Summary
- Many celebrities lend their voices to video game characters, enhancing the player experience.
- Andy Serkis has lent his voice and skills as a performance artist in Enslaved: Odyssey To The West and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
- The Quarry and Call of Duty: Black Ops feature celebrities as the main playable characters.
As gaming continues to evolve, developers have taken storytelling in video games more seriously and shown greater passion for including strong voice acting. From first-person shooters to RPGs, many celebrities have lent their voices and likenesses to various video game characters, adding an extra layer of excitement and appeal to the gaming experience.
6 Iconic Video Game Characters Who Still Don't Have A Voice Actor
Some of the industry's most iconic characters still don't have a voice, a fascinating choice considering how ubiquitous voice acting is in gaming.
While iconic voice actors like Jennifer Hale and Troy Baker will always have an important place in the industry, many celebrities have also showcased their talent in video games. Their performances can rival those of traditional voice actors, as they often play main protagonists or take on significant roles that enhance player interaction.
10 Enslaved: Odyssey To The West
Andy Serkis Continues To Be A Performance Capture Master
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
- Released
- October 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Originally pitched as a big-budget CG animated film, Enslaved: Odyssey To The West eventually evolved into an ambitious third-person action title set in a post-apocalyptic world. It mixes platforming, action, and puzzle-solving together as the hero Monkey guides a character named Trip to her home across overgrown cities and forests.
Monkey was portrayed by Andy Serkis, who had already helped revolutionize performance capture in films as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings franchise, so it was no surprise that he delivered the same dedication with Enslaved. Andy Serkis has also played other famous characters, such as Caesar in the Planet Of The Apes movies, Alfred in The Batman, and Ulysses Klaue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9 Alone In The Dark
Fight Against Horrors As David Harbour Or Jodie Comer
Alone in the Dark
- Released
- March 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Pieces Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Survival horror as a game can be traced back to Alone In The Dark, which was rebooted in 2024 to bring back the classic 1930s visuals and gothic horrors, but with a modern style. It even adopted the modern-style third-person shooter camera a la Resident Evil or Dead Space to allow for a more action-packed route while also maintaining the terror.
In this updated version of the original game, players can choose between two protagonists: Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood. This time, the characters are brought to life through performance capture. Edward is portrayed by David Harbour, known for his roles in Stranger Things and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Emily is played by Jodie Comer, recognized for her performances in The Last Duel and the video game-inspired film Free Guy.
8 Call Of Duty: Black Ops
Call Of Duty Always Feels Like An Action Movie
Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Released
- November 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
The Call of Duty franchise has featured many celebrities in its multitude of campaigns, but in Call of Duty: Black Ops, players get to play from the perspective of Alex Mason, who is portrayed by Sam Worthington. It was hard not to find Sam Worthington in the mid to late 2000s, as he was the star of James Cameron’s Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash Of The Titans, and so much more.
As Alex Mason, Sam Worthington was considered a highlight of Call of Duty: Black Ops, featuring a Cold War storyline in which soldiers are sent to locations like Vietnam, Cuba, and Canada for secret operations. Sam Worthington is joined by other famous actors, such as Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, and Ice Cube, just to name a few.
7 The Quarry
An Ensemble Of Actors Harkens Back To Classic Horror
The Quarry
- Released
- June 10, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Supermassive Games has made multiple games starring famous faces that feel like interactive horror movies, such as Until Dawn. However, they went even further with The Quarry, which is written like a love letter to classic horror movies of the 80s and 90s, even featuring actors from that era, such as Lance Henriksen, Ted Raimi, and David Arquette.
Other stars of The Quarry include Justice Smith, Halston Sage, Lin Shaye, Skyler Gisondo, and Brenda Song, in an adventure that forces players to properly think about their choices of actions and dialogue. One wrong decision can lead to a character being killed by werewolves and other strange terrors lurking in the darkness at night.
6 RoboCop: Rogue City
Peter Weller Will Always Be RoboCop
RoboCop: Rogue City
- Released
- November 2, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Teyon
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Sci-Fi
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
As an official sequel to the beloved movies, RoboCop: Rogue City already delivers an authentic experience of feeling like an unstoppable cyborg who can easily eliminate criminals. Crime investigation elements also utilize basic questioning and interrogation in different cases around Detroit, rewarding players with extra content aside from the already fun first-person shooter sequences.
However, the cherry on top is that RoboCop is voiced by and modeled after the original actor, Peter Weller, who also reprised the role just a few years before as a guest character in Mortal Kombat 11. While Nancy Allen did not return to voice RoboCop’s trusted partner, Anne Lewis, the character is still modeled to resemble the actress, with Kosha Engler providing the vocal performance.
5 The Callisto Protocol
Josh Duhamel Took Over In The Dead Space Successor
The Callisto Protocol
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Striking Distance Studios
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
While fans may never get Dead Space 4, the developers were able to give a spiritual successor in the form of The Callisto Protocol, featuring many of the same tropes. From the HUD being entirely on the character’s back and weapon to the ultra-violent body horror and gore in a sci-fi future, the DNA of Dead Space is present as an incarcerated pilot has to escape a prison infested with mutated humans.
The main protagonist is brought to life by Josh Duhamel, who has made a career starring in Transformers, Jupiter's Legacy, and Buddy Games. Other familiar faces include Karen Fukuhara of The Boys fame and Sam Witwer, who some might know as Aiden from Being Human or Darth Maul in Star Wars animation and video games.
4 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Snake Was Done Justice By Kiefer Sutherland
Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
On the one hand, fans were initially disappointed that David Hayter was not brought back to play Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, as he was the definitive voice for the character since the first game. On the other hand, Kiefer Sutherland delivered an iconic performance with the same dedication and talent he also gave Jack Bauer on 24, David in The Lost Boys, and Tom Kirkman in Designated Survivor.
Every Metal Gear Solid Game In Chronological Order (And The Year They Take Place In)
The Metal Gear Solid games span across decades, though not in chronological order. This should clear the timeline up.
It also helps that Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was an ambitious leap for the beloved franchise, taking the mix of stealth and action and putting it in a more open-world format. Espionage can be as fun as it is challenging, which, combined with a long and complicated storyline, allows Sutherland to cement himself in the role while still feeling like a continuation of David Hayter’s version.
3 Cyberpunk 2077
The Game Wouldn’t Be The Same Without Keanu Reeves And Idris Elba
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Like a digital ghost haunting the mind of the main protagonist, V, Johnny Silverhand is there throughout the crime thriller adventure of Cyberpunk 2077. Silverhand became a major part of the appeal as he is portrayed by Keanu Reeves, who has had a long career playing iconic characters, such as Neo, John Wick, Klaatu, John Constantine, and even Shadow the Hedgehog in the live-action Sonic movies.
Despite its infamously maligned launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has since seen many updates that transformed it into the now-beloved RPG it is today, especially the Phantom Liberty expansion. The expansion would add a pivotal character in the form of Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba, a star who has been in Marvel, DC, Star Trek, and many other famous films of the last twenty years.
2 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox Leads The Expedition To Stop The Paintress
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Andy Serkis stars as Renoir in yet another video game role for him alongside Marvel’s Daredevil, Charlie Cox, in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive’s ambitious turn-based RPG. It is heavily inspired by classic JRPG franchises like Final Fantasy and the Persona series, but given the same love and affection to its execution as Elden Ring in terms of gameplay, visuals, and sounds.
In a world where everyone thirty-three years of age is destined to disappear, Charlie Cox portrays the main protagonist, Gustave, in his first-ever video game role, leading the expedition to stop the Paintress, who started the curse. In a time when classic RPGs are a rarity, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly proven to be a modern classic thanks to its fun gameplay, with the vocal performances being the icing on an already delicious cake.
1 God Of War
Christopher Judge Brought New Life To Kratos
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The God of War games have had special guest stars since the beginning, but the 2018 soft reboot went even further by featuring Christopher Judge as the older and wiser version of Kratos. He maintains the dark and broody personality that T.C. Carson initially established in the original trilogy. Still, he adds his own flair to make his performance stand out as a father trying to raise his son in a harsh world.
Kratos continues to evolve throughout God of War, with Christopher Judge effectively portraying a stoic warrior with a heart full of anguish and regret. All Kratos wants to do is spread his wife’s ashes, but it takes him and his son, Atreus, across the different realms of Norse mythology, creating an action fantasy RPG that changed the series forever with strong storytelling.
5 God Of War Games With The Best Combat, Ranked
While narrative has taken center stage in recent years, the God of War franchise has always been about combat at its core.