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RPGs, especially recent popular affairs like Elden Ring, could easily be considered the most cinematic or theatrical entries in the realms of video games. Of course, every film or theater production needs a fine cast to bring its characters to life, and the video game industry has no shortage of voiceover talent.
Celebrities voicing video game characters isn’t exactly a new practice, but the idea of having them in RPG titles has more of an elevated air about it. Considering how many games in the genre rely so heavily on dialogue, storytelling, and other such elements, performers involved in RPG video games have to put more than just their voices in the characters.
10 Keith David (Mass Effect Series)
When he’s not fighting aliens with MacReady, contending with the antics of Rick and Morty, or donning the mantel of Spawn, Keith David captains the Normandy in Bioware’s epic space opera, Mass Effect. Like so many of David’s roles, Captain David Anderson is one that evokes awe, power, and respect.
Before Commander Shepard takes over, Anderson is the decorated officer that simply commands his reputation. He’s direct, eloquent, and has a resonance and delivery that evokes a performance similar to that of James Earl Jones. To say he isn’t one of the game’s most memorable performances would be an outright lie.
9 Freddie Prinze Jr. (Dragon Age: Inquisition)
When most fans think of Freddie Prinze Jr., they might think of some of his romantic leads in a variety of teenage romcoms or even as Freddie Jones in the live-action Scooby Doo, but gamers know him by a completely different name and character type altogether. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, Prinze broke type casting with his portrayal of the Iron bull.
The large, minotaur-esque Qunari serves as one of the playable party members of the inquisition, and Prinze’s mixture of heart and humor is what truly brings him to life. Whether he’s acting as an ally, confidant, or even love interest, the Iron Bull is undoubtedly one of the most interesting members of the player’s forces in the game.
8 Michael Fassbender (Fable 3)
Fable III is home to a laundry list of vocal talent, featuring a full cast of performers of stage and screen. Ben Kingsley, Stephen Fry, and Simon Pegg are just a few of the players at work in this Xbox RPG, but one of the absolute showstoppers is Michael Fassbender as the devious Logan.
Fassbender is no stranger to villainous roles, especially after having a character like Magneto under his belt, but the player character’s fiendish brother is a mix of subtle and over-the-top that serves as one of the most memorable performances in the game. Logan is everything an evil monarch should be, simultaneously worthy of both Shakespeare and Monty Python, and his nasally wicked voice won’t be leaving the player any time soon.
7 Sir Patrick Stewart (Oblivion)
The immortal Sir Patrick Stewart is a legend of stage and screen, and his contributions video games are no exception. Many might first think of his portrayal of Zobek in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, but his brief portrayal of Emperor Uriel Septim VII of Oblivion is arguably the most recognizable in terms of video game lore.
For many Elder Scrollsplayers, the regal voice of the Shakespearean actor was the first that ushered them into the lands of Cyrodiil. Like many of Stewart’s roles, the Emperor comes with his genteel and refined tones. While he is not with the player for very long, he does leave a lasting impression of a noble an entire realm would follow.
6 Andy Serkis (Various)
Andy Serkis is an actor who comes equipped with a large range of vocal and performance skills. Whether it’s behind a microphone or in a motion capture suit, Serkis lends his talents to regions stretching far beyond those of Middle-Earth.
Along with several Lord of the Ringsvideo game titles, Serkis has lent his voice to RPG titles like Risen, but he is perhaps best known for his villainous portrayal of King Bohan in Heavenly Sword. The wicked monarch in the Conan-inspired fantasy title is truly a loathable character, and the actor’s delightfully sinister vocal performance truly makes him a stand-out feature for the game.
5 Liam Neeson (Fallout 3)
There are many things Bethesda fans can take from Fallout 3. Vaults, mech suits, and “Tunnel Snakes Rule!” are just a few nuggets of radiated charm that come with each new playthrough, but no discussion of this RPG would be complete without mentioning Liam Neeson’s role as the Wanderer’s father, James. Neeson is no stranger to hard-hitting projects, and Fallout is no different.
Having roles as Qui-Gon Jinn and Aslan in his repertoire, Liam Neeson certainly comes pre-equipped with a gentle, strong, fatherly voice, making him ideal in the role that helped shape the protagonist in a desolate nuclear wasteland. That being said, it certainly would have been interesting to see things take a more Taken direction.
4 Tim Curry (Dragon Age: Origins)
When it comes to celebrity voice actors, few can compare with the vocal chops of the legendary Tim Curry. The prolific actor has lent his talent to several video game titles but as far as RPGs go, his most prominent role is that of Arl Howe in Dragon Age: Origins.
Curry has made a lifetime career of playing some of the most extraordinary villains from Dr. Frank-N-Furter to Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but Arl Howe is easily one of his best entries in the fantasy genre. An assassin noble with an unquenchable thirst for power, his already devious nature and design is already complemented by Curry’s nefarious and recognizable voice.
3 Christopher Plummer (Skyrim)
The late Christopher Plummer was a phenomenon of stage and screen, having credits that included The Sound of Music, Oedipus the King, and Knives Out. A performer with his list of credits needed a role that best played to his distinguished strengths.
Arngeir Greybeard is the leader of the clan of mystics at the top of High Hrothgar in Skyrim, and Plummer’s seasoned and wizened voice fits the character perfectly. Plummer was a decorated performer with decades of experience under his belt, and that greatly carries over in his voice, making him ideal for the leader of a group of dragon-worshiping wizards.
2 Keanu Reeves (Cyberpunk 2077)
To say that Cyberpunk 2077 has something of a checkered history is a bit of an understatement, but it does have one huge saving grace in the form of Keanu Reeves as the video rock star poster boy, Johnny Silverhand. In recent years, Reeves has seen an even larger boom in his popularity thanks to projects like John Wick, The Matrix: Resurrections, and more.
The game had more than its fair share of problems when it first released, that’s undeniable, but Reeves was easily one of the biggest selling points before it even hit shelves. Not just any actor could take the concept of a revolutionary cyborg rock star and play it well, but Reeves was the man for the job. An actor who just oozes cool with his very presence and mellow voice, whether he’s fighting armed gunmen or rogue robots and agents of evil corporations.
1 Jim Cummings (Various)
Jim Cummings is a voice actor with almost countless credits in movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, and so much more. Although he’s perhaps best known for his tenured role as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Cummings has a laundry list of gaming credits to his name, but the RPGs that make up the list are simply incredible.
Cummings has credits for Skyrim, Mass Effect, Kingdom Hearts, and Baldur’s Gate, just to name a few. Perhaps the most remarkable roles in his extensive list of gaming roles is that of Gadflow, the devilish fae antagonist of Kingdoms of Amalur. There’s just something incredibly unsettling about knowing that Winnie the Pooh is responsible for the deaths of so many mortals.
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