Finish this sentence: “It’s-a me…”
The fact that you most likely can is proof that video game voice acting is one road to icon status in the industry. And there’s plenty of ways in, from one-off NPCs who only utter a few noises to full-fledged starring roles. (Even big-time celebrities have gotten in on the action.)
For inspiration, let’s look at the best of the best. Here are a few of the most iconic video game characters of all time and the voice actors who made them household names.
1. Mario in the “Super Mario” series, voiced by Charles Martinet
Martinet’s performance as Mario is a master class in how to do a lot with a little. From 1994 to 2023, Martinet gave Nintendo’s mustachioed plumber not only a voice but a personality. Mario doesn’t say much, and that’s part of the appeal, as it allows the player to imprint their own imagination onto the character. But when he does speak—whether it’s at a rare “press conference” or just a “wahoo!”—Martinet manages to make the character come to life and feel like a real person, which is why Mario has remained iconic for so many years. (Bonus: Martinet also originated the voice of Mario’s green-hatted brother, Luigi.)
2. Joel in “The Last of Us,” voiced by Troy Baker
The moment we first encounter Joel in “The Last of Us,” it’s clear that he is more than what meets the eye. Naughty Dog’s sprawling horror game was celebrated for its storytelling and writing, as well as visuals that felt like you were playing a movie. But Joel works so well because Baker brings such soulful humanity to the role. Joel is not a good guy, but he is sympathetic. The more we get to know him, the more his pain becomes evident and the more he begins to believe in hope again. The character is a man of few words, but in the timbre of Baker’s performance we hear all we need about his traumatic past, reluctance to open up, and tension that slowly unwinds.
3. Ellie in “The Last of Us,” voiced by Ashley Johnson
And what brings about that change in Joel? His ersatz daughter figure, Ellie, voiced with fierce, heartbreaking force by Ashley Johnson. Ellie is the beating heart of “The Last of Us” and its 2020 sequel. Johnson provides the character with a youthful sense of humor that hides a well of hurt. After the second game opens with a dark turn (no spoilers!), the actor’s masterful performance becomes a poignant exploration of trauma and grief.
4. Astarion in “Baldur’s Gate 3,” voiced by Neil Newbon
“Baldur’s Gate 3” is a huge game full of choices, quests, enemies, and allies. But out of the many companions you can choose from, it is Astarion who steals the hearts of players first. The elf vampire rogue is a funny, sarcastic jerk who is also charming as hell, but Newbon’s performance makes him a three-dimensional jerk. Astarion’s humor is a defense mechanism, born out of trauma from his service under the vampire that turned him, and you can hear those layers thanks to Newbon’s dexterous voice acting.
5. Kratos in “God of War,” voiced by Christopher Judge
Few video game characters have suffered the kind of traumatic arc that Kratos did over the “God of War” series. After three games of pure violent vengeance across Ancient Greek mythology, Sony rebooted the story over to Norse legend. With that change, Christopher Judge took over voice duties from Terrence C. Carson, bringing a new humanity and depth to the character. This is an older Kratos with a son, Atreus (Sunny Suljic), to raise and the weight of his regrets on his shoulders. Judge gave him a weariness without taking away his strength; listen to the amount of emotions there is in a single “boy.”
6. Solid Snake in “Metal Gear Solid,” voiced by David Hayter
With his trademark eye-patch-and-bandana combo, Solid Snake of the “Metal Gear Solid” franchise is one of the most recognizable video game characters of all time—a stealth warrior straight out of a 1980s action movie. (Which he kind of is, considering he’s inspired by Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York.”) Hayter has voiced the English dub of Solid Snake since 1998, balancing his badass aspects with a dry sense of humor, a bit of flirtiness, and enough vulnerability to make him relatable. What’s more, we’ve watched Snake age and grow over 11 games that span almost six decades—and Hayter has continually evolved his delivery as the complete and compelling arc goes on.
7. Geralt of Rivia in “The Witcher,” voiced by Doug Cockle
CD Projekt’s fantasy role-playing series “The Witcher” is applauded for its complex worldbuilding and intricate storytelling. Even the smallest, most inconsequential quests can branch out into their own story with huge importance. At the center of the franchise is Geralt, an endearingly surly monster hunter with major flaws and a gray morality. Cockle’s Geralt is a marvel not only because he feels fully fleshed-out, but also because he remains so with every possible path the game takes. With each choice the player makes, Cockle finds a way into that specific playstyle and personality.
8. Lara Croft in “Tomb Raider,” voiced by Camilla Luddington
If video game characters had a Mount Rushmore, Lara Croft would be on it (and, most likely, searching for treasure beneath it). An icon of the medium, an adventurer, and a sex symbol all in one since 1996, the character was voiced by several actors—notably Shelley Blond, Judith Gibbins, Jonell Elliott, and Keeley Hawes—before getting a dark and gritty reboot with 2013’s “Tomb Raider.” It fell on Luddington to give Lara a complex, layered personality and backstory like never before, and she more than delivered for the 2013 entry and its two sequels, “Rise of the Tomb Raider” (2015) and “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” (2018).
9. Master Chief in “Halo,” voiced by Steve Downes
John-117, also known as Master Chief, is more than the lead character of the “Halo” series—he is an icon and the mascot of the Xbox console. It’s easy to see why. The “Halo” franchise revolutionized the first-person-shooter genre with its sci-fi narrative and gameplay features, but it is Downes’ performance as Master Chief that makes him a hero worth following time and time again. His performance is essentially the video game version of mask work—he imbues the character with sorrow, pride, and trauma, all without the player ever seeing his face.
10. GLaDOS in “Portal,” voiced by Ellen McLain
This is the only villain on the list, but in a way, GLaDOS is the real protagonist of the “Portal” games. The signature comedy of the series—which involves solving puzzles by teleporting people and various objects—comes from the omniscient AI’s constant jokes and insults toward the player. You cannot help but be completely charmed by McLain’s sassy, biting delivery, even as GLaDOS keeps trying to kill you.