The best Survivors of the Rising Dead series

A big part of Dead Rising 1 and 2 are the survivors. They are very memorable in Dead Rising 3 and not in 4, but in the first two, saving all the survivors was the main goal. It may be difficult to get all of these people to safe houses, but their stories are even more memorable for the survivors.

There are survivors that you will never forget because of the moments you bonded with them, and they can provide great benefits like combo cards or weapons. They offer a unique perspective on this grim zombie apocalypse scenario.

10 Bill Brenton: Dead Rising 1

The Man in Chains

Outside of the first two survivors on the roof, Bill Brenton is probably the first survivor you have to follow. Otis won't call you about him, so you'll have to find him on his own at the In The Closet store in the Entrance Plaza. He was stuck behind the store for two days and, therefore, does not know about the current zombie outbreak.

This gives a very unique perspective that only Bill has in this game, as the title begins after the zombie outbreak begins. It's interesting to see how people react to the zombies in the world, and that's why Bill stands out, especially in Dead Rising 1.

9 Leah Stein: Dead Rising 1

It's darker than you think

Some people may forget that even though Dead Rising took a more comedic turn as the series went on, the original is still dark in tone. Leah Stein, who appears in the scoop A Mother's Lament at Al Fresca Plaza, is a good example of this.

Leah is crying her eyes out about her daughter Grace, who you know has been eaten by zombies. It was very dark, and it was amazing that the game went there. This moment is so memorable that, at the same time, it feels out of place with the rest of the series, which has a far more silly tone, making it stand out even more.

8 Ross Folk: Dead Rising 1

Another dark moment

A few scoops in Dead Rising can have different results, and perhaps the most memorable of this genre is the Lovers. Inside Wonderland Plaza you will find Tonya Waters and Ross Folk badly injured. Ross is shot, and after a short conversation he will ask for a gun.

You'll likely have a handgun in your inventory during your first playthrough, and many people won't even think twice about giving Ross the weapon. If you give him the gun, you've made an even bigger mistake in your judgment, because Ross will blow his brains out. It's shocking and proves that you shouldn't always follow orders in video games.

7 Greg Simpson: Dead Rising 1

The most important survivor to save every time

Adam the Clown is not only one of the biggest fights in the Dead Rising series but also one of the hardest. Even with the Real Mega Buster, Adam proves to be stronger than most of the other super fighters, but his hits are worth it.

Not only do you get the Small Chainsaw, but you also get to see Greg Simpson, who gives you an amazing and must-have shortcut that joins Wonderland Plaza and Paradise Plaza. This shortcut must be found in every playthrough to be used, and it proves to be very helpful in saving Greg in every run. Plus, he's good friends with Otis, and you can't go wrong.

6 Paul Carson: Dead Rising 1

Both Psychopath and Survivor

Paul Carson is perhaps the most unique psychopath in Dead Rising 1. Tormented and bombastic, he's the perfect boss to challenge at the end. But what makes Paul special is that you can save him. After the boss fight you can use the fire extinguisher to save Paul and take him back to the safe house.

This was fun in the beginning because by this point you were used to killing all the psychopaths. That's not all, because later on, Paul will give Frank an unlimited supply of Molotov Cocktails in the warehouse as long as Paul is around, a sweet bonus to play with.

5 Bob Blackrock: Dead Rising 2 Case Zero

A great helper you can save

A character type that appears in a few Dead Rising games is the survival sniper seen above, who helps clear the zombies from your path. There is one in Dead Rising 3, but after a while, the character just disappears without a resolution. One character who gets a solution is Bob Blackrock in Dead Rising 2: Case Zero.

Shooting zombies from above but similar to Otis/Stacey, tells you about the survivors in the area, he helps a lot during the game. After the Jed boss fight, you can leave town, but you shouldn't. Now Bob's daughter Darcie has finally been found, and when they are reunited, both will be saved. Amazingly, this beneficial trait can be saved, especially with this hidden method that many will not see.

4 Jerry Sampson: Dead Rising 2 Case West

The Man Behind Dead Rising 2's Ultimate Weapon

Since Dead Rising 2 introduced combo weapons, it makes sense that many of the survival rewards are combo cards, making them a must have survivors to save. The best weapon available from survivors has to be the Laser Gun from Dead Rising 2: Case West. You'll find Jerry Sampson in the Residence during the 3-1 incident, and he's actually the creator of this beast of a weapon.

Of course, you need to give him the two combo weapons needed to do it: the Lightning Gun and the Laser Sword. After giving them Jerry, he will be saved, along with getting the Laser Gun and the combo card. One of the most destructive weapons in the series, it can kill a lot of zombies with just one shot, so you want to save Jerry.

3 Angel Lust: Dead Rising 2

The worst of the bunch

With Las Vegas as the location for Dead Rising 2, there are many aspects related to this area in the game, including rock concerts. In the morning of the 26th, you will meet the group Angel Lust to the northern end of the Silver Strip, performing to a group of zombies.

After talking for a while, they'll join you, but not before ending the rock show, which culminates in a killer guitar wave blast. This shows the combo card reward for saving the band, the Power Guitar, which is fun to play with. They're just a fun bunch of people, and they're worth saving for special combo cards.

2 Tape It or Die Crew: Dead Rising 2

Unbelievable miracle of its release

Leading up to the release of Dead Rising 2, there was an informational website called tapeitordie.com. It's an in-universe blog with four distinct characters, and it's a great read, adding lore to the world of Dead Rising. You'd think the players wouldn't be at the actual game, like most promotional ties, but you'd be wrong.

In the last third of DR2, a normally closed door at the Palisades Mall will open. It includes the entire Tape It Or Die crew, which was a surprise. They take part in a few side quests, and completing them all will give you three special combo cards, so do them.

1 Snowflake The Tiger: Dead Rising 2

Wow!

Another boss that can be turned into a survivor has to be the best survivor in the series, Snowflake. The boss fight is brutal and can take a lot of healing items, but once you've tamed him, he's the ultimate beast.

He is undoubtedly the best survivor in the game, killing zombies and even psychopaths. There's even an achievement in Off The Record for destroying a psychopath with Snowflake. Unfortunately, he may not be with you for long because you want to take him to a safe house, but he is an absolute joy.