It has been a tricky few years for voice actors. The massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and its beloved forged has put voice actors and motion-capture performers in maybe the brightest highlight ever on their career, whereas the quantity of worth they create to a recreation’s characters and story has maybe by no means been extra evident. Voice actors and movement seize performers face a formidable menace in synthetic intelligence. That is only one cause we wished to have fun the artwork of efficiency at this 12 months’s videogameaddicted Awards. Actors convey our video games to life, and with out them our digital world can be even poorer.
As with our different awards, we requested the videogameaddicted staff to appoint their favourite performances from the previous 12 months, and all of us voted for the efficiency we thought was the very best instance. Listed below are the very best particular person performances in video video games this 12 months.
Runner-Up β Erika Ishii (Atsu, Ghost of Yotei)
Though she is well-known for her function as a samurai in search of revenge, Erika Ishii brings a refreshing breath of contemporary air to the function of Atsu, the primary character in Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei. Ishii offers the character an extremely “rough-hewn” really feel, including depth to Atsu’s murderous intent.
Runner-up β Aaron Paul (Robert Robertson, Dispatch)
In contrast to Hollywood, which has lengthy forged its animated movies with big-name film stars, the prevailing perception in video video games has been that voice performing and efficiency seize are distinctive abilities, and the very best guess is to rent individuals who specialise in them. However whereas Dispatch stars business giants like Laura Bailey and Matthew Mercer, it is film actor Aaron Paul who stands out. Our overview describes him as delivering a “delicate efficiency as a person struggling to take care of optimism whereas coming to phrases with himself exterior of an enormous mecha swimsuit.”
RunnerβUp β Konatsu Kato (Hinako Shimizu, Silent Hill f)
Konatsu Kato borrowed each the voice and look of Silent Hill F protagonist Hinako Shimizu to convey one of many collection’ most tormented heroes to life. Whereas many people would have relied on subtitles to grasp her Japanese traces, her expressions helped infuse each scene with the heavy, complicated feelings supposed by the script’s delicate narrative.
Runner-up β Ben Starr (Verso, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33)
In Verso, Ben Starr was capable of take the gruff, darkish heroic voice he adopted for Clive in Closing Fantasy 16 and ideal it. Expedition 33’s thematic maturity, particularly within the ultimate act, allowed Starr to discover a personality who should enjoy tragedy, however with sufficient optimism and religion to by no means enable the darkness to overshadow the sunshine.
Winner β Jennifer English (Mael, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33)
Mael is the central character of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Jennifer English’s efficiency is a significant cause why her journey feels plausible. Disappointment is a tough emotion to grapple with, particularly when it is a part of a narrative that gleefully leans into melodrama, however English perpetually retains Mael grounded and fully plausible. Expedition 33 could also be a recreation about flashy battles, large gods, and goofy armies of paintbrushes, however what it is actually about is the human situation, and extra particularly, how we cope with loss. Jennifer English, who performs Merle, makes certain that Claire Obscur’s loftier, literary themes and ambitions by no means get misplaced in its extra videogame-y, JRPG-inspired tropes.
Whereas particular person performances are vital, a robust ensemble forged helps convey a degree of immersion to a fictional world. When everybody within the ensemble offers their finest efficiency, the assumption that these online game characters are actual folks isn’t damaged. Listed below are our picks for the very best online game ensemble casts.
- Runner-up β Ghost of Yotei
- Runner-up β Hades 2
- Runner-up β Dispatch
- Runner-up β Loss of life Stranding 2: On the Seaside
- Winner β Claire Obscur: Expedition 33
Congratulations to Jennifer English, your entire forged of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the staff at Sandfall Interactive, and the forged and growth groups of all of the video games we nominated. For extra info on videogameaddicted Awards 2025, you should definitely try the complete listing of winners.
Matt Purslow is videogameaddicted’s Options Editor.