Welcome to the gaming arena where every voice casts a spell, every line transports us, and every performance carves out a legend. In the charged spectacle of the 2025 IGN Awards, we honour those who give soul to pixels and fire to imagination—the voice actors! This year, with the shadow of AI stretching over the industry, we stand resolute, championing the artistry that these performers bring to gaming. They are the VO masters transforming mere scripts into symphonic sagas, and tonight, their brilliance dazzles!
Runner-Up – Erika Ishii (Atsu, Ghost of Yotei): Witness Erika Ishii as she reignites the fiery spirit of a vengeful samurai legend in Ghost of Yotei. With a voice that stirs the ashes of vengeance and gives depth to Atsu's turbulent soul, Ishii delivers a masterstroke performance where ancient honor clashes with relentless desire.
Runner-Up – Aaron Paul (Robert Robertson, Dispatch): Hollywood meets gaming as Aaron Paul steps into Dispatch, donning the virtual armor of Robert Robertson. Forget what you know—Paul breaks the mold, delivering a heart-rending performance that dances between optimism and identity crisis in a mech-dominated realm.
Runner-Up – Konatsu Kato (Hinako Shimizu, Silent Hill f): In Silent Hill f, Konatsu Kato doesn’t just voice a hero; she becomes Hinako Shimizu. Across haunted townscapes and personal infernos, her performance cuts with sharp emotional precision, captivating every listener—language barriers be damned!
Runner-Up – Ben Starr (Verso, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33): Bringing gravitas to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ben Starr refines the hero's grit with sublime sophistication. Verso emerges from Starr's vocal alchemy as a beacon in his own shattered universe, wielding unyielding hope against overwhelming darkness.
Winner – Jennifer English (Maelle, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33): And the crown goes to... Jennifer English! Her portrayal of Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a tour de force, turning grief into a resonant echo of the human heart. Through cataclysmic battles and whimsical realms, English threads humanity’s tales, grounding them in raw, authentic emotion. It’s her voice that anchors the fantastical, echoing long after the credits roll.
So, gamers, which virtuoso performance gets your vote for the year's best? The arena is open, and your heroes await!