It’s mostly a year of new and rising actors in our picks for Best Video Game Performances in 2025; no offence to the big-time players and names we’re used to seeing, but ending up a list without as many big names is rather cool to see.

Here are our picks for the Top 10 Actors in Video Games for 2025.

10.) Adriyan Rae — South of Midnight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klgw-To1rqc&pp=ygUfc291dGggb2YgbWlkbmlnaHQgc3RvcnkgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

Playing the protagonist Hazel in South of Midnight, Adriyan Rae brings to life a strong and resilient woman discovering her family and history, along with her own powers as a ‘Weaver.’ Rae did both the voice and motion capture, and in combination with the game’s unique art direction, Hazel became one of 2025’s most memorable and new characters.

-Dylan

9.) Laura Bailey — Dispatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBXNczRvheI&pp=ygUWZGlzcGF0Y2ggc3RvcnkgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

Laura Bailey once again proves why she’s one of the industry’s best with her performance as Invisigirl. Playing this character, who struggles with her identity, her allegiances, and being part of a team, Bailey nails each emotional or comedic moment and showcases why she is one of the most in-demand performers in the world of video games.

-Ashley

8.) Norman Reedus — Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdzIwQhYABQ&pp=ygUtRGVhdGggU3RyYW5kaW5nIDI6IE9uIHRoZSBCZWFjaCBzdG9yeSB0cmFpbGVy

Norman Reedus returned as Sam Porter Bridges in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and, building upon his performance in the first game, continued to show why his pairing works so well with Hideo Kojima. His ability to emotionally open up to scenes that are often very weird, even if the actor has said he doesn’t always understand what’s happening himself, but it’s that lack of full understanding that probably helps the performance, as he can instead focus on getting the emotional struggle that Sam is going through in the game.

-Dylan

7.) Jeffrey Wright — Dispatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVgX7b1N8E

Jeffrey Wright is constantly stealing scenes as Chase, a former speedster whose powers caused him to age rapidly. Whether he is delivering quip retorts to his younger-looking co-workers, giving sage advice to Robert and company or delivering one of the more heartbreaking lines of the year, Wright is simply sensational.

-Ashley

6.) Judy Alice Lee — Hades II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH3jT53hIYM&pp=ygUPaGFkZXMgMiB0cmFpbGVy

Judy Alice Lee voices Melinoë, the new protagonist of Hades II, bringing confidence and authority to the sequel’s lead role. Her performance helps establish Melinoë as distinct from Zagreus, being a child who never got to her parents and being raised to accomplish a singular goal, compared to the neglected son from the first game. Lee nails the tone of Supergiant’s myth-rich world, seamlessly fitting into the game’s established cast of characters as well as new ones.

-Ashley

5.) Ben Starr — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps6wTChLb1c&pp=ygUjQ2xhaXIgT2JzY3VyOiBFeHBlZGl0aW9uIDMzIHRyYWlsZXLSBwkJTQoBhyohjO8%3D

Ben Starr has shown several times over now his ability to deliver strong vocal performances as the type of strong, stoic characters he’s been cast in. His role as Verso, a character introduced in the game’s second act, is one that brings strength and a necessary leader’s tone to guide the Expedition’s cast onto their next stage.

-Dylan

4.) Adrian Vaughan — The Drifter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GiHlkE2z8g&pp=ygUTVGhlIERyaWZ0ZXIgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

Not like anything else in 2025, Adrian Vaughan’s performance in The Drifter elevates the game’s pulpy narrative to the next level, thanks to a vocal delivery that perfectly matches its themes and narrative. If there was ever a discussion about whether the game needed full voice acting, the decision to lock it in with Adrian Vaughan was the right one and elevated the game into GOTY territory.

-Dylan

3.) Aaron Paul — Dispatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbERWU5bc50&pp=0gcJCU0KAYcqIYzv

It should come as no surprise that Aaron Paul was simply fantastic in the lead role of Robert Robertson III, a man who had been fighting crime with a mech suit, but after its destruction, is now working as a dispatcher trying to help the reformed supervillains in the Phoenix Program. Each dry and sarcastic comedic line was simply delightful, and his delivery of the numerous motivational speeches had me pumped. Every cent spent securing Aaron Paul’s services was money well spent.

-Ashley

2.) Jennifer English — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE8szRyPldI&pp=ygUjQ2xhaXIgT2JzY3VyOiBFeHBlZGl0aW9uIDMzIHRyYWlsZXI%3D

She may not have been at the front of the trailers or marketing, but that’s because of a couple of twists and turns in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s narrative. Maelle, voiced by Jennifer English, is the main protagonist of the game, as it turns out, even if it’s not really presented that way. And as the youngest member of the 33rd Expedition team, it is nice to see both the character and the performance avoid any tropes. Instead of being young and naive, English brings Maelle’s emotionally strong character to life, one full of resolve for her feelings.

-Dylan

1.) Erika Ishii — Ghost of Yotei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM08YoziYJs&t=1s&pp=ygUWR2hvc3Qgb2YgWW90ZWkgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

At the centre of Ghost of Yotei’s story of revenge, Erika Ishii delivers a performance that blends emotional vulnerability with steely determination as Atsu seeks to kill those responsible for her family’s death. Their performance allows Atsu to feel unique in a genre of story that has been told many times before, making you see there is still a lot of humanity within Atsu despite her belief that she is on a suicide mission for revenge.

-Ashley

Find all of Explosion Network’s Best of 2025 coverage right here, and be sure to let us know your thoughts on any of our lists in the comments section.