To celebrate September 30, the day the cop inside of Leon Kennedy died, here's my most traumatic encounters in Resident Evil

September 30 marks 28 years since Leon S. Kennedy’s defining trauma in Resident Evil 2, when Raccoon City was destroyed by Umbrella’s bioweapon mishandling. The author commemorates this date by recounting the most distressing encounters from the franchise, beginning with the Baby segment in Resident Evil Village. A 45-minute playthrough with friends ended in panic, as the giant fetus chased the player relentlessly, leaving a lasting impression of discomfort and fear.

The author singles out Mrs. Baker from Resident Evil 7 as another source of trauma, despite the game’s overall difficulty. The grotesque appearance, including a spider egg sack hanging from her stomach and elongated limbs, overshadowed even the boss fight. The original concept art for Marguerite, which was even more unsettling, was thankfully abandoned by Capcom. The author admits a personal aversion to spiders but emphasizes the character’s visual design as the primary source of distress.

T-002 from Resident Evil 2 is highlighted for the psychological toll of his presence, particularly the sound of his footsteps. The author describes the dread of losing line of sight with the blue fedora-wearing enemy, as the sound of his accelerating pace signals an inevitable confrontation. The focus on auditory cues rather than visual horror amplifies the tension, making the encounter uniquely unsettling.

Emma Kendo’s transformation in Resident Evil: Requiem and Moira Burton’s abandonment in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 are cited as emotionally traumatic moments. The line “You’re a cop. You’re supposed to know something!” from Emma’s scene haunts the author, while Moira’s forced departure in the bad ending left a lingering sense of loss. The Keeper’s Diary in the original Resident Evil also stands out for its disturbing narrative of slow T-virus infection, blending world-building with psychological horror.