Summary
Video game storytelling has come a long way since Mario first rescued Princess Peach. Where once developers relied solely on the written word to convey their narratives, now they work with some of the best voice actors available to bring their characters to life.
Such is the case withStill Wakes the Deep, a claustrophobic horror tale set on an oil rig in the North Sea. It’s an adventure game with minimal mechanics, so the performance of its voice cast needs to carry the experience. Thankfully, they’re more than up for the challenge, imbuing their characters with authenticity and humanity in equal measure.
Caz
Alec Newman
Alec Newman takes center stage in Still Wakes the Deep, portraying the protagonist and player character, Cameron “Caz” McLeary. Caz is an electrician hailing from Scotland, brought onto the Beira D oil rig to perform maintenance tasks, though he also wishes to escape personal drama on the mainland.When a mysterious presence boards the station and begins attacking the crew, he desperately searches for a way to escape, hoping to return to his family.
Newman is a Scottish actor (fitting for a game set off the country’s coast), and is a veteran of both the stage and screen. In addition to this, he has appeared in many other video games, includingXenoblade Chronicles,Assassin’s Creed,Final Fantasy, andCyberpunk 2077.
Suze
Neve McIntosh
Neve McIntosh portrays Suze, Caz’s wife. Though they used to have a happy marriage, their relationship has taken a turn for the worse due to Caz’s run-ins with the law. She writes to her husband at the beginning of the game, warning him that if he can’t turn his life around, she will be forced to leave him.
McIntosh has had a diverse career in show business, with credits in the theatre, film, and television industries. Her highest profile role was Madame Vastra, a recurring character on the popular British television showDoctor Who. She appeared on the show numerous times from 2011 to 2014.
Finlay
Karen Dunbar
Karen Dunbar is Finlay, a member of the Beira D’s crew. She pops up throughout the game, checking in on Caz and working to protect the station. Finlay plays a pivotal role in the game’s climax, and her sage advice ultimately helps Caz complete his mission.
Dunbar is a comedian by trade, and that humorous sensibility comes through in some of her line reads. After rising to prominence in BBC Scotland comedy television (including The Karen Dunbar Show), she pursued a career in theatre. Dunbar is also a vocal advocate of LGBTQ rights, having given multiple speeches about her experience as a lesbian.
Brodie
Michael Abubakar
Michael Abubakar plays Brodie, a key member of the station’s crew. Brodie helps Caz during the game, and is one of the first people to be acquainted with the monster after rescuing Raffs.
Abubakar has a varied filmography, playing small parts in TV shows and movies. His most prominent work came in 2023’s Wonka and 2020’s Artemis Fowl. He’s also found roles in the theatre, playing Romeo in a production of Romeo & Juliet.
Rennick, Boyd
Clive Russell
Clive Russell is responsible for bringing Rennick to life. He’s the hard-nosed manager of the Beira D station, one that doesn’t respect Caz due to his antics on the mainland. Russell also lends his talents to Boyd, a comparatively smaller part voicing another rig worker.
Russell is an accomplished actor, with credits both in his home country of Scotland and in international productions. He’s worked with acclaimed directors such as Ridley Scott, Antoine Fuqua, and Guy Ritchie. He’s most famous for his involvement in the HBO seriesGame of Thrones, where he played Brynden Tully.
Roy
Shaun Dooley
Shaun Dooley takes on the role of Roy, Beira D’s cook. Roy is Caz’s friend from the mainland, and gets him his job at the station to help him avoid trouble with the law. His reasoning was that if Caz spent time away from the victim of his crimes, Roy would be able to talk him out of pressing serious charges.
Dooley has worked in a variety of productions, including video games; he lent his talents to bothElden RingandXenoblade Chronicles 3. He’s a supporter of Barnsley Football Club, which is referenced in Still Wakes the Deep, as Roy roots for the same team.
Roper, Addair, McLurg
Stewart Scudamore
Stewart Scudamore helps flesh out more of the Beira D’s crew, voicing Roper, Addair, and McLurg. Roper is of principal importance, as he’s the first person on the station to recognize there’s something wrong with their drill site.
Scudamore has appeared in a variety of projects, but has found a lot of success as a voice-over artist in video games; he appeared inBaldur’s Gate 3,Dying Light 2, Final Fantasy, andDiablo. His biggest role so far came inPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, where he played the villainous Vahram.
Trots, Banky, Dalgleish
Nicholas Boulton
Nicholas Boulton lends his talents to Trots, Banky, and Dalgleish. These are all crew mates that Caz meets in the game’s opening, before slowly being picked off by the monsters throughout the plot.
Boulton is a prolific voice actor in the video game arena, with credits inHellblade,Plague Tale, and Final Fantasy. His biggest part came inDragon Age2, where he played Hawke, the player character. Outside of gaming, he has made voice appearances in both the Game of Thrones and Doctor Who franchises.
Muir, Douglas
Duncan Pow
Duncan Pow plays Muir and Douglas in Still Wakes the Deep. Douglas is of particular importance, since he’s one of the crew mates who rescued Caz after the inciting accident with the drill.
Pow has starred in a variety of television shows, ranging from local British productions to extravagant Hollywood projects. He portrayed Ruescott Melshi in Rogue One: AStar WarsStory, and reprised his role in the prequel series, Andor. He has worked in video games previously, being credited inGhost ReconandDiablo 4.
Archie, Davros, Gibbo
Sandy Batchelor
Sandy Batchelor voices multiple Beira D crew members by the names of Archie, Davros, and Gibbo. Gibbo claims the most screen time of the three, as after you meet him in the game’s opening, he is infected by the monstrous presence and becomes the first mutated crew mate you need to avoid.
Batchelor has a variety of credits on television, and has performed in the theatre as well. He’s done voice-over work in games before, with small parts inBattlefield 1andXCOM 2. Interestingly, he also earned a credit forFar Cry3, where he did motion capture work.
