I think it all depends on what sort of game you have, specifically if it is story driven or immersion/exploration driven.

Halo Reach is story driven and would have absolutely benefitted from a voice. Mass Effect was primarily story driven and the voiced protag worked great.

Fallout 4 is the opposite and a silent protag would have been better as silent, like in Fallout 3 or Elder Scrolls games.

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2008 for me.

Fallout 3 GTA IV Burnout Paradise FarCry 2 Little Big Planet Dead Space Smash Bros Brawl Left 4 Dead Fable 2 Gears of War 2 Mario Kart Wii Star Wars: Force Unleashed Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Rock Band 2 Civilization Revolution Tomb Raider: Underworld Call of Duty: World at War