Summary
- David Hayter's grizzled voice helped define Metal Gear's Big Boss and Solid Snake.
- He showcases a range across genres—from stealth heroes to samurai hunters and gritty NPCs.
- He's more than games, voicing anime roles and co-writing major films.
David Hayter is best known for his work on the Metal Gear series as Big Boss and Solid Snake. Many believe the series would not be what it is without that grizzled voice. He’s done a lot of work outside of games, though, and he still sounds great, although he's sometimes credited as Sean Barker.
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Fans of the Gundam series may enjoy his role as Bernard Wiseman in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, or as Lupin the 3rd in the 2000 dub of The Castle of Cagliostro. He’s also written films, including the first two X-Men movies. David Hayter has a prolific career, so let's take a look at his greatest video game voice-acting roles.
Big Boss (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker)
A Bigger Metal Gear On A Portable
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
- Released
- June 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
Hayter’s first portrayal of Big Boss was technically in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, although he was just called Naked Snake in that game. His performance wasn’t that much different than how he portrays Solid Snake; that is, until Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
While it was made for the PSP as a spinoff, it’s completely canon, with an impactful story that had major effects on the overall franchise. Big Boss is building a kingdom for mercenaries, and he cares for every one of his soldiers to the point of hurting himself, and thanks to Hayter’s performance, most players will buy the sincerity.
Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots)
Old, But Still Legendary
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Released
- June 12, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Crude Humor, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
David Hayter first took on the iconic role of Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid, and while the character has changed a bit over the years, Snake remains a true badass. While every portrayal of Snake could get an entry on this list, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is worth singling out.
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Hayter had to act as if Snake was an old man (aka Old Snake), thanks to the FOXDIE virus accelerating his aging. It was a challenge that Hayter tackled head-on and conquered, making Snake feel even gruffer than usual, and also more tired, while still remaining dedicated to his cause.
Zangetsu (Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night)
Before KPop Demon Hunters, There Was Zangetsu
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
- Released
- June 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Metroidvania, Side-scroller
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a spiritual successor to Castlevania games, specifically the ones that fall under the Metroidvania genre's umbrella. Miriam is the protagonist, and she can absorb demonic abilities from fallen enemies to strengthen her powers.
Zangetsu, on the other hand, is a demon hunter whom she meets along the way, voiced by Hayter. From his voice to his character design as a samurai demon hunter, Zangetsu is one cool character. There are two games wherein he is playable but fans shouldn’t expect Hayter to reprise his role in a big way ibn these entries, as they are pixel art games with primarily text-based dialog. Players seeking Hayter's iconic gravelly tones should look to Ritual of the Night first.
Osamu Kashiwagi (Yakuza 0)
A Steady Bartender
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, RPG, Beat 'Em Up, Open-World
Osamu appears in several Yakuza games, but David Hayter only portrayed him in a few that have an English dub: Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The latter two take place decades after Yakuza 0, wherein Osamu is much younger and has stronger ties to the Yakuza rather than being a simple bartender.
Whether he’s in cahoots with the Yakuza or just pouring drinks for weary travelers, Hayter’s performance is subtle but still solid. Who doesn’t like a wise bartender to appear in a game?
Winter Soldier (Marvel Heroes)
A Different Take On Bucky
Marvel Heroes
- Released
- June 4, 2013
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Gazillion Entertainment, Secret Identity Studios
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
Fans are still upset that Marvel Heroes was shut down in 2017 despite years of service as a fitting free-to-play Diablo-like RPG. There were dozens of heroes and villains to play as, including the Winter Soldier.
Hayter’s performance is much different than what MCU fans are used to from Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. This version of Winter Soldier is gruff, similar to Solid Snake, but as a soldier, he's more into following orders than playing by his own rules.
Daniel Zager (Republique)
Dead Drops
Republique
- Released
- February 26, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
Republique is set in a dystopian future where everyone is being watched. Hope, a young girl trying to escape this tyranny, can only make it out alive by breaking the fourth wall. Hope contacts the player and asks them to get her out. Players, from behind a desk, can help Hope navigate through the world by utilizing omnipresent security cameras.
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This time, Hayter doesn’t have a big physical presence, and instead has his role inserted as a series of audio recordings. His character, Daniel Zager, was a journalist who met an untimely fate. There are a lot of drops to collect, and they build a mystery as to who exactly Daniel was, which helps the character, and Hayter voicing him, stand out.
Jeremiah (The Long Dark)
A Wintery Surprise
The Long Dark
- Released
- August 1, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
The Long Dark is an episodic survival game, mostly taking place in the harsh snowy environments of Northern Canada. The protagonist, Will, meets David Hayter’s character, Jeremiah, at the end of episode one.
The second episode is primarily about Will helping Jeremiah get better. Hayter’s performance feels close to Old Snake in Metal Gear Solid 4, with Jeremiah being an equally grizzled hunter at heart. Hayter might have worked better as the protagonist of The Long Dark rather than a side character, but he still stands out in a supporting role, chewing on every single line of dialog that he's got.
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