Top 20 Celebrity Performances In Video Games

“Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands” (2022) We'll forever know Will Arnett as the voice of BoJack Horseman and more recently, the new voice of Sweet Tooth from "Twisted Metal". But in 2022, he played the malicious Dragon Lord, the antagonist of “Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands”. Throughout your adventure, he will berate and ridicule you in some of the most ridiculous ways imaginable. Does he hold a candle next to Handsome Jack? No, but as the debut villain of the “Wonderlands” spin-off, Arnett was fit for the role. Look, if you want someone who can be a total jerk in the most fun-loving way possible, Arnett is your man.

“Killzone 3” (2011) Malcolm McDowell has a storied history of playing malevolent, posh, deranged geniuses. Though many know him for his role as Molag Bal in “The Elder Scrolls Online”, his best role was Jorhan Stahl in “Killzone 3”. The way McDowell portrays Stahl is somewhat frightening thanks to his delivery. There are many moments where Stahl’s anger is terrifying to hear, and if you need any evidence of McDowell’s skills, well, just take a look at the speech Stahl gives in the execution scene. This is a man who will double-cross anyone who stands in his way, and McDowell makes that trait known in every line.

“Dead by Daylight” (2016) It is perhaps the strangest crossover in the history of “Dead By Daylight”, and it is also one of the best DLCs the game has seen. In 2023, Nicolas Cage was added to DBD as a Survivor, and he came with a hilarious set of Perks that all revolved around screaming and dying. On top of that, Cage did all of his own voicework with lines that match the tone of the crazy movies he’s starred in…many of which don’t make any sense. Regardless, the renowned actor has made his mark across several horror movies, good and bad. So, having him added into DBD was a sight none of us thought we would want.

“Broken Helix” (1997) In the realm of gaming, Campbell is typically reprising his role as Ash Williams from the “Evil Dead” franchise. While many will remember him as the snarky narrator in the “Spider-Man” games, his first video game performance was the best (and most original) in his career. In this forgotten third-person shooter for PS1, Campbell brings the campy attitude he’s known for as explosives expert Jake Burton. From hurling insults at his comrades to acting like the biggest man in the room, Campbell is at the top of his game here. We only wish more folks got to play this title back in the day.

“Kingdom Hearts II” (2005) Leonard Nimoy, Mark Hamill, Jesse McCartney, Hayden Panettiere - these are just some of the famous names attached to “Kingdom Hearts”. Haley Joel Osment does an equally amazing job as Sora throughout the franchise. But Christopher Lee as Ansem the Wise? Though his deep voice is a bit odd to pair with the likes of Mickey Mouse, he helps elevate the magic and mysticism that lies within the “Kingdom Hearts” games. On top of that, you can feel the internal struggle he is constantly facing in understanding the science behind hearts. There is a level of frustration and inner turmoil that is somewhat relatable.

“Rage” (2011) In a post-apocalyptic world like “RAGE”, it’s important that you try to find someone with an ounce of humanity left in them. And what better way to welcome the player than John Goodman. The voice of Sully in “Monsters Inc” offers a friendly face albeit one that is sort of tired of the wasteland’s psychotic nature, and Goodman’s gruff tone conveys it perfectly. Sure, his presence does take you out of the game at first, but for the rest of the campaign, you’ll quickly accept his role as Dan Hagar.

“Until Dawn” (2015) Before we knew him as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” or David Hill in “Oppenheimer”, Rami Malek delivered a chilling performance as Joshua Washington in “Until Dawn”. Let us ignore the motion capture - we know the facial expressions can be, uh…strange. But Malek’s did a tremendous job at hiding Josh’s shattered mentality until the real spiral begins a few chapters in. It helped make him seem like a more sympathetic character…even though traumatizing your friends in a fake slasher movie prank is not how you handle the deaths of your sisters.

“Destiny” series (2014-) For a time, you could consider Nathan Fillion as the face of “Destiny” alongside Lance Reddick, who played as Commander Zavala. But Cayde-6, Fillion’s character, has often served as the face of the franchise and rightfully so. Fillion does a tremendous job at making Cayde-6 likable and funny without it coming off as obnoxious. And the delivery is just as captivating in the rare instance where Cayde-6 is being more serious. His absence after the “Forsaken” expansion has been noticeable and much sadder than we initially anticipated.

“Dishonored” (2012) We would have never expected someone like Susan Sarandon to pop up in a game like “Dishonored”. And yet she fits so well! Sarandon plays Vera Moray, aka Granny Rags. Sarandon brings a certain elegance to Granny while effectively depicting how far her mind has gone. Honestly, why would you refer to a bunch of street thugs as “suitors”? Regardless, Sarandon’s character does not appear too much after the first area in Dunwall, but the rewards in her quests can go a long way in your journey to bringing down the corrupt politicians.

“Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3” (2008) We could have chosen many actors from this game, notably George Takei or J.K. Simmons. However, Tim Curry takes the top spot for his performance as Premier Anatoly Cherdenko. Despite “Red Alert 3’s” absolutely ridiculous premise, Curry manages to stay in character for every scene. Well, every scene except for the space delivery where he clearly cannot hold back his laughter. It still kills us today, and it’s perhaps the sole reason why so many fondly remember “Red Alert 3” out of any of the “Command & Conquer” games.

“Enslaved: Odyssey to the West” (2010) Serkis is already widely known as one of the best motion capture performers in entertainment. This was especially evident when he played Monkey, the protagonist of “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West”. From cutscenes to gameplay, you can tell that every part of Monkey’s physicality was created to reflect in his character. For as weird as it may be to describe your hero as “a gruff hobo”, Serkis and developer Ninja Theory succeeded in conveying that. And a special shoutout to Lindsey Shaw for her performance as Trip! Her and Serkis had some exceptional chemistry!

“The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” (2006) Casting Patrick Stewart in your game? You know you’ll get a golden voice for your character. Heck, “Oblivion” already had quite the cast between Terence Stamp, Lynda Carter, and Sean Bean. But Stewart as the emperor of Tamriel? The way he narrates the intro really helps set the mood for some fantasy role-playing. Sure, the facial animation hasn’t aged particularly well, but Stewart manages to carry his lines with such majesty that it doesn’t matter what parts of “Oblivion” don’t hold up. He truly brings the magic.

“Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002) Before his passing in 2022, Ray Liotta gave countless memorable performances across film, but in the world of video games, he is known for playing Tommy Vercetti, “Vice City’s” protagonist and the first voiced protagonist in the series. Not only does he deliver his lines well, the way he had to was a tough process. Liotta had to watch footage of actors blocking his scenes and use that as a gauge of how lines should be delivered and how cutscenes were going to look…roughly. It is an arduous process that Rockstar has somewhat evolved from, and what came out of Liotta from such a weird process was truly impressive.

“Brutal Legend” (2009) Now, one could say that Eddie Riggs is just Jack Black being Jack Black. Thing is that is part of what makes Eddie Riggs resonate with so many of us. Black’s energetic personality shines the second he steps foot into the Brutal Land, a stark contrast to the disgruntled Eddie had we seen just moments prior. Whether he needs to be serious, sad, funny, or the life of the party, Jack Black gives it his all as Eddie Riggs, and it’s why “Brutal Legend” has resonated with so many players to this day.

“Fallout” series (1997-2018) Ron Perlman may not have had as big of a role in “Fallout” as, say, Felicia Day or Matthew Perry. Yes, we know he voiced Butch Harris in the first game. However, his performance as the narrator is the most iconic in the series. We all know the intro to every “Fallout” game with his delivery - “War. War never changes.” Despite “Fallout’s” goofy nature, Perlman excels at showing the franchise’s more dramatic side as he gives you backstory for your character and the region you will be exploring. It’s a chilling narration that has helped solidify the series’ identity for decades.

“Horizon” series (2017-22) Many will know Reddick for his performance in “Destiny 2”, but we’re giving him a spot here for Sylens in the “Horizon” games. The way Reddick says his lines brings out the mysterious side of Sylens. You simply never know what might be going on in his head, what he’s planning, or what his motives are. All you can conclude from him is that he is cold, calculating, and beyond cunning. It is just such a shame that with Reddick passing in March 2023, the future of one of PlayStation’s best villains is looking a bit rocky in terms of finding someone to fill such big shoes. Rest in peace, Lance.

“Baldur's Gate 3” (2023) J.K. Simmons has already made his mark in the world of video games. Cave Johnson in “Portal 2”, the President in “Command & Conquer 3: Red Alert”, and now, General Ketheric Thorm in “Baldur's Gate 3”. It isn’t often that we’ve gotten to see Simmons in a role that isn’t comedic or heroic in some way. Here, Simmons plays a man whose mind becomes so warped following his family’s death that he begins raising the dead, trying to resurrect them by any means necessary. Simmons manages to strike that delicate balance of being intimidating but still as delicate as the rest of humanity. This is a man who feels dead inside and will do anything to get his happy life back, even if it means he is the bad guy. Yet another reason in a list of many to pick up “Baldur's Gate 3”.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004) If it were up to us, we'd put Sam Jackson in almost every video game we could. Officer Tenpenny, though his only unique role in video game voice acting, is widely regarded as one of the best performances ever in a video game. Tenpenny is such a snarky jackass that you immediately start to hate him as he berates CJ. He is aware of the power he has and will happily abuse it to make CJ’s life miserable. To convey these aspects of the character, Jackson used his charisma as a weapon in his performance, making Officer Tenpenny one of the most memorable villains in gaming.

“Portal 2” (2011) Though Stephen Merchant is perhaps the least famous celebrity on this list, it is impossible to ignore his performance as Wheatley in “Portal 2”. Merchant effectively portrays Wheatley’s idiocy with flying colors thanks to his line delivery and ability to act like he knows what he’s doing. What’s more shocking is when Wheatley turns against you. While Merchant stills brings the laughs, he does bring out Wheatley’s egotistical side brilliantly. He becomes antagonistic, self-absorbed, and menacing. To this day, we can still hear him calling for us from the depths of space. It almost makes us feel bad for the way it ends for him.

“Halo 2” (2004) There is no questioning it; Keith David gave us the performance of a lifetime way back in 2004. The Arbiter is one of the most memorable characters in the “Halo” franchise because of David. This is a soldier who bears tremendous guilt over letting down his kind and is questioning everything in his life, his purpose, his religion. Every line spoken is weighted by an exhausted remorse that paints not just him, but the Covenant in a different light. If there is ever a game you should play solely because of a fantastic performance from a voice actor, it’s “Halo 2”. There is simply no other character Keith David could have played perfectly. Which celebrity do you feel gave a marvelous performance in a video game? Did they make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo for more great videos everyday!