Highlights
- Neil Newbon has gained fame in the 2020s due to his impressive performances and memorable characters.
- His ability to portray distinct voices and accents adds depth to his characters, making them stand out among others.
- From playing ruthless villains to conflicted individuals, Newbon’s vocal performances bring depth and charisma to his characters, making them compelling and memorable.
While he has been around for several years, Neil Newbon has really grown in fame during the 2020s. This is due to a slew of big roles and impressive performances. Now, you can look at his resume and see a number of memorable characters on there. And it’s quite a varied list, as Newbon isn’t an actor who provides the same voice for every role.
Most of his characters sound distinct. He’s even done Russian and British accents for some of them. Whatever sort of character he’s playing, though, he’s been able to make them stand out. Yet, which one stands out the most? All of these are certainly contenders.
The characters were chosen based on how compelling, humorous, and memorable they are. They certainly don’t have to be likable to make the list.
7 Nicholai Ginovaef (Resident Evil 3)
It’s easy to dislike Nicholai Ginovaef (aka Nikolai Zinoviev) from the Resident Evil 3 remake. After all, the man is ruthless, conniving, and selfish. He will happily kill an ally if it would benefit him. In fact, he does shoot an injured teammate in one scene, just in case they’re infected by the zombie virus, and doesn’t show any remorse for it.
As you can guess, he’s a villain. Yet, in a series that includes many evildoers, Nicholai is able to stand out among the pack, mainly because of Neil Newbon’s performance. The character is very compelling and charismatic. And it’s hard not to focus on him every time he features in a cutscene, as he just grabs your attention.
6 Nick Lightbearer (We Happy Few: Lightbearer DLC)
Nick Lightbearer is a famous British rockstar who serves as the main protagonist of We Happy Few’s Lightbearer DLC. Like most celebrities, he’s adored by many people. Yet, he’s not a fan of himself. The man harbors some self-hatred and suffers from depression. He uses drugs and debauchery to ease the pain. Throughout the Lightbearer DLC, though, you see him start to change.
Despite what it sounds like, the character isn’t all doom and gloom. He’s also very entertaining due to his quick wit and general silliness. As a result, he provides several laugh-out-loud moments in the DLC.
5 Isaac (Deliver Us Mars)
Conflicted villains are always interesting to a certain degree, as they’re still quite a rare sight in the gaming world. This is the main reason why Isaac from Deliver Us Mars is such a fascinating character. He is a man who essentially doomed Earth and did a few monstrous things afterward.
That just sounds like a villain. But the man isn’t proud of the things he’s done. In fact, he harbors plenty of guilt, which Neil Newbon expertly portrays in his vocal performance. Isaac’s actions are born mostly from a will to survive and cowardice. All of this makes him a memorable character.
4 Elijah Kamski (Detroit: Become Human)
Elijah Kamski doesn’t get much screen time in Detroit: Become Human, but he’s still incredibly important to the overall narrative of this great Quantic Dream game. This is because the story is all about androids, and he was the one who created them.
That alone isn’t enough to make him a good character. He also happens to be a mysterious and magnetic individual. This is made clear in the scene where you meet the guy. That one thought-provoking conversation is enough to make you remember the man forever. Not many other gaming characters have that impact.
3 Zeon (Xenoblade Chronicles 3)
Neil Newbon doesn’t voice many truly morally righteous characters. They’re typically villains or, at least, morally questionable people. Therefore, Zeon from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a unique character for him to lend his vocals to. After all, he is a good man and an impressive one, too.
Despite being fairly young, he is the commander of a whole colony. And that is not a duty he takes lightly, either, as he is determined to look after his people. This is easier said than done since they’re suffering from a food shortage during the game. It’s easy to admire his efforts to help his people and even easier to admire the plenty of humorous comments he makes throughout the adventure.
2 Karl Heisenberg (Resident Evil Village)
Protagonist Ethan Winters has a lot to deal with in Resident Evil Village. Karl Heisenberg might be his most dangerous foe, as he has the ability to move around and manipulate metal, which is an impressive power. But there is more to Heisenberg than just throwing metal around.
He, like a few other characters in the game, is one of Mother Miranda’s lieutenants. Unlike the rest, though, he doesn’t fully accept doing her bidding. This makes him more compelling as he tries to manipulate the situation to benefit him, even helping Ethan a little. So, he’s no run-of-the-mill bad guy. Plus, he’s quite funny, too.
1 Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with great companions. So, to get attention or be remembered, you have to be a good character. Well, Astarion is a brilliant character and is the person Neil Newbon is arguably most known for.
At first, the elf vampire comes across as pretentious and annoying. That is not to say he isn’t those things, but you quickly get used to him and even appreciate his quirks. It helps that he is a constant source of entertainment due to his sarcasm and general wit. Yet, there is depth to the character also. You just have to get to know him to see who he really is. When you do, you truly get to experience the greatness of Astarion.
