It’s finally award season here at Twinfinite! Over the month of January we’re going to look back at our favorite games of 2021. We’ll also be taking the time to celebrate some of the strongest voice acting performances in games throughout the year, from the field of modern combat to space-faring adventures. These are the best voice actors of 2021.
Voted on by our editors, these were the voice actors that delivered performances worthy of any screen, silver or otherwise. We look for a range of emotions in performances, and ones that really helped bring their fictional character to life.
Best Voice Actors 2021
Second Runner-Up: Kimberly-Sue Murray – Gamora (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy)
Features Editor Andrew McMahon: Kimberly-Sue Murray had some big shoes to fill as Gamora in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, as Zoe Saldana has already made the character her own with a handful of outstanding performances in the MCU.
Despite the high expectations, the voice actress not only lived up to the hype, but she also managed to showcase an entirely new side to the character that was missing in the movies. While Saldana’s Gamora definitely has some good range, Murray manages to capture the growth of The Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy’s story in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy perfectly. The way she’s able to convey the character’s hesitance and sadness regarding her backstory while also delivering hilarious dialogue and banter is a perfect example of this.
Without spoiling anything, all I’ll say is that the scene on Knowhere with Garmoa and The Guardians in the later chapters is a roller-coaster ride of emotions that any fan of a good video game narrative should experience. The character’s evolution throughout each chapter is a joy to see, as she goes from a closed-off assassin to a beloved member of the team, and it’s all thanks to an outstanding performance by Kimberly-Sue Murray.
Best Voice Actors 2021
First Runner-Up: Giancarlo Esposito – Anton Castillo (Far Cry 6)
Guides Editor Chris Jecks: While Far Cry 6 didn’t push the series forward in any notable way in terms of gameplay, it seriously upped the ante when it came to its antagonist, the evil dictator, Anton Castillo.
Reigning over Yara and spearheading its controversial cancer treatment (due to the detrimental effect the process had on the citizens of the country), Castillo is a cruel, black-hearted man that shows no remorse for the countless number of innocent people he’s killed.
This is only accentuated by his frayed relationship with his son, Diego. One that the player gets to witness through cutscenes throughout the duration of the story. Anton wants his son to continue his legacy, ruling with an iron fist and putting Yara back on the map as a result.
Giancarlo Esposito brings this character to life, with the same deadpan delivery of lines in moments where any person with a conscience would be, as he brought to the character of Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring. Far Cry 6 ratchets up the stature of its antagonist by making its story one of rebellion and revolution over a country’s dictator, and the casting of Esposito as Castillo is the perfect fit for the role of this heartless, intelligent, and aspirational antagonist.
Best Voice Actors 2021
Winner: Erika Mori – Alex Chen (Life Is Strange: True Colors)
Guides Editor Chris Jecks: Life Is Strange: True Colors featured a protagonist that many of us will relate to. No, not because we’re empaths, but because of how socially awkward and uncomfortable the newest member of the Haven Springs community, Alex Chen often was.
It made for a far more interesting narrative. Here was a character imperfect like the rest of us. Prone to lashing out when she simply couldn’t bottle her emotions up any further. One that doubted the sincerity of others, and looked for reassurance from those she was closest to.
Erika Mori played a huge part in making Alex such a relatable character. Combined with the improvement in facial expressions, Mori delivered lines with a heartfelt sincerity that was so befitting of Alex and the decisions she (I) had made along the way. As Alex grew in confidence throughout the five episodes, so did Mori’s delivery, ensuring the growth of the character wasn’t just seen on-screen with the dazzling colors of her empathy-based superpower but was heard in the way she stood up for what was right.
Life Is Strange: True Colors is a must-play for fans of the series. After the rather lackluster protagonists in its predecessor, Life Is Strange 2, the combination of Alex Chen and Erika Mori is exactly what the series needed to find its footing once more.
Who did you feel delivered a standout performance in video games last year? Let us know down in the comments below.
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