Another Top 10 Video Game Voice Actor Performances

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” (2015)

First of all, we have to give the man props just for the sheer amount of dialogue he had to say over the course of the game as well as its extensive DLCs, yet never faltered in his portrayal of the White Wolf. In spite of a tough guy persona and gravelly voice, Dough Cockle's performance never became one note. Geralt's dry wit, past traumas and desire to save Ciri still resonate with each word spoken, compelling us to dive deeper into the Witcher's wondrous yet wicked world.

“Tomb Raider” (2013)

Many an actress has stepped up to play the part of Lara Croft, but none have managed to hit the mark quite as well as this. With the retelling of this gaming icon's origins being of a much more gritty and violent nature, it called for a Lara that was both relatable yet equally badass. Not only did Luddington give us a beast of a Tomb Raider who could snipe down all manner of wolves and murderers, but also sold us on the humanity of her character. Her fear, her resilience, her hopelessness and her fortitude were all captured beautifully, and as such breathed new life into this classic character.

“Detroit: Become Human”



How does one portray the most advanced android detective despite only being alive for a few months old? In Bryan’s case it’s was by successfully conveying the performance of a character who is very naive yet professional to a charming fault. Working alongside veteran voice actor Clancy Brown who also delivers a great performance, Dechart was able to portray Conner as a steadfast upstanding protocol following detective, while also conveying nuanced socially awkward quicks the character has due to the fact that he’s an android. All the while his on screen chemistry with Brown (while a little derivative) balance out the two characters imperfections to show a team that you really want to see work well together.

“Borderlands 2” (2012)

There are just some villains that in spite of their numerously atrocious deeds we just can't bring ourselves to hate. Case and point; the self-proclaimed ruler of Pandora. Thanks to Dameon Clarke's unbridled charisma, he manages to present Jack as both a loathsome figure as well as a huge source of comedy. His arrogance, greed and moments of psychosis certainly make for a great antagonist, but with Dameon Clarke behind the wheel, we also get a twistedly sympathetic figure who never fails to make us laugh. Hail to the king.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

Do we really need to explain this one? It's Sam Freaking Jackson! Granted that by itself is awesome enough, but the fact he also plays such a great villain is just the icing on the cake. As Tenpenny, the veteran actor gets to let loose as the dirtiest cop of them all, whose crookedness and cruelty knows no bounds. Whether its blackmailing CJ or snuffing out lives with his own two hands, we're never short of a reminder as to why this guy is, to quote the man himself, one bad mother-f***er.

“Mass Effect 2” (2010)

Working from the shadows of space, the rogue faction group known as Cerberus exists to protect and preserve humanity against all alien threats, even if than means going full on terrorist at times. At its centre, there's the Illusive Man, an immensely powerful figure whose shady ideals is paralleled by what appears to be a genuine care for mankind. Who could voice such a complex individual? How about one of TV's most definitive Presidents? Bringing both authority and a subversive charm to the table, Martin Sheen manages to make us feel both entranced yet constantly cautious when interacting with this enigmatic individual.

“God of War” (2018)



While not the first actor to portray the Ghost of Sparta, Judge does deliver a more multilayered performance, as opposed to shouting his way through is role. The former Stargate SG-1 star nails what would otherwise be a challenging role, portraying a character consumed by guilt and regret over his past actions, while at the same time trying to set an example for his BOI in a dangerous world. And yet in nearly every one of Christopher’s lines, those conflicting emotions are so subtly present throughout the game even as different situations change the mood from scene to scene, all while being a convincing tough but caring father at the same time.

“Life is Strange” (2015)

While she was all kinds of kickass as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn (xref) we just can't get enough of Ashly's portrayal of the punk with a broken heart. As one 'hella' of a sidekick/possible love interest to the likes of the time-travelling Max Caulfield, Chloe not only provided most of the laughs but also some of the game's most tragic moments. The fractured relationship with her family, her breakdown over Rachel's death, and yes, her many, many death scenes left a lot of us with glassy eyes. With a raw performance that exposed Chloe's inner scars, Ashly gave us a character we won't soon be forgetting.

“Max Payne” series (2001-12)

The neo-noir setting and tone of these games demanded a lead character that was soaked in tragedy and bursting at the seams for bloody revenge, all the while putting up the front of an ice-cold detective with nothing to lose. That's a tall order for any actor, especially given the amount of inner monologues Max spouts throughout the series. However, thanks to James McCaffrey's entrancing performance, he was able to bring to the fold one of gaming's most tortured icons, painting him as everything from a grieving husband and father to the very definition of a dime store angel of death.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

Oh Trevor, will we ever get tired of your crazed rants and random bursts of violence? Probably not, and that's all due to this actor's spectacularly insane performance as everyone's favourite psychopathic career criminal. From monologues about his distorted world view, howls of rage, excessively expletive tirades and even jarring moments of sympathy, Steven Ogg juggled it all masterfully. It takes a special kind of lunatic to make players fall in love with a persona built rampages, luckily for us Trevor is one such guy.