There was a time video games would star just any Hollywood character just to get those numbers rolling in. We have come a long way from those days, and developers now make games expecting movie actors to do just as much heavy lifting as professional voice actors themselves. It also helps that detailed motion capture has come a long way over the years, and actors actually have to act their way into cutscenes and pivotal game moments. Below, we made a list of games where the actors hit it out of the park with their portrayal of video game characters.
Mads Mikkelsen as Cliff Unger, Death Stranding series
Say whatever you want, the cast of the Death Stranding series is stacked. Guillermo Del Toro, Margaret Qualley, Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, Elle Fanning... who isn't there in this franchise? And yet, Mads Mikkelsen's character stands out so much that Hideo Kojima cast Luca Marinelli in Death Stranding 2 especially to out-villain Mikkelsen.
Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, Cyberpunk 2077
Keanu Reeves is as it is synonymous with the Cyberpunk series through Johnny Silverhand, and although his line delivery can be a little... choppy, at times, him providing the voice and likeness for this "digital ghost" and secondary protagonist is still a very interesting addition to the game.
Giancarlo Esposito as Antón Castillo, Far Cry 6
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Call him a villain or a product of his circumstances, Esposito's signature chilling menace did a lot to elevate the nuances of this fascist dictator of Yara, and is one of the major highlights of the game.
Mark Hamill as The Joker, Batman: Arkham series
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The Arkham series are already one of, if not the best DC games out there. As if that wasn't enough, they literally got Mark Hamill to voice the character, in keeping with the animated show. That Jason Todd arc couldn't get any better...
Charlie Cox as Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you haven't played this 2025 Game of the Year winner yet, what are you even doing? Charlie Cox, the actor otherwise known for his role as the Daredevil leads an ensemble of star actors (including Andy Serkis) as a reluctant leader tasked with guiding a doomed mission through a world obsessed with time and mortality.
Patrick Stewart as Emperor Uriel Septim VII, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Emperor Uriel appears for some five minutes in the beginning of Oblivion, gets voiced by none other than Sir Patrick Stewart himself, dies in those five minutes, and sends you off to the main quest in Oblivion. And honestly, 10/10 way of making a character instantly memorable. Sir Stewart also voices him in the remastered version (pictured above), and we couldn't ask for anything better.
Willem Dafoe as Nathan Dawkins, Beyond: Two Souls
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Nathan Dawkins starts out as a parental figure of the protagonist Jodie, but the paranormal researcher is driven by obsession and guilt over his family’s death to ultimately become the villain in the game. Dafoe’s performance, enhanced by detailed motion capture, captures that desperation in small facial shifts rather than grand speeches.
Rami Malek as Josh, Until Dawn
Before his Oscar win, Malek gave a chillingly effective performance in this horror title, which was recently remastered in late 2024. Josh begins as comic relief and spirals into something far darker. Malek's performance plays a big hand in shaping Until Dawn from a slasher homage into a character-driven horror story that lands even after multiple playthroughs.
Gary Oldman as Viktor Reznov, Call of Duty series
Oldman’s intense delivery for the Soviet soldier created one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. Viktor Reznov isn't a straightforward hero or villain; he's a morally grey anti-hero driven by revenge against those who betrayed him, which leads to questionable actions like Steiner's death, though his intentions were personal justice, not global chaos.
