Over the years, plenty of high-profile film actors have also delved into the world of video games. Sometimes, this goes as far as allowing the game developers to use their likeness. A recent example is Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077. Soon, the Far Cry franchise will even include Breaking Bad alum Giancarlo Esposito as the main villain.
Technology has come a long way on the motion-capture front. Where once the uncanny valley was too much to handle, now, a video game can capture an actor's likeness within close proximity.
Jean Reno - Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004)
Gamers and critics took kindly enough to this third chapter in the Onimusha series. Praised for its controls and graphics, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege also made great use of Jean Reno, who was best known for Leon: The Professional and 1998's flawed but gracefully aging Godzilla.
Some found the likeness so striking that it was hard to take him seriously. For 2004, that kind of masterful mo-cap precision is impressive.
Rami Malek - Until Dawn (2015)
This interactive drama horror game puts players in the shoes of eight young adults on the run from a devious killer. The developers sought to make a slasher film in video game form and brought on notable performers to help sell the illusion of a horror film. Amongst cast members like Peter Stormare and Hayden Panettiere was future Oscar-winner Rami Malek.
While the game was well-reviewed overall, there are few shoutouts given to how well the mo-cap performances were pulled off. Instead, the game was mainly praised for being a polished adventure with fun, narrative-altering choices for the player to make.
Vin Diesel - Wheelman (2009)
Wheelman was released to mixed reviews. Most critics applauded its driving sequences while heavily criticizing its on-foot segments. However, Vin Diesel was clearly having a blast throughout the entire process. While the game failed to kick off another franchise for the actor, it can prove just as exciting as any one of Diesel's action scenes.
Released for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows, Wheelman was an open-world game that focused on delivering high-octane action. Players were guided through the adventure by a quote-spouting Vin Diesel, starring as undercover CIA operative Milo Burik, who is betrayed in the middle of a heist.
Aidan Gillen - Quantum Break (2016)
Quantum Break was given fairly high marks from critics and reached profitability, but it's not in the public conscience. It attempted to merge the television and video game formats, which was seen more as cumbersome than intriguing.
Game of Thrones' Aidan Gillen lent his likeness to this sci-fi action-adventure third-person shooter game alongside X-Men's Shawn Ashmore and John Wick's Lance Reddick. Gillen's performance as the antagonist was one of the more well-reviewed aspects of the game. Deserved praise was also given to the startling graphics that allowed his performance to come to life.
Willem Dafoe - Beyond: Two Souls (2013)
This interactive action-adventure game featured not only Willem Dafoe, but Elliot Page as well. Merging realistic interactive storytelling with playability, the game was even released as a film at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.
As a whole, Beyond: Two Souls received a mixed reaction. However, the performances of both Page and Dafoe were universally praised. Furthermore, the technical detailing behind their motion-capture performances was deemed impressive by the majority of critics.
Nathan Fillion - Halo 3: ODST (2009), Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
Fillion initially portrayed Gunnery Sergeant Reynolds in Halo 3, but it was exclusively a vocal performance. However, in Halo 3: ODST, Fillion came back to provide not just the voice but his physical appearance as a different character.
Self-professed Halo fan Nathan Fillion has received praise for his performances as both Gunnery Sergeant Reynolds and Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck. This is particularly true for the character of Buck, who appeared in ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 5: Guardians.
Kristen Bell - Assassin's Creed Series (2007-10)
Kristen Bell has actually been with the Assassin's Creed series for quite awhile, though, she hasn't put in an appearance recently. Bell was featured as the same character, Lucy Stillman, three times. The first was Assassin's Creed, then Assassin's Creed II, and, finally, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.
While players seemed to appreciate the character work, Bell was essentially fired from the series. The Assassin's Creed Fandom page states that she wanted royalties for her appearances in the games and her character was killed off.
Sean Connery - James Bond 007: From Russia With Love (2005)
This third-person shooter retelling of the classic James Bond film will forever stand as Sean Connery's final performance as the title character. However, Connery returning to this role after 22 years isn't the only thing that makes his performance so unique and important. The game actually rendered a much younger version of Connery, the exact age he was in the titular film, and it somehow works perfectly.
One of the better Bond games, From Russia with Love is a meticulous retelling of the book and film's storyline, but with new scenes in the mix. Players are guided through the journey by a de-aged Sean Connery as 007.
Jet Li - Rise To Honor (2004)
This Playstation 2 exclusive was essentially "The Jet Li Game." Few actors have been popular enough to have an entire video game crafted around their persona, but martial arts legend Jet Li holds the honor. While the game isn't as fun as it once was, it's still an impressive accomplishment for Li.
Rise to Honor follows Hong Kong police officer Kit Yun on his quest to avenge his boss. Featuring references to both Jet Li films and Hong Kong action cinema in general, Rise to Honor is a third-person action game for all his fans to enjoy, with a focus on hand-to-hand combat.
Bruce Willis - Apocalypse (1998)
This third-person shooter game for the original PlayStation was an early example of putting an A-list actor in a video game. Bruce Willis was Apocalypse's lead towards the height of his popularity, providing his likeness and vocal work to the entire project.
Unfortunately, Apocalypse was released to middling reviews at best. This included criticism towards Willis' voice acting, which was seen as a boring performance that would often become repetitive. Still, such a big name in such an early project makes it history and puts it towards the top of the list.