong | RE2, RE4, RE6 |
| 5th | Claire Redfield | RE2, Code: Veronica, RE: Revelations 2 |
| 6th | Sherry Birkin | RE2, RE6 |
| 7th | Rebecca Chambers | RE0, RE1 |
| 8th | Ethan Winters | RE7, RE Village |
| 9th | Barry Burton | RE1, RE: Revelations 2 |
| 10th | Luis Serra | RE4 (and RE4 Remake) |
Key Takeaways:
- Leon’s Dominance: Riding the massive wave of recent remakes and RE Requiem, Leon proved his status as the primary face of the modern era.
- Ada’s Rise: Ada Wong climbed one full rank higher compared to previous polls, solidifying her place ahead of mainlines like Claire Redfield.
- Cult Favorites: Luis Serra snagged a top 10 spot thanks to his expanded character arc in the RE4 Remake.
Top 10 Villains: The Masterminds & Mercenaries
The antagonist rankings mixed legacy bio-weapons with fresh threats, topped by the cold, calculating scientist who started it all.
| Rank | Character / Entity | Key Appearances |
| 1st | Albert Wesker | RE1, RE0, Code: Veronica, RE5 |
| 2nd | HUNK | RE2, The Mercenaries |
| 3rd | Jack Krauser | RE4, Darkside Chronicles |
| 4th | William Birkin | RE2 |
| 5th | Alcina Dimitrescu | RE Village |
| 6th | Jack Baker | RE7 |
| 7th | Karl Heisenberg | RE Village |
| 8th | Ozwell E. Spencer | Umbrella Founder / Franchise Lore |
| 9th | Ramon Salazar | RE4 |
| 10th | Zeno | RE Requiem |
Key Takeaways:
- The HUNK Shock: Umbrella’s silent mercenary surprised the entire fanbase by claiming 2nd place overall, proving that mysterious, operational efficiency beats giant bio-weapons.
- New Blood: Debutant villain Zeno from RE Requiem immediately crashed the Top 10, signaling a strong reception for Capcom’s newer narrative arcs.
- Snubs & Debates: The biggest talking point across fan forums remains the absence of Nemesis (RE3), who missed the Top 10 despite being one of gaming’s most recognizable stalker enemies.
