Actor Ben Starr, recognized for his roles in titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy XVI, has confidently stated that the upcoming game Marathon will be crowned Game of the Year.
Starr pointed out a unique commonality among recent Game of the Year winners, including Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Beyond their respective genres, all three games featured prominent voice acting from Jennifer English. This curious trend has led fans to dub it the “Jennifer English Effect.”
The phenomenon was highlighted during Emerald City Comic Con 2026, where host Ashley Robinson brought it to public attention:
“You know Reddit has dubbed this the Jennifer English Effect? A phenomenon where games she’s involved in, like Clair Obscur, steadily gain recognition and popularity after release.”
The actress herself reacted to the revelation with a mix of surprise and gratitude:
“That’s very sweet! What?”
Starr then confidently linked this “effect” to the future success of Marathon:
“This means Marathon will be Game of the Year.”
The panel discussion occurred during the same weekend that Marathon was first showcased to the public. While the game may not have immediately generated the same level of immense hype as Clair Obscur, it has already begun to cultivate its own dedicated audience.