Actor Ben Starr, renowned for his roles in games such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy XVI, has confidently stated that the upcoming title Marathon is destined to win the “Game of the Year” award.
Starr highlighted a peculiar commonality among recent Game of the Year winners, including Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. All three critically acclaimed titles featured significant performances by actress Jennifer English. Fans have even coined this phenomenon “The Jennifer English Effect.”
During the Emerald City Comic Con 2026, host Ashley Robinson brought up this intriguing observation, remarking:
“You know Reddit called it the Jennifer English Effect? It’s a game that steadily gains popularity after Clair Obscur’s release.”
The actress herself reacted to the revelation, saying:
“That’s very sweet! What?”
Starr then directly linked this phenomenon to Marathon’s future prospects:
“This means Marathon will be the game of the year.”
This discussion notably took place on the same weekend Marathon was first publicly showcased. While the game may not have generated the same immediate frenzy as Clair Obscur, it has already begun to cultivate its own dedicated fanbase.