Protagonists have always been some of Resident Evil's strongest assets. While ferocious monsters and zombies are obviously very important for any horror story, having a strong cast of human survivors is arguably just as important. Fans need a central group of heroes that they can root for and inevitably feel sad about when they meet their untimely end. Resident Evil has always done a decent job of getting players to connect with its protagonists, often building that connection through both story and gameplay.

Leon Kennedy's Resident Evil Return Seems Imminent

Leon Kennedy Has Become The Face of the Resident Evil Franchise

There have been some truly iconic Resident Evil protagonists over the years, with Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine making a huge impact with the franchise's debut game, and characters like Claire Redfield and Ada Wong making strong impressions whenever they're on-screen. But in recent years, no Resident Evil protagonist has been quite as prolific as Leon S. Kennedy.

Originally making his debut in 1998's Resident Evil 2, Leon Kennedy has appeared in various entries throughout the franchise's long history, but one of Leon's most important roles came in 2019 with the launch of Resident Evil 2 Remake. While 2017's Resident Evil 7 was a great return to form for the franchise after the poor reception to Resident Evil 6, it was 2019's Resident Evil 2 Remake that really restored the franchise to its former glory, and Leon Kennedy was right at the heart of it.

Earlier this year it was confirmed that Resident Evil 2 Remake is now the best-selling game in franchise history, selling over 13.9 million copies. It seems safe to assume that this remake was many new fans' first foray into the Resident Evil franchise, and as such, Leon Kennedy was probably the first protagonist many formed a connection with. This connection will have only grown deeper with the release of Resident Evil 4 Remake last year, with Leon Kennedy getting the spotlight all to himself.

In the last few years, Leon Kennedy has also appeared in a few games outside the Resident Evil franchise, featuring as a crossover character in games like Dead by Daylight and Fortnite. Though he isn't the only RE protagonist to appear in recent years, he's probably the most prolific when all is said and done, essentially becoming the new face of the franchise.

If Resident Evil Is Bringing Back Mascots, Leon Kennedy Should Be First on the List

One of the biggest rumors surrounding the upcoming Resident Evil 9 is that it will feature a handful of legacy character returns. If that turns out to be true, then it would make complete sense for Leon Kennedy to play a major role in the series' next entry, if not as the main playable character, then at least as a core part of the NPC cast. Leon Kennedy is the connective tissue that ties together veteran fans and newcomers, with the former group having loved the character for decades and the latter crowd enjoying his more recent depictions. It would make sense for Capcom to keep Leon at the heart of the Resident Evil franchise moving forward.

Resident Evil 4 (2023) Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Resident Evil 4
Survival Horror
Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
Released
March 24, 2023
ESRB
M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
Engine
RE Engine
Franchise
Resident Evil

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Survival is just the beginning.

Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.
Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.

And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.

Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.

Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.

Genre(s)
Survival Horror
How Long To Beat
16 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A