Top 10 Greatest Video Game Monologues

“Killzone” (2004)
All it takes is a charismatic leader to unite a broken and vengeful people, and few are as gifted an orator as the likes of Visari. Giving us a glimpse into the history of the Helghast and their war on the rest of the galaxy, Visari's speech is one of unity and resilience, about how the denizens of Helghan overcame exile and the harsh conditions of their world, to eventually become an empire all live in fear of. It is as terrifying as it is compelling, made all the more so due to a captivating performance courtesy of Brian Cox as the infamous Autarch. Visari may be ruthless, but the persuasiveness of this declaration alone makes it obvious how he was able to amass such power from the brink.

“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” (2013)
The Metal Gear franchise is no stranger to some exquisite monologues among hero and villain alike, but there’s truly nothing quite like watching a nanomachine-roided politician break down his plans for the future of American democracy, while simultaneously beating the bejsus out of a cyborg ninja. Armstrong, while having no qualms about casualties of war, is borderline enrapturing with his talk on breaking down the cooperate side of the USA and turning it into a place of freedom and strength, for better or worse. Also, the meme material alone is enough to make this one of the all-time greats.

“Red Dead Redemption” (2010)
Granted, with the context of Read Dead Redemption 2, this speech transcends into a thing of sheer beauty and heartbreak. As the former gang members come face to face, at gunpoint, Dutch confesses his innermost thoughts to John. This old western soliloquy dives into how the times have changed, that he and his have no place left in the world, the wickedness of man, as well as how he cannot change his own nature, as ugly as it might be. While few will mourn the death of Dutch Van Der Linde, his final words were painfully poetic, even commendable.

“Portal 2” (2011)
For the briefest of moments, it seemed that Glados was turning a corner. After being replaced by Wheatley as the dominant AI of Aperture Science, and stuffed into a potato, she goes on a journey of rediscovery with Chel, about who she used to be before being converted into a murderous machine. We get to see the person beneath the programming. And then she gets reinstated…and promptly deletes the last remaining digital vestiges of her former self. The cold and calculating manner in which she says goodbye before gaslighting us in that same sadistic, cerebral way is as shocking as it is saddening.

“Soma” (2017)
Amongst the psychotic machines and existential crises that dominate Soma’s narrative, its most poignant is the simplest and most human of them all – standing by the side of a person in their last living moments. Traversing through the underwater research facility known as PATHOS-II, the now cybernetic Simon encounters Sarah Lindwall, the only person left on the planet who has managed to remain human as opposed to a robotic construct. With what little time she has left, she besieges us to take the artificial remnants of humanity and send them to the stars, all the while reminiscing on the good times she’s had in her life, despite not even living to see thirty. It’s as eloquent as it is paralyzingly tragic.

“Baldur’s Gate 3” (2023)
There are so many exceptional pieces of dialogue across this masterclass of an RPG it's tricky to just narrow one down, especially among the roster of villains, but in the end it all comes back to the devil we love to hate – Raphael. His introduction is incredible. Starting off with a bit of poetry that goes on to become his calling card, he swoops the cast away to his House of Hope, promising to be their savior and free them from the Mind Flayer tadpoles that infest them minds. Obviously, there are some differentiations depending on character choice, but the end result is the same – the devil promising you a lifeline, and all it will cost is everything you hold dear.

“Far Cry 3” (2012)
In terms of pure popularity and impact on the mainstream, few have the same weight as this little number, courtesy of Vaas. As charismatic as he is terrifying, before sending protagonist Jason off the edge of a cliff to his presumed death, Vaas delivers a stirring monologue on his insight into madness. Ironic coming from a modern-day pirate who is beyond the pale of disturbed. Regardless, Michael Mando’s performance is so captivating that you can’t help but be mesmerized…even as he sends us hurtling towards our demise. Truly one of gaming’s greatest philosophers.

“Ghost of Tsushima” (2020)
As a father figure to Jin, Lord Shimura was a peaceable and compassionate leader, who above all else was driven by honor. Alas, he and Jin’s paths start to diverge when the threat of the Mongol invasion takes Jin down the path of vengeance, becoming the Ghost, who certainly isn’t afraid to employ less than elegant means to kill his enemies. This ultimately leads to the two of them spending a final morning together before Shimura informs his pseudo son that he’s been ordered to kill him on behalf of the Shogun. The disappointment, regret, heartbreak and tenderness that emanates through his voice is honestly stunning. A clash of ideologies, the nature of honor, as well as the bitterness of having to kill your own family, all beautifully conveyed by a grieving man duty bound to end his successor.

“BioShock” (2007)
None of us will forget the pitch perfect introduction to the undersea spectacle of Rapture, partially because of the visuals, but mainly because of Andrew Ryan’s thrilling narration. This is only surpassed when, after shooting our way through an endless swarm of Big Daddies and Splicers, we meet the man himself, where he proceeds to dismantle our entire world one sentence at a time. Ryan reveals the full extent to which our character has been brainwashed, a slave to the phrase “would you kindly”. Instead of begging for mercy, he orders us to carry out our original mission and kill him, brutally, might we add. The man uses his own execution as a flex, with his guttural screams about choices shaking us to our core.

“God of War Ragnarök – Valhalla” (2023)
Kratos’ Nordic Saga is filled with a litany of incredible moments of character introspection, and while he’s a man of few words, the Ghost of Sparta has been known to deliver a few knockout speeches from time to time. And to our mind, none surpass the awe-inspiring moment where he confronts his younger self. While he does admonish his past actions for their barbarity, he also acknowledges that he has always been more than what others thought, and most importantly of all, that he has hope for what is still to come. Chrsitopher Judge is magnificent here, showcasing just how far Kratos has come as both a god and a man.
Which of these monologues took your breath away? Let us know in the comments!