10 Video Game Side Characters EVERYONE Loves

Resident Evil 4 finds us taking up arms as Leon Kennedy, a US government agent sent to save the president’s daughter from a virus-controlled cult in rural Spain. Making best use of the country’s architecture, castles and dungeons, the game departs from some of the more high-tech sci-fi elements of previous entries and adopts a decidedly Old World feel and sensibility across its settings and characters.

And who better embodies this vibe than the Merchant, who blends a spooky fantasy fairy-tale style with futuristic elements, like high-powered machine guns and body armour. Introduced in the 2005 release of Resident Evil 4, and brought back for the 2023 remake, the Merchant is a mysterious, masked NPC who trades weapons and other items for your odds, ends and junk, and sometimes even provides a handy assist.

One of the more absurd elements in an already bonkers game, fans were quick to latch on to the character back in 2005, and spent the next decade and a half dreaming of the day they’d see the creepy, goofy oddity pop up again. He’s got one-liners, he’s got everything you need when you need it, and he’s always happy to see you - what more could a humble gamer ask for?