Summary
- Voice actors define characters beyond dialogue, creating memorable moments that last.
- Claudia Black as Morrigan in Dragon Age showcases regal confidence and witty dialogue.
- Michael Mando's portrayal of Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3 is a charismatic, disturbed villain.
Voice acting in video games is akin to acting for the movies—delivering more than dialogue, voice actors define characters, reflect real emotions, and help to shape overall narratives. A voice performance done right creates memorable moments and characters that last far beyond the gameplay. In an age of deepfakes and AI generation, it’s noticeable when a role hits so hard that it’s impossible to imagine a robotic replacement.
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The following video game performances showcase actors who brought unmatched nuance and depth to their characters. These iconic roles generated massive critical praise, sparked widespread internet buzz, and remain deeply embedded in the culture of gaming.
10 Claudia Black as Morrigan
From the Dragon Age Series
Dragon Age: Origins
- Released
- November 3, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
Morrigan is the first character mentioned from a BioWare game on this list, coming from the Dragon Age games. Claudia Black performs the role of a sharp-tongued apostate whose dialogue is rich with mystery and wit. Her voice blends a regal confidence with suspicious vulnerability, known for talking a lot about herself while keeping players guessing how much of it is the truth.
Black holds this character’s presence well, maintaining a fun, snide attitude that interacts well with other characters in the game. No AI could replicate the timing or charisma that defines this performance.
9 Ellen McLain as GLaDOS
From the Portal Series
Portal
- Released
- October 10, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
Ellen McLain plays the iconic role of GLaDOS, an artificially super-intelligent computer system responsible for testing and maintenance in the Aperture Science labs of the Portal games. She’s mastered the art of emulating a robotic tone, and in this case, with a blend of sarcasm and emotional manipulation. Her lines are often humorously dark and poke fun at the player, making for a memorable experience.
While AI could potentially emulate her voice, it probably lacks in timing and tone. Ellen McLain is responsible for GLaDOS’ comedic and menacing tone that solidified a permanent space in the gaming community.
8 Michael Mando as Vaas
From Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3
- Released
- November 29, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Michael Mando as Vaas Montenegro is a legendary example of great writing collaborating with a talented actor. Apparently, the character didn’t exist until Mando auditioned, and the studio collaborated with him and his likeness to invent Vaas. His combination of motion capture and voice acting brought about a character that would be a challenge to create with AI.
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Vaas became one of the most memorable villains in gaming, known for the line, “Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is?” He’s a large part of why Far Cry 3 succeeded; his character feels improvisational, charismatic yet deeply disturbed, and carries the plot in such a wild way that it’s burned into the minds of those who’ve played and enjoyed it.
7 Logan Cunningham as the Narrator
From Bastion & Hades
Hades
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, macOS, Nintendo Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Logan Cunningham is a superb narrator for Supergiant Games, known for his spectacular narration presence in Bastion and Hades. His voice-overs are atmospheric storytelling gold, pairing a rough flair with a soft tone that no AI voice could pull off without some scripting magic.
In Hades, Cunningham’s tone is in line with the twisted themes of the underworld. He also expands his range by voicing five other characters, including Hades, Poseidon, Achilles, Charon, and Asterius, each with their own distinct styles that were strong enough to earn a BAFTA Performer in Supporting Role award in 2021.
6 Christopher Judge as Kratos
From God of War (2018 & Ragnarok)
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
From God of War (2018) to God of War Ragnarok, Christopher Judge brought Kratos alive with a humanity never seen before in this character. A character who transformed from a vengeful Spartan into a weary but loving father. His delivery of “Boy” alone became a meme, as well as his shortness in dialogue, down to the way he says “Yes” and “No.”
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Judge’s voice work fuses raw power with subtle emotional growth, turning Kratos into a memorable protagonist who can’t be replicated by a computer. He’s earned Best Performance at The Game Awards 2022 for Ragnarok and multiple D.I.C.E. And BAFTA honors for embodying Kratos with such somber gravity.
5 Doug Cockle as Geralt
From The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Beginning in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Doug Cockle began his legacy as the voice actor for Geralt of Rivia. Returning for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, he performs with total tonal consistency, delivering a voice that is balanced with stoic detachment and rare vulnerability. Every sigh and audible smirk created a lived-in grit that is tinged with thoughtfulness.
Doug Cockle won a Golden Joystick Award in 2016 for his performance as Geralt in The Witcher 3. Even Henry Cavill, who portrays Geralt in the live-action version of The Witcher on Netflix, looked to Cockle for inspiration on embodying Geralt. Cockle returns as Geralt in Netflix’s anime film Sirens of the Deep, and is rightfully continuing this role in The Witcher 4, which is set to release sometime after 2026.
4 Debra Wilson as Savathun and Cere Junda
From Destiny 2, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order & Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Destiny 2
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For TEEN for Blood, Language, and Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bungie
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Debra Wilson is worth noting here for her flexibility in roles, bringing complexity to roles that could have easily been one-note. As Savathun, the Witch Queen, in Destiny 2, Wilson portrays one of the best antagonists in the series. What Debra does with Savathun is irreplaceable; the warmth laced with a malignant undertone works perfectly for a cunning, oddly graceful alien villain.
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Wilson enters the Star Wars universe as Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor, offering a more grounded performance that fits perfectly with the movies. She presents a more resolved character, an aged mentor to a young Jedi. Wilson’s ability to convey different personas rich with nuance shows great versatility and depth that AI voices struggle with.
3 David Hayter as Solid Snake
From the Metal Gear Solid Series
Metal Gear Solid
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Solid Snake is a character whose journey began in Metal Gear Solid (1998), and is portrayed by David Hayter all the way up until Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, where fans lament his absence. His iconic gravelly tone and deadpan deliveries perfectly balance sarcasm, grit, and vulnerability that define Snake’s character at its core.
Snake’s voice has a weathered realism that perfectly matches the action-movie world of Metal Gear Solid and is one of many reasons why the games retained attention. Hayter has been recognized for his talent as Snake, but has not won any awards for this role. Although he’s won the fans' hearts in a number of ways as Solid Snake and even reprised his role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl & Ultimate.
2 Jennifer Hale as (Female) Commander Shepard
From the Mass Effect Series
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
- Released
- May 14, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Jennifer Hale is widely regarded as the superior Shepard voice in the Mass Effect series, and was nominated for “Best Performance” awards multiple times for the Spike Video Game Awards, as well as nominated multiple times for her performance of Rivet in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. As a prolific voice actress, she has a few voice roles in the first two Baldur’s Gate games, voices Samus Aran from a few Metroid Prime games, and several other games, but her best role is easily Commander Shepard.
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In comparison to the other Commander Shepard's voice, Jennifer’s voice comes off more expressive and kind. Fans praise her ability to make Shepard feel like a real person rather than just a role-playing vessel. No AI could replicate the memorability that Hale brought to a character shaped by hundreds of branching decisions.
1 Roger Clark as Arthur Morgan
From Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Roger Clark truly represents the ideal cowboy in Red Dead Redemption 2, and no AI today could replicate his gruff persona, or every crack in his voice when he coughs or prays. Arthur’s slow transformation from outlaw to reluctant hero is sold entirely through Clark’s spectacular delivery. He captures Arthur’s rugged weariness and dark humor through both voice and full-body motion capture.
Roger Clark was awarded “Best Performance” at The Game Awards 2018, praised for his friendly but gruff voice. Through Clark’s performance, Arthur Morgan becomes more than just a video game character, but a rugged and somber cowboy experiencing the decline of the Wild West.
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