Summary
Narration is one of the most prevalent forms of commentary one can find in the world of entertainment. When it comes to video games, the narrator is not only responsible for conveying the story but also illustrating the player’s actions in an engaging way.
Video game narrators come in all different voices and tones. Whether it be the player character’s internal thoughts or a disembodied entity observing your actions, a quality narrator can do wonders for a game’s immersion. While there are many fantastic narrator performances in video games, these voice actors are a cut above the rest.
10Thomas Was Alone - Danny Wallace
Released as a flash-based browser game in 2010, Thomas Was Alone was the brainchild of Mike Bithell.A platform puzzler, the game revolves around you controlling several rectangles, each with its unique name and personality. While the rectangles don’t talk, comedian Danny Wallace voices the game’s narrator.
Throughout the adventure, the narrator provides both context to everything you do and gives a surprising amount of humanization to what are essentially generic rectangles. Wallace’s performance was so well received it earned him a BAFTA award.
9Portal - Ellen McLain
Of Valve’s many renowned releases, there are few more iconic and adored as thePortalseries. Predominantly known for their fantastic puzzle designs, the titles also boast exceptional voice acting. The most striking character in the series is the AI GLaDOS.
Played by Ellen McLain,GLaDOS has become the de facto mouthpieceof the series and one of the most recognizable voices in gaming. McLain’s role as GLaDOS encouraged her casting as the Jaeger pilot AI in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim in 2013.
8Bastion - Logan Cunningham
If you’re looking for games with strange and imaginative stories, look no further than the realm of indie games. Often not constricted by the traditional expectations of triple-A productions, indie titles give developers complete creative freedom. One of the most distinctive indie releases of the 2010s is Bastion.
Developed by Supergiant Games, Bastion isa 2D isometric fantasyaction game focusing on the adventures of “the Kid.” Throughout the game, you are blessed with narration by Logan Cunningham, who delivers a delightfully outstanding performance.
7Battleblock Theater - Will Stamper
Released in 2013, Battleblock Theater was the third game developed by The Behemoth and, like their previous two titles, is as comedic as it is fun. While the visuals and writing provide much of the humor, the natural charm comes from the game’s ever-present narrator.
Voiced by Will Stamper, the narrator serves as the star voice of the game’s narrative and delivers several of the game’s funniest bits of dialogue. The exhilarating minute-to-minute gameplay may be the lodestar, but Stamper’s performance is superb.
6The Stanley Parable - Kevan Brighting
The Stanley Parableearned high praise from game journalists when it was first released. Originally a free mod of Valve’s critically acclaimed Half-Life 2, the game was eventually released as a standalone remake by Davey Wreden and Willam Pugh using the source engine.
The Stanley Parable focuses on the relationship of two individuals, the titular silent Stanley and the narrator. As you make choices and solve puzzles, the narrator, voiced brilliantly by Kevan Brighting, provides both incredibly sarcastic jabs and monotone encouragement throughout the game.
5Max Payne 3 - James McCaffrey
Developer Rockstar might be most famous for the Grand Theft Auto series, but they also were responsible for thecritically acclaimed Max Payne 3. As excellent as the bullet-time-heavy gunplay is, James McCaffrey’s performance as the titular character might be the highlight.
McCaffrey gives a marvelous performance in all three entries of the trilogy, but his turn inMax Payne 3is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Max’s inner monologues offer a captivating glimpse into his troubled psyche as he grapples with his violent actions.
4Call of Juarez Gunslinger - John Cygan
Techland’s Call of Juarez games is a series of peaks and valleys. A crucial element in which the games consistently missed the mark was having a great protagonist. That changed with 2013’s Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, the best entry in the series.
The hero of Gunslinger is a bounty hunter named Silas Greaves, voiced superbly by John Cygan. Throughout the game, you play through Greaves' many escapades hunting outlaws in the Wild West. Whether Greaves dramatizes the truth or humbles those around him, He’s likable.
3Divinity Original Sin 2 - Brian Bowles
Before Baldur’s Gate 3 ascendedLarian Studiosto a new zenith of success and acclaim, the talented developers were still releasing incredible RPGs. In many ways,Divinity: Original Sin 2provided a taste of what would come with Baldur’s Gate 3, especially with the narration style.
Actor Brian Bowles supplies the voice of Divinity: Original Sin 2’s disembodied narrator. Because of how the game is presented, it requires gamers to use their imagination much more, and with Bowle’s memorizing performance, that is a trivial task.
2Baldur’s Gate 3 - Amelia Tyler
Larian Studio’sBaldur’s Gate 3exploded onto the gaming scene. The long-awaited sequel to 2000’s Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn received universal acclaim for its gameplay, story, characters, writing, and, of course, voice acting.
While the entire cast is terrific,Amelia Tyler’s performanceas the ever-present narrator is core to the Baldur’s Gate 3 experience. Previously known for voicing Malady in Larian Studio’s previous game, Divinity Original Sin 2, her role as the narrator has earned a place in the hearts of gamers everywhere.
1Fallout - Ron Perlman
Regarding the biggest voice actors in entertainment, there’s perhaps no name as recognizable as Ron Perlman. Known worldwide for his live-action roles and voice work, Perlman has the type of filmography that has made him an acting legend.
While Perlman has many fantastic voice performances, his role as the Fallout narrator is iconic. Beginning in the original Fallout and ending withNew Vegas, the narrator may not have the most lines, but Perlman’s voice, coupled with his haunting dialogue, makes his performance one to remember.
