Honorable Mention: Ruffin Prentiss (Watch Dogs 2 – Marcus)
Of all the sequels released this year, few had more to prove than Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2. The original was a divisive title launched to mixed reviews, but the sequel jettisoned everything that didn’t work in its predecessor, including lukewarm protagonist Aiden Pearce. In his place is young hacker Marcus Holloway.
Fortunately, it’s a replacement that paid off. The characters in Watch Dogs 2, and Marcus in particular, are a fun cast of enjoyable company. The voice acting brings out the unique character traits of each, and Prentiss anchors the story perfectly. It feels so natural to hear him bounce off the other characters, and times when he geeks out with the crew become downright infectious. With any luck, Marcus and friends will be around the series for a good amount of time, and so will Prentiss.