Summary
- Bonds form through partnerships in Resident Evil games, leading to strong friendships between characters.
- Piers made the ultimate sacrifice for Chris in Resident Evil 6, proving his worth as more than a throwaway character.
- Chris and Jill are one of the most popular and iconic duos in gaming history, known for their unbreakable bond.
The Resident Evil series owes its popularity not only to the vast array of titles that are ready to take gamers on thrilling and terrifying adventures as they face off against zombies and other monsters. Normally, they won't have to do so completely alone, as even in single-player titles, the player might occasionally encounter another character or have a partner along for the ride.
Resident Evil: Best Duos
The Resident Evil franchise has witnessed a lot of likable duos over the years.
These partnerships and fleeting encounters open up the doors for bonds to develop, as what can bring two people closer other than near-death experiences? Here are the strongest and best friendships in the entire Resident Evil series.
10 Claire Redfield and Moira Burton (Resident Evil: Revelations 2)
Moira Followed in Claire's Footsteps After the Two Became Friends
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
- Released
- February 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Revelations 2 was a sequel to the pleasant surprise that was the first Revelations game, which returned the series to its survival horror roots after a brief foray into more action-oriented games. This particular episodic title brought back classic Resident Evil heroes Claire and Barry, partnering each of them up and giving a fresh new face to the franchise. Barry ended up taking the young Natalia under his wing, while Claire teamed up with Barry's daughter, Moira.
The duo knew each other even before the game, as both were part of the TerraSave organization, which Moira joined after meeting and becoming closer to Claire. The two met due to the Redfield family and Burton's keeping in close contact, and it is quite clear Moira admires and respects Claire moreso than she does her own father. The two became even closer friends during their time on Rockfort Island, as they needed to work together in order to escape and survive the dangers. Though it is unlikely Moira will make a return to the franchise, she has already cemented herself as one of Claire's closest friends.
9 Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen (Resident Evil 0)
This Unlikely Pair Learn to Set Aside Their Differences
Resident Evil 0
- Released
- November 12, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
While S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team are exploring the Spencer Mansion, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo also has its hands full, especially team medic Rebecca, who finds herself onboard a train that seems to have no other surviving passengers on it. That is until she meets Billy, whose transport vehicle was driven off the road by Cerberus dogs. The inmate made his escape after that, meeting Rebecca on the train.
The pair seem unlikely to ever be friends, with Billy's irreverence towards her and Rebecca's clear distrust of him creating a rift, even as they enter a shaky alliance. But, with the pair tested and tried by the horrors they face in Resident Evil 0, they learn to set aside their differences and slowly build trust and respect for one another. In the game's finale, Rebecca even covers for Billy by taking his dog tags in order to sell the story that he died after escaping into the Arklay Mountains, marking a complete 180 to her attitude when the two first met.
8 Chris Redfield and Piers Nivan (Resident Evil 6)
Piers Made the Ultimate Sacrifice For Chris
Resident Evil 6
- Released
- October 2, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Resident Evil 6 was one of the more divisive games in the entire series, as it continued the trend of placing an emphasis on action and cooperative gameplay, even though most loyal fans know Resident Evil for single-player experiences and tons of horror. The game was divided into segments in which the player (or players) would control a new duo, with some returning heroes partnering up with new faces.
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Chris's segment has him partnering up with Piers, a new ally he made outside the events of the game. The pre-existing friendships grows throughout their section of the story, with both supporting each other throughout their portion of the game. In the end, however, Piers actually sacrifices himself to give Chris a better chance at survival. This proves that Piers is more than a throwaway character, managing to live on in the minds of Chris and the player.
7 Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira (Resident Evil 3)
Carlos Becomes a Reliable Partner For Jill
Resident Evil 3
- Released
- April 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Resident Evil 3 marked Jill's return to the franchise after her first foray into the Spencer Mansion. As a S.T.A.R.S. Member, she finds herself the latest target of the hulking juggernaut known as Nemesis, whose prime directive is to find and eradicate all surviving S.T.A.R.S. Operatives in order to sweep Umbrella's activity under the rug and out of the public's eye.
This all takes place during the Raccoon City incident, so most of those who haven't fled the city have become zombies, making Jill's escape that much harder. Thankfully, there are a few other survivors, such as Carlos, who immediately takes a liking to Jill with his affable nature, but she takes a bit to warm up to him. But warm up she does, resulting in a partnership that eventually grows into a friendship after Carlos proves himself trustworthy and worthy of Jill's platonic affection.
6 Leon Kennedy and Ashley Graham (Resident Evil 4)
The Rescue Mission Results in the Two Becoming Close
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Resident Evil 4 returned Leon Kennedy to the series after his stint in Resident Evil 2. Promoted from police officer to an agent working under the president, this new position came with some lofty obligations, with one requiring him to travel to a remote Spanish village to rescue the President's daughter from the cult who kidnapped her.
Leon manages to find her after a brief solo foray into the village and extracts her from the church. That's only the easy part, however, as the rest of the game essentially functions as one big escort mission that will involve keeping Ashley safe from kidnapping and death at the hands of enemies or friendly fire. It's an onerous task, but it's one that Leon is all too dedicated to. Though his protectiveness might have originally stemmed from this being his job, it is clear that he and Ashley verge into the realm of friendship throughout their journey. This is made even more apparent in the remake, with Ashley checking in with Leon almost as much as he does her.
5 Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar (Resident Evil 5)
Though a One-Off Character, Sheva Left a Lasting Impression on Players and on Chris
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Resident Evil 5 proved to be a turning point for the franchise, as it decided to favor action-oriented gameplay over survival horror. Starring series hero Chris Redfield, he travels to Africa to apprehend Ricardo Irving. He is suspected of having possession of a BOW and intending to sell it. However, his mission turns out to be a lot more complicated than what the dossier says.
Fortunately, Chris won't have to go it alone, as he is joined by Sheva Alomar, a local who can act as a guide and a partner for the mission. They remain professional at first, but it becomes quite apparent that their relationship extends beyond the boundaries of professional, and the pair actually become friends. She is always willing and able to help Chris and aids him in freeing his previous partner, Jill Valentine, from the mind-control device fixed to her chest. There has been no mention of Sheva since, but she surely remains in Chris's memory.
4 Claire Redfield and Sherry Birkin (Resident Evil 2)
Claire Feels Responsible For Sherry After Her Own Mother Turns Her Back on Her
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Resident Evil 2 introduced a new hero into the fold: Chris Redfield's younger sister Claire. She traveled to Raccoon City at an inopportune time while looking for Chris, arriving to see that zombies had overrun the streets. Seeking refuge in the police department with fellow survivor Leon, Claire armed herself with guns and grit as she explored the area for a safe exit. It is here where she meets a young girl by the name of Sherry Bikrin, who was hiding from her mutated father, William.
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Annette proved herself to be a terrible mother, as she was more focused on studying the effects of the G-virus than saving her own daughter. As such, that job fell to Claire. As a kind character, she immediately felt sympathy for the abandoned child. This evolved into genuine care, and the two became bonded by a friendship despite the considerable gap in their ages.
3 Leon Kennedy and Ada Wong (Resident Evil 2/Resident Evil 4)
The Mysterious Ada Appears When Leon Needs Her Most
- Resident Evil 2 & Resident Evil 4
One of the most hotly debated topics among Resident Evil fans is: which girl should Leon pick? Despite not really acting like a lady's man, he seems to garner the attention of a few of the Resident Evil ladies, such as Ashley, Claire, and Ada. The latter is definitely the most popular pick among fans, as their dynamic hints that there might be some romantic intentions between the two, especially with Ada and Leon's more playful portrayals in the original RE4 game.
Whether fans ship them or not, it can't be denied that the two care about each other on some level, as they can be protective of one another, even at times when Ada is working her own angle and Leon is distrustful of her intentions. Leon himself says Ada is someone he just can't forget, further evidencing that the two of them, as for now, are close-knit friends. She may act aloof and cool, but it is quite clear Ada thinks just the same, saving his life on more than one occasion.
2 Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield (Resident Evil 2)
Leon And Claire Learn to Work Together to Survive
- Resident Evil 2
Though Ada is a popular pick to pair up with Leon, Claire should definitely not be forgotten either. The two meet at the start of Resident Evil 2 as they are each making their own way into Raccoon City. Leon was heading there for his first shift as a police officer, and Claire was on the lookout for her brother Chris. They immediately decide to travel the city together to the police station, as it has fallen into ruins and is now overrun by zombies.
Though the pair split up, they occasionally find one another and are visibly relieved to see the other one safe, making it quite clear that they have come to care for one another. By the time the game reaches the finale, Leon and Claire have bonded through the experience, becoming fast friends. Though they might not have seen each other since, it is quite clear that their bond is one that can't be shaken. Hopefully, fans will get to see them reunite in a mainline game soon.
1 Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine (Resident Evil)
One of the Most Popular and Iconic Duos in the Entire Franchise
Resident Evil
- Released
- March 22, 1996
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS, PC
Resident Evil marked the exciting start for this legendary franchise, inviting players to enter the survival horror as either Chris or Jill. They both had their own harrowing experiences exploring the Spencer mansion, finding moments of solace in save rooms or during the few scenes in which they encountered one another or other S.T.A.R.S. Team members such as Barry and Wesker, before his duplicity was revealed.
The pair start off as colleagues with some level of fondness for one another, but this game, and other subsequent titles that have featured the characters alongside one another, have cemented Chris and Jill as one of the best friendships in the entire series. Other brief partners even remark on the strong bond the duo have, one that other characters, such as Jessica and Carlos, can never hold a candle to. As long as Resident Evil lives, so does this iconic and undying friendship.
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