Runner-Up – Erika Ishii (Atsu, Ghost of Yotei)

The position of a revenge-seeking samurai is well-trodden floor, however Erika Ishii breathed refreshing new life into Atsu, the protagonist of Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei. Lending the character a plausible “tough across the edges” really feel, Ishii ensures that Atsu’s bloodlust has depth.

Runner-Up – Aaron Paul (Robert Robertson, Dispatch)

In contrast to Hollywood, which has lengthy solid animated films utilizing superstar film stars, video video games have predominantly held onto the concept voice appearing and efficiency seize is a definite talent, and that hiring individuals who specialise in that’s the strategy to go. However whereas Dispatch options trade titans like Laura Bailey and Matthew Mercer, it’s display actor Aaron Paul who’s the standout; our assessment explains that he is capable of ship “a nuanced efficiency as a person struggling to carry onto his optimism whereas reconciling with who he’s exterior of his big mech go well with.”

Runner–Up – Konatsu Kato (Hinako Shimizu, Silent Hill f)

Lending each her voice and likeness to Silent Hill f’s protagonist Hinako Shimizu, Konatsu Kato delivered to life one of the sequence’ most tortured heroes. Whereas many of us could have relied on subtitles to grasp her Japanese-language strains, her supply helped instill each scene with the heavy, complicated feelings supposed by the script’s nuanced story.

Runner-Up – Ben Starr (Verso, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)

In Verso, Ben Starr was capable of take the gruff, darkish hero voice he adopted for Clive in Closing Fantasy 16 and ideal it. The maturity of Expedition 33’s themes, notably in its closing act, permit for Starr to discover a personality who should experience tragedy, however who carries sufficient optimism and conviction to by no means permit the darkish to obscure the sunshine.

Winner – Jennifer English (Maelle, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)

Maelle is the center of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and a significant motive her journey rings so true is Jennifer English’s efficiency. Grief is a tough emotion to wrestle with, particularly when it’s half of a narrative that fortunately leans into the melodramatic, however English retains Maelle eternally grounded and fully plausible. Expedition 33 could also be a sport with flashy fight, monstrous deities, and a military of goofy paintbrush folks, however what it’s actually about is the human situation and, extra particularly, how we cope with loss. As Maelle, Jennifer English ensures that Clair Obscur’s loftier, extra literary themes and ambitions are by no means misplaced among the many extra video game-y, JRPG-inspired tropes.

Whereas particular person performances are vital, a powerful ensemble solid can assist deliver a stage of constant immersion to a fictional world. When everybody in an ensemble offers their A-game, there’s no fracture in your perception that these online game characters are real folks. Our picks for the most effective online game ensemble solid are:

• Runner-Up – Ghost of Yotei
• Runner-Up – Hades 2
• Runner-Up – Dispatch
• Runner-Up – Dying Stranding 2: On the Seashore
• Winner – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Congratulations to Jennifer English, all the solid of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the crew at Sandfall Interactive, in addition to the casts and growth groups of all of the video games we nominated. For extra from the IGN Awards 2025, be sure you take a look at our full listing of winners.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Government Editor of Options.