The Resident Evil franchise is known for its relentless undead hordes, but Capcom isn’t shy about eliminating characters – as long as they aren’t central to the main storyline. Over the years, numerous impactful side characters have met tragic ends within the series.
Here are some of the most shocking deaths in the Resident Evil saga. Be warned: major spoilers ahead for all installments of the game series.
Lisa Trevor – The Umbrella Chronicles
Lisa Trevor is arguably one of the most tragic figures in the Resident Evil universe. As a child, she was taken to Spencer Mansion, built by her father, where she and her mother were subjected to experimentation. This resulted in her mother’s death and Lisa’s transformation into a monstrous creature, kept beneath the mansion for researchers to continue their work.
Lisa ultimately escaped during the events of Resident Evil Remake, but didn’t find lasting freedom. Though she survived a fall from a cliff after confronting Albert Wesker, one of her tormentors, she was ultimately killed when a chandelier collapsed on her. Wesker left the mansion, leaving her to die in the ensuing explosion.
Piers Nivans – Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 often receives criticism, and often deservedly so. But, Piers Nivans was a compelling and well-liked character, and many felt he deserved to survive Chris’s campaign. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
As Chris neared death, Piers sacrificed himself, severing his arm and becoming infected with the C-Virus. As the pair raced toward escape pods, Chris assured his friend everything would be alright, but the reality was grim. Piers remained behind, knowing the virus would overwhelm him, allowing Chris to escape. He died in an explosion intended to destroy the facility containing HAOS.
Robert Kendo – Resident Evil 2
Robert Kendo’s story is poignant in both the original and remake versions of Resident Evil 2. In the remake, Kendo appears with his daughter, who has been infected with the zombie virus, and realizes he must end her suffering. After pulling the trigger, a second gunshot is heard, confirming his subsequent suicide following the loss of his wife and daughter due to the outbreak.
This is tragic, but Kendo’s death in the original version may be even more shocking, as it occurs abruptly. In the remake, there’s foreshadowing of his fate, whereas in the original, zombies simply break through the glass in Kendo’s shop and kill him instantly.
