A good performance can make or break a character. It can be the difference between apathy and appreciation for a game's story. That being said, 2019 certainly had a cast we'll be talking about for years to come.

Best Video Game Performance of 2019: Ashly Burch (Parvati, The Outer Worlds)

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Few characters in video games are as believable as Ashly Burch’s Parvati Holcomb in The Outer Worlds. Whether offering a new perspective on an important decision or just asking you for dating advice, Burch’s Parvati is a nuanced mix of naive, kind-hearted optimist and world-weary laborer.Of course, Burch benefits from a well-written script, but it's her impossibly earnest performance that truly cements the character in the NPC Hall of Fame.For more, check our The Outer Worlds review

These are our nominees for the best performance in games of 2019.

Best Performance Nominees 6 IMAGES

Click through the gallery above or scroll down the page for the full list!

Mikee Goodman (Reptilian Brain/Limbic System, Disco Elysium)

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Laura Bailey (Kait Diaz, Gears 5)

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People's Choice: Debra Wilson (Cere, Jedi: Fallen Order)

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Mikee Goodman breathes gravelly life into not one, but two major characters in Disco Elysium. Essentially playing the parts of a much more morally ambiguous devil and angel on your shoulder than you’re used to, Goodman brings a sense of nuance to his roles, often stealing entire scenes - not least among these being your shambling detective’s efforts at karaoke that can go two very different ways. In a game where you talk to yourself more than you do anyone else in its world, it was essential that these internal whispers were given the right voice. In Goodman, the perfect choice appears to have been made.For more, check our Disco Elysium review Kait Diaz takes the lead role in Gears 5 and Laura Bailey's stellar performance makes it an easy transition. In Gears 5, we see the world around Kait and her friends start crashing down as a new war fully breaks loose, all while Kait finds herself at the center of it. While Bailey offers great performance at the game's biggest, most emotional points, we also saw her shine in the quiet moments during exploration that feature fun banter between Kait and Del. There's a lot wearing on Kait in Gears 5 and Bailey nails her struggle.For more, check out our Gears 5 review Jesse may be the star of Control’s story, but Dr. Casper Darling, played by Matthew Porretta, steals the show whenever he appears on screen. What could have been a role solely meant to deliver exposition — plenty of which he does offer — Porretta makes Dr. Darling fascinating in every clip, from his “on” moments of explaining the workings of the Oldest House to his more personal touches in between takes.Dr. Darling is key to understanding the world of Control, and Porretta’s performance is layered, mysterious, and consistently engaging, a face I was often glad to see not just to learn more about Control’s world but to pick up on more of his eccentricities and his enthusiasm for such a harsh but fascinating life.For more, check out our Control review Although Cal is Fallen Order’s protagonist, it's Cere who goes on the more complex personal journey, and voice actor Deborah Wilson nails every beat of it.Wilson’s Cere is at once a figure of strength and a cautionary tale; a woman wracked with guilt over her past discretions who nonetheless still believes in the Right Path.For more, check out our Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order review

Which vocal/mocap performance was your favorite this year? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out all of our other Game of the Year award winners as well as our picks for the best movies, TV shows, comics, and anime of 2019!

Art for IGN’s Best of 2019 is by Julia Rago, Justin Vachon, Angela Nguyen, and Nicole Cagampan.