Australia’s video game industry is growing stronger than ever – and with it, so are opportunities for skilled voice actors. Over the past decade, the local sector has evolved from a niche creative corner to a thriving industry with support from state and federal investment.
Australian studios such as House House (Untitled Goose Game), Team Cherry (Hollow Knight), Wicked Workshop, Tantalus, Uppercut Games, and Prideful Sloth are making global waves. Many international AAA studios (that’s major video game producers to beginners) also have Australian outposts (such as Sledgehammer Games, of Call of Duty fame) or rely on Australian subcontractors for motion capture, sound design, and voiceover work.
There’s more scope than ever to explore video game voice acting as a real career path. But bear in mind: Breaking into voice acting for video games is rarely an overnight success story. The industry is competitive, the standards are high, and the work often goes to actors with proven skill, versatility, and stamina.
But it is possible – especially if you already have a genuine passion for gaming and a presence within the community. Many successful voice actors began as streamers, content creators, modders, or reviewers and built credibility and visibility long before landing their first role. If you’re already immersed in gaming culture, you’re not starting from scratch – you’re starting with an advantage.
Whether you’re a trained actor curious about branching out or a newcomer wondering how to become a video game voice actor, this guide breaks down the steps to get started and highlights some of the Australians already thriving in the field.
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Sydney-based professional voice actor Aimee Smith has voiced over a thousand characters across gaming, animation, anime, and more, and now also offers voice-acting coaching services to others. But her transition from primary school teacher to full-time vocal powerhouse required hard work.
After completing her Bachelor of Primary Education and finding herself longing for something like the joy she used to find in doing amateur musical theatre, a few personal interests clicked into place and Smith began her voice-acting journey.
“In 2011, I started my little hobby and auditioned on places like Newgrounds and the Voice Acting Alliance (which is no longer around),” she says. “I slowly began to attain paid work, join rosters, and booked roles I could share on my socials.”
“I booked the role of Milla in a game called Freedom Planet, and was asked to go to the US to record for the sequel in 2016 – a truly baffling offer, as I had never even called myself a voice actor and was convinced it would only ever be a side gig or hobby,” she says. “The experience prompted me to consider this as a profession, so I created a three-year plan to work my way into full-time work by 2019. I have been doing it full time ever since!”
1. Build foundational acting skills.
Unlike commercial voiceover work – in which the goal is often clarity and warmth – video game voice acting is closer to a stage or screen performance. Characters experience physical danger, high emotion, fantasy combat, and complex inner worlds. Games also require a huge range of efforts or reactions: breaths, gasps, screams, battle noises, reactions, and movement sounds.
“If you’re just starting out, it’s OK to get your feet wet by contributing to things like game jams and student films from a simple home studio,” Smith says. “You can make a free profile on sites like the Casting Call Club, where you can start auditioning and listening to other people’s auditions for inspiration. Develop your skill set by reading aloud each day, and become aware of how video game voice acting performances can greatly differ across different genres.”
Smith also recommends that you “follow your favourite voice actors online and discover some in-the-booth videos so you can see how they manipulate their faces and bodies as they perform.” Also “read articles from places like the Voice Acting Club to further develop your craft.”
You don’t necessarily need drama school credentials, but you do need to know how to break down a script, make choices, and sustain emotional truth with only your voice. Some useful ways to build your skills include:
- Taking acting classes (stage or screen)
- Getting into improv workshops and classes, which can be a great way to improve spontaneity and character creation
- Auditioning for theatre or open-mic storytelling events; any experience with performance can be a valuable way to practise speaking for an audience
- Taking voice coaching to learn to develop technique, stamina, and vocal health
- Reading aloud – whether alone or with others – as much as you can
2. Grasp the medium and its language.
Video games and voice acting for gaming have their own creative vocabulary. Learning the terminology helps you communicate with directors and shows that you understand the industry’s demands, Gemma Laurelle, a professional video game voice actor, mentor, and YouTuber, writes in a piece for ArtsHub.
Laurelle uses “efforts” as an example. “Efforts are nonverbal sounds that add to the action and realistic nuance to a scene,” she writes. “Different death sounds, being hit, giving hits, falling, climbing, jumping, breathing, and the like are all considered to be efforts.”
(Hot tip: Laurelle shares some honest advice about the realities of voice acting for video games over on YouTube.)
3. Build your presence in the gaming community.
Actually playing a range of video games and being genuinely interested in gaming is an asset.
Casting teams increasingly look for performers who are not only skilled actors, but are also familiar with gaming culture, actually participate in online gaming communities, and are already involved in indie gaming projects. You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer, but understanding genres, player expectations, and narrative structures helps enormously.
You can build your profile by streaming on Twitch or YouTube, posting gameplay reviews or commentary, creating character voices for fan content, and getting involved with local game dev meetups and festivals (PAX Aus is a big one).
It isn’t essential, but visibility in the gaming world helps establish credibility and signals that you understand the medium from the inside.
4. Set up your home studio.
Most early career auditions – and even some professional sessions – happen remotely. If you’re wondering how to get into voice acting for video games, a reliable home setup is crucial.
You don’t necessarily need top-tier gear, just a quality condenser microphone (entry-level models are fine); a pop filter; an audio interface; a quiet, treated recording space; editing software such as Audacity, Reaper, or Adobe Audition; and headphones suitable for monitoring.
5. Know where to find video game voice acting jobs in Australia.
The industry isn’t as centralised as film or TV, so you’ll need to keep multiple channels open. Below are some common places to find early opportunities.
- StarNow, where indie games, student projects, and emerging studios often post
- Aussie casting agencies with gaming clients, such as Scout Management, RMK Management, and EM Voices
- Game developer job boards and Discord groups
- Local film schools and game design programs looking for voice talent
- Industry events such as PAX Aus, Melbourne International Games Week, GCAP Melbourne, IGDA, and SXSW Sydney Games Festival
Indie projects are especially valuable, because they give you credits, experience, and material for a showreel.
Auditions for video game voice acting are usually self-taped. Generally, directors and casting teams are looking out for:
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Warm, natural delivery: Directors want to hear you first – your real voice, clean and unembellished.
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Character samples: You may be asked to perform several characters. Focus on vocal placement, choosing an emotional spine, and maintaining consistency across takes.
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Efforts and effort sets: This is where technique matters. You’ll need to do controlled breaths, exertions, grunts, shouts, and combat sounds (without damaging your voice).
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Nonlinear scenes: Because games aren’t recorded sequentially, you may jump between emotional states quickly. Show that you can switch instantly and keep continuity in your choices.
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Technical quality: Your recording shouldn’t need to sound professional-studio perfect, but it must be clean, clear, and free of background noise.
If you want to stand out, treat your voice audition like a collaboration rather than a performance. Make bold choices, but leave space for direction.
Some of Australia’s most successful actors have lent their voices to video games. Before making it big in Hollywood, Rebel Wilson voiced various characters in Australian animated projects, as well as Raz in both the film and video game versions of Ice Age: Continental Drift. Stars also commonly contribute to video game spin-offs of film franchises they’ve performed in. Chris Hemsworth contributed his voice to the video games Thor: God of Thunder and Ghostbusters, for example, while David Wenham voiced characters in Lego: Lord of the Rings and Lego Dimensions.
Some of the biggest names in this field didn’t necessarily start out as actors or follow traditional entertainment industry career paths. Instead they built their presence in the gaming world through streaming channels. Some break-out video game voice actors include:
- Alanah Pearce: Aussie born and now LA-based, Pearce (aka Charalanahzard) is a former games journalist turned YouTuber, writer, and voice actor with over a million combined followers. She is the voice of Malevola in Dispatch, and has also voiced characters in titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Gears 5.
- Leah de Niese: The voice of Junker Queen in Overwatch, Australian–Sri Lankan actor and creator de Niese built a strong online presence through gaming and digital content, leading to video game roles including multiple performances across Ubisoft titles.
- Nina Nikolic: Known online as KidKerrigan, Serbian-Australian actor, voiceover artist, and gaming personality Nikolic leveraged her substantial Twitch following to build a thriving career that includes performances in several Australian indie games.
If you’re exploring how to become a video game voice actor, the Australian industry is a rewarding place to start. With the rise of indie studios, the expansion of local AAA support teams, and the increasing global need for high-quality performances, there’s never been a better time to build a presence in video game voice acting.
Whether you begin with small indie gigs, student projects, or formal acting training, consistency and curiosity are key. Every audition builds experience. Every character teaches you something new. And every performance strengthens your voice – literally and creatively.