Who Will Win? A Gamer's Look at the 2026 Game Awards Best Performance Nominees

As a long-time fan and player, I always look forward to The Game Awards night. It's our night, where the stories and characters that consumed our year get their moment in the spotlight. For over a decade now, this show has evolved right alongside the games it celebrates, and nothing shows that evolution more clearly than the Best Performance category. The nominees this year? They're a testament to how far video game acting has come. Each one of these performers didn't just read lines; they breathed a soul into pixels, making characters feel more real and their struggles more palpable than ever before. It's a tough job, making us forget we're holding a controller and just feel. Looking at this list, I can already tell the race is going to be incredibly close. Every single nominee has a legitimate shot, and that's what makes it so exciting to talk about.

Let's dive into the contenders, shall I? First up, we have Briana White as Aerith in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Wow, what a role to take on. Aerith is one of the most beloved characters in gaming history, carrying the weight of decades of fan expectation. Stepping into those shoes is a monumental task, but Briana White didn't just step in—she made the role her own. I remember playing and being utterly charmed. She captured that perfect blend of kindness, playful wit, and an underlying steeliness that defines Aerith. It's a performance that resonated so deeply it already snagged her the Golden Joystick award for Best Supporting Performer. That's not just a win; it's a signal from the fans. When you can make players emotionally invest in a character they thought they already knew everything about, you've done something special.

Then there's Hannah Telle, returning to a role she helped define nine years ago: Max Caulfield in Life is Strange: Double Exposure. I'll be honest, the game itself had its ups and downs for me. But Hannah's performance? That was the anchor. It was the consistent, reliable heartbeat throughout the whole mystery at Caledon University. When other parts of the experience felt uneven, her portrayal of Max—older, wiser, but still grappling with her powers and her conscience—held everything together. It's a masterclass in how a single, strong performance can be the backbone of an entire narrative. She didn't just reprise the role; she showed us how Max has grown, and that connection was the game's biggest strength.

Now, let's talk about a new face in a massive universe: Humberly Gonzalez as Kay Vess in Star Wars Outlaws. Okay, yes, the game had a rocky launch—we all remember the patches. But amidst all that discussion, one thing was universally praised: Humberly's performance. She nailed the classic Star Wars scoundrel vibe. Playing Kay Vess, she balanced charm, naivety, and a scrappy moral compass perfectly. She made Kay feel like a genuine part of that galaxy far, far away, not just a visitor. In a franchise overflowing with iconic characters, creating a new one that feels instantly compelling is a huge achievement. Her work was a unifying force, the shining quality everyone could agree on in a game that sparked plenty of debate.

This brings us to one of the heavy hitters, Luke Roberts as James Sunderland in the Silent Hill 2 remake. Talk about pressure! Remaking a survival horror legend where the protagonist's internal torment is the core of the experience? That's a tightrope walk. The original James is iconic, but let's be real, the voice acting from that era hasn't aged gracefully. Luke Roberts had to modernize a tragic hero for a new generation. And you know what? He absolutely crushed it. His performance is subtle, layered, and dripping with a profound, quiet sadness. You feel James's guilt, his confusion, his horror, all through Roberts' delivery and captured expressions. He didn't go for cheap scares; he went for deep, psychological dread. It's a performance that doesn't just retell the story—it re-contextualizes it with modern emotional depth, making James's tragedy hit even harder.

Finally, we have the returning champion, Melina Juergens as Senua in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. What can I even say? From having no acting experience to delivering not one, but two of the most raw, visceral performances in gaming history. That's her journey. While some argue the sequel didn't reach the narrative heights of the first game, no one can deny that Juergens' portrayal reached new emotional peaks. Ninja Theory's cutting-edge capture technology is one thing, but it's the actor inside that tech that makes it magic. Every single emotion—the stoic determination, the paralyzing fear, the gut-wrenching screams of grief—is conveyed with terrifying authenticity.

You don't just watch Senua's journey; you feel it in your bones because Juergens makes you feel it. Her range is on full, breathtaking display. Every line she delivers carries the weight of a world of pain and resilience. It's a performance that is the very heart and soul of the game, an unparalleled fusion of technology and raw human emotion.

So, who's going to win? Phew, that's the million-dollar question. As a fan looking at this in 2026, I see the race boiling down to a fierce two-way battle between Luke Roberts and Melina Juergens.

• Luke Roberts gave us a game-changing, genre-defining performance that modernized a classic.

• Melina Juergens gave us a tour-de-force of emotional range that is arguably unmatched in the medium right now.

Both are phenomenal. But if I had to put my prediction out there? I think the edge goes to Melina Juergens. The sheer technical and emotional commitment, the way she is Senua, feels like a landmark achievement. Roberts' work is a brilliant reinterpretation, but Juergens' is a raw, pioneering creation that pushes the boundaries of what performance in games can be.

Of course, Briana, Hannah, and Humberly are all right there, and any one of them would be a deserving winner. That's what makes this category so thrilling this year. There are no weak links, only five incredible artists who gave us unforgettable moments. When the show airs later this year, this is the category I'll be watching most closely. No matter who takes the stage, it'll be a victory for storytelling in games.