The Resident Evil franchise is ever-expanding, adding more and more characters to the roster of survivors in its post-apocalyptic universe. Because of this, many RE games feature multiple protagonists. Whereas some series taking on multiple playable characters might suffer from a lack of focus, Capcom has proven it knows how to use multiple Resident Evil characters to improve storytelling, and, many times, doing so also adds a whole new dynamic to gameplay.
In Resident Evil 4, players control Leon Kennedy for most of the game, then play as the rescued president's daughter, Ashley, for a short time. Resident Evil: Revelations 1 & 2 are driven by more than one character pushing the story forward. Many Resident Evil games follow this style, but for some players, sticking with one protagonist can make for a better experience, mostly due to more opportunities for character development.
There aren't many games in the franchise that feature only one playable character per playthrough, but they do exist. For those looking for a one-protagonist experience, here are the Resident Evil games that don't make players switch characters halfway through.
Single-Character RE Playthroughs - Resident Evil
When the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team go searching for Bravo Team in the forest outside Racoon City, they soon find themselves in the maze-like halls of the Spencer Mansion, chased by the undead and other grotesque creatures. The original Resident Evil features a few notable characters - Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker - two of which are available for a playthrough, but there's no changing of the guard in the middle of the game. It's either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine from beginning to end.
There are some differences to be aware of when choosing which character to play, however. Jill has more inventory slots than Chris, and she also has a lockpick to help her get into some of the mansion's rooms. Chris, on the other hand, has a lighter to burn zombie bodies, which is incredibly helpful for the remake version.
Single-Character RE Playthroughs - Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 takes the story to a fictional region of Africa, where zombie-fighting veteran Chris Redfield meets up with his new partner, Sheva Alomar. The entire game follows the two of them together, and, while there is a co-op mechanic (or an AI mechanic, if playing single-player), there is no transition between the characters halfway through the story. In single-player mode, Chris Redfield is the only playable character throughout the first playthrough. Once this Resident Evil game has been beaten, players can take on the infected as Sheva.
