A good voice actor can make or break a video game just as much as an animated TV show or movie. Without being able to rely on their facial expressions or body movements to convey an emotion, it takes a special kind of person to deliver a performance that is worthy of some of the most popular video games in the world. Thankfully, there are tons of talented voice actors out there that provide can provide the emotional depth and realism that gamers crave.
As the video game industry continues to grow, it's no wonder that some studios turn to Hollywood stars to bring their beloved characters to life in a way that few others can do properly. Even if it isn't the titular role, a recognizable voice can be just the thing fans need to fully invest in a game's storyline.
Samuel L. Jackson - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
All the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Although the game still would have been a massive success without adding someone of Jacksons' acclaim, fans were delighted to recognize his voice, which seemed to fit the role and the general feel of the game as a whole perfectly.
Unlike some celebrity video game cameos, the role seems custom-built for Samuel Jackson, showing off his unusual combination of hilarity and intensity.
Liam Neeson - Fallout 3
Fallout 3 definitely didn't need a celebrity cameo to become one of the most acclaimed and respected RPGs of all time, but it certainly didn't hurt. After spending hours roaming the desolate wasteland of Washington D.C. in search of their father, many players were shocked to finally find him and learn that the role was voiced by Liam Neeson.
Neeson's role is a small one as his character, James, dies shortly after meeting the player, but his impact is massive. The character's emotional depth is amplified by Neeson's soft-spoken but firm voice acting skills.
Kristen Bell - Assassins Creed
Not all celebrity video game cameos are as obvious as Kristen Bell's role in the Assassins Creed franchise. The character of Lucy Stillman isn't a major one in the games but plays a key role in Assassin Creed II, helping to break Desmond out of the Abstergo facility and lead him to safety.
Although her voice is fairly recognizable in its own right, the character bears an uncanny resemblance to the actress allowing fans to easily come to the conclusion that it is indeed Kristen Bell, despite the surprise of seeing her covered in blood and saving the game's protagonist.
Stephen Merchant - Portal 2
After the massive success of the first Portal game, it makes sense that the developers wanted to crank things up a notch for the puzzle game's highly anticipated sequel. Despite playing a robot, Merchant's voice is still recognizable to many players as they his roles in movies like Hot Fuzz and cameos in The Office U.K., which he co-wrote with Ricky Gervais.
Merchant's performance is one to be ed, adding a sense of authenticity and personality to the mild-mannered robot, that is until he loses his cool and goes full-on evil robot.
Rami Malek - Until Dawn
Another example of a character looking exactly like the voice actor, Rami Malek's appearance in the 2015 horror game, Until Dawn fits the game perfectly. Despite being so recognizable, Malek is anything but distracting, offering a downright memorable performance that fully invests players into the characters in the game.
Rather than go with a more toned-down approach, Malek delivers a fiery performance, complete with a psychotic breakdown that would not have been the same with anyone else in the role.
Kit Harrington - Call of Duty
Arguably the most popular video game franchise of all time has added some major star power over the years. With each installment, the game has made almost a tradition of casting a global star into one of the game's major roles to fully flesh out some of the more nuanced plotlines in campaign mode.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is no exception as Kit Harrington plays a ruthless and intimidating antagonist, a job that was just about perfect for the Game of Thrones star.
Keanu Reeves - Cyberpunk 2077
Fans got their first glimpse of Keanu's character in the game didn't have the best reputation at launch as bugs and glitches left the game feeling generally unfinished.
Although updates continue to make the game more playable, Keanu's character is still a highlight and fits the gritty and dark futuristic world superbly.
Mark Hamill - Arkham Asylum
Mark Hamill will always be Luke Skywalker first and foremost, but despite a lack of live-action roles, he has been a successful voice actor for years. Most notably, Hamill voiced one of the most famous Batman villains of all time in the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Hamill has had experience voice acting as The Joker before as he also played the character in tons of iterations of the villain for television and several animated movies. His performance in Arkham Asylum is one of his best, perfectly capturing the manic voice that makes The Joker so terrifying.
Josh Duhamel - Call of Duty: World War II
With the franchise featuring games that take place in the present-day or even the future in recent years, fans were excited for Call of Duty to return to its roots and transport players back to World War II like the earliest games in the series.
Although multiplayer has been the main selling point for Call of Duty in recent years, WWII fans were impressed and delighted with one of the best campaign modes the game had seen in years. Much of this success was attributed to the casting of Josh Dumhal in one of the lead roles, as his intensity and no-nonsense attitude fit the game perfectly as Sgt. William Pierson.
Elijah Wood - Legend Of Spyro
Best known for his excellent performance as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, those that haven't played the Legend of Spyro may be surprised that he spent time voicing a purple dragon.
Elijah Wood was not the only star that lent a voice to the game, with David Spade, Gary Oldman, and Christina Ricci adding to the star-studded cast. Elijah Woods's performance stands out above the rest, making the protagonist all the more likable with his innocent and boyish charm.