Best Resident Evil Villains

In its two decades of existence, Resident Evil has made its mark in the video game industry by pioneering the survival horror genre. The series had its humble beginnings back in 1996 and has since produced countless games, a film franchise, and an adaptation to the small screen. With a series spanning many titles and spin-offs, fans are always wondering what or who will come next from Capcom's darling franchise.

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Throughout the years, the Resident Evil series has produced notable characters, some of which rose to popularity among other iconic characters in the entire video game history. Here are the ten best villains in Resident Evil history.

Updated November 20, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Resident Evil is still a series alive and well with a thriving fanbase. Whether a Code Veronica remake is on the cards or if Resident Evil 9 is somewhere on the horizon is unknown yet, but has been a hot topic among fans. While waiting for whatever is to come, it is worth revisiting the classics and the characters that populate them.

There are many discussions to be had among the heroes, but there is no denying how in-depth Capcom made their villains, giving them unique motivations and personalities that help bring them to life and strike terror in the hearts of fans. And so, here are the best Resident Evil villains across the entire franchise.

WARNING! This list contains spoilers for several Resident Evil games!

18 Nikolai Zinoviev - Resident Evil 3

A Greedy Villain Capable of Many Dastardly Deeds

Resident Evil 3 will mostly be remembered for Nemesis and his dogged pursuit of Jill Valentine through the zombie-torn streets of Raccoon City, but there is another antagonist in the game that deserves fan recognition: Nikolai Zinoviev. Despite his status as a human among the ranks of villains who are either outright monstrous or partial monsters, one might expect him to not stand out, but his villainous deeds drew ire from Jill and players alike.

Working as a Monitor and USBC Sergeant, Nikolai has his own orders to observe how the USBC responded to bioweapons, remove all evidence of the Spencer Mansion incident, and recover the Thanatos project. Every time he accomplished a mission, he was rewarded financially, and soon became a slave to his greed, willing to stoop to any low for his own gain.

17 Chief Irons - Resident Evil 2

One of the More Sinister Characters in the Title

Sometimes the villains aren't always obvious at first glance, and may even be hiding their true natures as they act as pillars of the community. This is the case with Brian Irons, the Police Chief of the RCPD. There are clues strewn around about how Chief Irons is an "asset" to the community in flyers players can read throughout the game, but when they meet him, it becomes quite clear he is not the caring, kind man he pretends.

Alongside harassment and assault against female classmates in University, he also developed an alliance with Umbrella when he took over as Police Chief, and he was known to wantonly murder, with the identities of his victims kept secret. Whether the kindness and generosity were a mere act or genuine, one thing is sure: Chief Irons is a dangerous man to cross.

16 Alexia Ashford - Resident Evil Code: Veronica

A Short-Lived but Brilliant Scientist

Despite being treated more as a spin-off title than a mainline entry, Code: Veronica is still one of the most popular and beloved entries in the series, following Claire's continued search for her brother which leads her to be another prisoner on Rockfort Island. Part of the popularity was the return of beloved legacy characters, but it also had an incredible new villain in the form of Alexia Ashford.

Both Alexia and her twin brother Alfred were clones concocted in a lab, but only the former sibling was the gifted, prodigal child their father wished for. Her intellect was unmatched and would have carried her far had Claire now cut her scientific career short.

15 Marguerite Baker - Resident Evil 7

Equal Parta Terrifying and Gruesome

The Baker family is filled with charming members. The Patriarch an unstoppable killing machine full of one-liners to rival the wittiest protagonists, the son with all his traps and contraptions left lying in wait for Ethan, and the Matriarch Marguerite with a very gruesome affinity with insects.

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Once a caring mother who sympathized with Eveline after she was found washed up by their estate, Marguerite became infected with the mold which twisted her into a terrifying creature. She can call forward bugs, elongate her arms, crawl around on walls and ceilings, and even birth large bugs to do her fighting for her. As far as Resident Evil villains go, Marguerite is certainly the most grotesque.

14 Lucas Baker

The Genius of the Baker Family

Lucas might just be the most unhinged member of the Baker family, and unfortunately one of the smartest. He can create some pretty nasty traps and contraptions, and even a murderous escape room. Unlike the other Bakers, players will never confront Lucas directly and instead must contend with his creations.

Despite this, Lucas remains a memorable villain, with his section one of the most chaotic of the entirety of Resident Evil 7. Players won't even be able to trust boxes, as they might have a bomb inside of them instead of valuable ammo or healing items. Not to mention, his appearance in the DLC will not be soon forgotten.

13 Jack Baker - Resident Evil 7

An Ever-Present Threat

The patriarchal figure of the Baker family brought a new era of terror the Resident Evil, following on the tails of Capcom's diversion from survival horror with their more action-focused titles. Resident Evil 7 invited players to enter the survival horror once more, placing them into the first-person perspective of a brand-new protagonist, Ethan Winters.

Ethan travels to the dilapidated Baker residence after receiving a video message from his missing wife Mia. Upon arrival, he notices the place is not as abandoned as he thought and encounters the Baker family, a once quiet and kind family turned into twisted killers thanks to the mold. The patriarch, Jack Baker, is the most relentless of them all. No matter how many times Ethan manages to put him down, he rises again in a more powerful form until their showdown.

12 Osmund Saddler - Resident Evil 4

Devious Ambitions

World domination is not a unique aspiration to have in the Resident Evil universe, and some can argue Wesker does it the best. But the methods Lord Saddler employs are certainly unique, to say the least. In a bid to spread Las Plagas across the world, he kidnaps and infects Ashley Graham, the President's daughter. Appointed as part of the President's security force, ex-cop Leon is sent to save her from his clutches.

He takes on the role of a Cult leader to his followers, every inhabitant in the village is relentlessly loyal to him and his mission. Though he employs minions to dispose of Leon, that doesn't mean he is incapable of fighting, as he transforms into a giant creature to kill Leon himself. Every scene with Saddler drips pure cheese, but it is a delight to see, and his character in the remake certainly does create feelings of anxiety whenever he is on-screen.

11 Bela, Cassandra and Daniela Dimitrescu

The Three Daughters Present a Hearty Challenge

Although Alcina Dimitrescu overshadows much of Resident Evil Village, her daughters are not easily forgotten characters either. A clever and refreshing take on the three brides trope parroted in many Dracula adaptations, the three daughters haunt Castle Dimitrescu just as much as the matriarch.

Often appearing before the player in swarms of insects, they can easily shred through Ethan's health before the boss fight with them even begins properly. Although they all share the same weakness, each boss feels different enough to be fun and uniquely challenging, but their absence is surely felt for the rest of the castle segment.

10 Mr. X - Resident Evil 2

The Most Intimidating Stalker Enemy

During Mr. X's first appearance in Resident Evil 2, it is evident that he is an upgraded version of the original tyrant from the previous game. While he was still terrifying back in 1998, Mr. X made a mark in the series during his return with the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2. A tall, towering juggernaut of unstoppable force who shrugs off most bullets like they are a mild inconvenience, Mr. X became a hallmark Resident Evil villain.

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His relentless pursuit of the player brought about a terrifying and intense ordeal, given that no weapons in the game can stop him from his mission and that no matter how far Claire or Leon goes, Mr. X is not far behind. Only when players encounter Mr. X during the inevitable boss fight in the final hours of the game can players end his reign of terror.

9 Ramon Salazar - Resident Evil 4

One of the More Unique Villains Across the Franchise

Though Saddler is the mind behind Las Plagas and the plan to use Ashley to spread the parasite to America, Ramon Salazar remains one of the strongest and most memorable villains in Resident Evil 4. The little lord of the castle, Salazar, has an army of cultists and some truly horrific creatures at his disposal that he sends to rid him of Leon, preferring to avoid direct conflict.

From his Napoleon-like stature to his grotesque transformation when he finally confronts Leon head-on, he is one of Capcom's more unique villains, though sadly one of the easiest to dispose of. Like many RE4 bosses, if players equip a rocket launcher during his boss fight, players can kill him with one well-placed hit, though what Salazar lacks in his bite, he more than makes up for with his bark.