Highlights
- 2023 has seen an abundance of video game releases, offering a wide range of experiences, from action shooters to epic fantasy games.
- The Game Awards' Best Performance category features six deserving nominees from different games, highlighting the importance of strong performances in narrative-driven games.
- The actor Neil Newbon's portrayal of Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 stands out as one of the most memorable performances of the year, making him a likely contender for the award.
UPDATE: Neil Newbon won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2023!
2023 has been one of the busiest years ever for video game releases. While other years can arguably match 2023 in terms of quality, few can match the sheer quantity of great video game experiences on offer this year, both big and small, from action-focused shooters with barely any dialogue at all to 70-hour fantasy epics. And, of course, a game with a strong narrative is only as good as its performers, six of whom have made the shortlist for the 2023 Game Awards' Best Performance category.
The Game Awards' Best Performance category has always been an interesting one. Last year, the Best Performance award kicked off the entire Game Awards show, with Al Pacino taking to the stage to announce God of War's Christopher Judge as the winner, who proceeded to deliver a now-infamously long speech. This year, it's interesting to see that all six spots in the Best Performance category have been attributed to completely different games, and this year, each and every nominee is deserving of that coveted Game Award.
2023 Best Performance Nominees
- Ben Starr - Final Fantasy 16
- Cameron Monaghan - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Idris Elba - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Melanie Liburd - Alan Wake 2
- Neil Newbon - Baldur’s Gate 3
- Yuri Lowenthal - Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ben Starr as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16
Born in Bristol in the UK, Ben Starr is an English actor who's been acting for around a decade now, and he takes center stage in Final Fantasy 16 as Clive Rosfield. In interviews both before and after Final Fantasy 16's release, Starr made no attempt to hide just how much he's always loved video games, and in particular the Final Fantasy franchise, with that passion shining through in his performance. From small but meaningful moments of humor to some really emotionally-charged sequences, Starr delivers a fantastic performance throughout Final Fantasy 16, and it's easy to see why he's in the running at this year's Game Awards.
Cameron Monaghan as Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
An actor who's been around in the TV game for ages, Cameron Monaghan became a household name for Star Wars fans when he appeared in the starring role of Cal Kestis in 2019's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Though he didn't receive a Game Awards nomination back in 2019, he's received one this year for his superb performance in the long-awaited sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, where the actor is given much more to work with. It's not only Cameron Monaghan's voicework that's impressive in Jedi: Survivor, but his physicality too, giving the Jedi a unique fighting style all his own.
Idris Elba as Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
An actor that needs no introduction, Idris Elba has been a pretty big name in the world of movies and TV for quite some time now, rising to fame with the BBC show Luther back in 2010. Elba makes his video game debut in Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC, where he plays a prominent role in the DLC's story as Solomon Reed. Elba's performance is solid, and Cyberpunk 2077's realistic visuals help to elevate it to a new level.
Melanie Liburd as Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2
Another British actor, Melanie Liburd has appeared across movies and TV shows for about a decade now, though Alan Wake 2 is her first video game appearance - and what an appearance it is. As one of the game's two main playable protagonists, Melanie Liburd's Saga Anderson occupies half of Alan Wake 2's runtime, and Liburd's performance shines through at every turn, perfectly depicting a character that's confident in her own ability but still intimidated by the mystery that she finds herself in.
Neil Newbon as Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3
Just like practically every other Game Awards category this year, it was clear that Baldur's Gate 3 was going to get some representation in the Best Performance category, with a whole cast of extremely talented actors helping to bring the RPG to life. But only one lucky actor has made the cut this year, and that's Neil Newbon for his portrayal of the smooth-talking vampire noble Astarion. One of the first companions in Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion quickly became a favorite for many players, and that's largely down to the character's dialogue, which is delivered expertly by Newbon. Cocky, suave, arrogant, and everything in between, Newbon's performance as Astarion is easily one of the most memorable of the entire year.
Yuri Lowenthal as Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Widely considered to be one of the greatest Spider-Man actors to ever do it, Yuri Lowenthal makes his triumphant return as Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. While Yuri Lowenthal already cemented himself as a perfect fit for Peter Parker back in 2018's Spider-Man, the sequel gives the actor even more hard-hitting emotional stuff to work with thanks to the addition of the Symbiote suit. Somehow, Yuri always knows how to strike the perfect balance between genuinely scary Symbiote Peter and campy over-the-top Symbiote Spidey. To many fans, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 just proved how perfect Yuri Lowenthal is in the role of Peter Parker.
Final Prediction
While this year's Game Awards Best Performance category is filled with nominees that frankly all deserve the top spot, only one actor can take away the final prize, and the most likely contender is probably Neil Newbon for his portrayal of Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion. While Yuri Lowenthal continues to prove himself to be the perfect Spider-Man, Melanie Liburd shines as Saga Anderson, Cameron Monaghan is still a great Jedi Knight, and Ben Starr pours his absolute heart and soul into his performance as Final Fantasy 16's Clive Rosfield, Neil Newbon's Astarion is simply just too iconic, and his extreme level of popularity is likely to be the thing that gives him the slight winning edge over the rest.
