Celebrity cameos in video games normally happen as a means to boost popularity. If a well-liked celebrity is part of a game, sales will probably increase.
8 Best Hollywood Celebrity Appearances in Video Games
Hollywood celebrities have made their appearances in video games, with these being the best ones.
While many talented performers and celebrities have lent their likeness and voice to games, rarely do they appear as themselves. Sometimes celebrities are able to appear as themselves regardless of how silly it may appear, so here are the ten best appearances of celebrities as themselves (or at least when developers seemed to imply as much) in video games.
10Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
The Original Celebrity Endorsement
Before it was justPunch-Out!!!!, Mike Tyson allegedly signed a $50,000 contract to provide his likeness to one of the greatest video games of all time as the final boss. This was hardly a surprise, as Mike Tyson is still to this day considered one of the greatest boxers ever to throw gloves.
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Once his contract expired, Tyson was replaced with Mr. Dream, but his move to be the final boss in this game paved the way for more celebrities to add themselves to popular franchises for everyone’s benefit.
950 Cent, 50 Cent: Bulletproof
Bulletproof For As Long As Your Health Bar Lasts
Rapper and producer Curtis James Jackson a.k.a. 50 Cent, famously had a video game that revolved completely around him. Living a child’s dream of being a superhero,50 Cent: Bulletproofhad the musician runnin' and gunnin' around taking revenge on the people who tried to kill him. More shocking is that the game is allegedly based on true events in the performer’s life, so while Curtis' childhood was not very happy, at least his adult self was able to become famous enough to get an entire game revolving around how tough he is.
8Danny Trejo, Far Cry 6
Trejo’s Tacos and Machettes
Far Cry 6takes a break from super politcal missions to really make a difference, by tasking the player to help Danny Trejo protect his taco stand. The real Danny Trejo appearsin a crossover mission added to Far Cry 6in 2022, with the real life bad-boy helping protagonist Dani Rojas after they successfully defend his precious Tacos by taking out a captain of the FND. This mission was removed, likely due to licensing permissions, but while it lasted, was a hilarious addition to the game and still somewhat believable given Danny’s gravitas.
7Phil Collins, Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories
Something in the Air Tonight
The first celebrity to play themselves in Grand Theft Auto was Oscar-winning musician Phil Collins. The game was pretty kind to Phil, which makes sense given it was their first time getting a chance to have a real celebrity in such a controversial game series. Vic must defend Phil’s life while the mob tries to kill him for money his manager owes them. It was cool having such a renowned celebrity actually appear in such a reprehensible place, and while the graphics have aged quite a bit since then, it was a well-received cameo.
6Journey (1983)
Journey’s Journey
Journey enjoyed major success in the early 80s, so Midway wanted to cash in on this success by making a video game entirely around the band for arcades. Players would use a joytstick to collect the band’s instruments after crazed alien fans stole them. Players could choose which band member and corresponding level to play including Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Steve Smith, Jonathan Cain and Ross Valory. Unfortunately,the game was not well-received, but it remains a hilarious part of gaming history.
5Ricky Gervais, Grand Theft Auto IV
“Free” Premium Stand-Up
One of the most famous stand-up comedians, Ricky Gervais, appeared as himself inGrand Theft Auto 4, in the split sides comedy club. Players were lucky enough to hear real sets that other suckers would have to pay hundreds of dollars to see live. While the virtual version is not the same as the real deal, being able to steal a car, run over some pedestrians, then see hilarious world-renowned stand-up was a great and witty addition.
4Shaquille O’Neal, Shaq Fu
A New Fighting Style
The famous basketball star turned celebrity actually has two video games based around himself: the 1994 Shaq Fu and the 2018 game Shaq Fu: The Legend Reborn. Shaq had expressed interest in martial arts, so Electronic Arts put him in a fighting style game when he signed on to appear in one of their products. The gameplay is similar to street fighter, with Shaq taking on several other-wordly demons in an effort to save a small boy. While it did not do well financially, outlets at the time praised the tight controls and fast combat.
3Keith David, Saints Row IV
You Either Die a Hero, Or Live Long Enough To Become Keith David
Keith David is possibly one of the biggest voice actors of this generation. After voicing Julius Little in the first two Saint’s Row games, he was upgraded to his own full character and likeness inSaints Row 4. This does not go unnoticed, as the cast constantly say the two characters look and sound the same, to which Keith constantly disagrees. Keith goes from friend, to enemy, to anti-hero in the game, and his performance is hilarious, along with a refreshing ability not to take himself seriously at all.
2Seth Rogen, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
(Insert Exaggerated Stoner Laugh)
Appearing as his goofy self in the middle of a warzone, Seth Rogen’s addition to Call Of Duty is a match made in heaven. With a community full of weed enthusiasts mocking each other online, the Rogen brand finds a perfect place among COD veterans. His pass added a silly finisher, a marijuana-themed outfit, and for the most dedicated XP gainers, a bright hosting outfit. Something about that iconic stoner laugh is also the icing on the cake after sniping someone from behind and tea-bagging their limp player on the ground.
Just What The Doctor (Killer) Ordered
The Nicolas Cage addition to Dead By Daylight was unexpected, hilarious and done with perfection. Not only did his inclusion amp up the player base and bring back players who had left, but his kit actually provided perks and gameplay that added variety and so much fun to matches that some had felt had gone stale. Running around the map with four Nic Cage’s while dodging hatchets or blights is an amazing experience, and while it is a horror game, the inclusion of Nicolas Cage was exactly the unserious needle in the arm the non-linear survival game needed.
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