Begin a sentence with the phrase “iconic horror series,” and tradition dictates that the words “Resident” and “Evil” must follow shortly after.

Having coined the term 'survival horror' during its original Japanese 1996 release, the Resident Evil franchise has spent the years since spawning a slew of games packed with characters who have defined the genre. But out of all of those protagonists, who are IGN’s favourites?

Here are our Top 10...

First playable: Resident Evil Zero (2002)

Billy Coen could’ve easily turned into a villain after being wrongly framed for war crimes he didn’t commit. But, thrust into a situation he was never trained for, nor mentally prepared for, Billy proves time and again he’s an honorable soldier by sticking with Rebecca Chambers – despite the fact she thinks he’s a murderer. He’s the sort of stand-up guy you’d buy a beer for at the pub, and who you’d definitely want on your team during an outbreak.

First playable: Resident Evil 2 (1998)

"Survival is your responsibility," It's one of the only quotes we can attribute to HUNK, the laconic, gas-mask-wearing, ruthless operative we first met in Resident Evil 2, but it epitomises his character. While other members on this list may have more, well, personality, HUNK stands for pure survival and simply getting the job done. He’s probably faced more outbreaks than anyone else, and was often the only survivor. There’s a lot we can learn from the man behind those lifeless red goggles. Actually, he’d probably use you as a human shield given the chance.

First playable: Resident Evil Zero (2002)

Most 18-year-olds would count among their greatest achievements the ability to rap the entirety of Gangsta’s Paradise into a Red Bull can microphone at midnight the evening before an essay is due. Rebecca Chambers, meanwhile, has already graduated college as a prodigy in the fields of chemistry and medicine, earned a coveted position in the elite STARS force, and is knee deep in investigating a series of cannibalistic murders that, spoiler, turn out to be a zombie outbreak. It’s hard to decide what’s more impressive - her list of achievements, or the fact she performs them without a single sip of energy drink.

First playable: Resident Evil 5 "The Mercenaries" Mode (2009)

Barry Burton’s bearded lips are responsible for some of Resident Evil’s creakiest dialogue, like “here’s a lockpick. It might come in handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you,” or “I found this weapon. It's really powerful, especially against living things!” He’s a charismatic buffoon with a heart of gold, and out of all the characters you’ll meet playing Resident Evil, he’s the most likeable. Barry’s way with words means there’s never a dull moment when he’s on screen.

First Playable: Resident Evil 2 (1998)

Duplicity is an essential quality of any Resident Evil game. At times, it seems as if everyone is out to screw over one another, and Ada Wong represents that individualism. Over the years she’s worked for the organisation, Umbrella, and other employers, but in reality she’s always working for herself. Resident Evil likes archetypes, with Ada’s fulfilling the role of the classic femme fatale – sexy, smart, and dangerous in equal measure, she’s always a captivating and intriguing presence whenever she shows up. Also, she’s a lot of fun to play – you just don’t get to roundhouse zombies wearing a cocktail dress when playing as Chris or Leon.