British Academy Games Awards Explained

BAFTA Games Awards
Current Awards:	20th British Academy Games Awards
Awarded For:	Outstanding creative achievement in games^[1]
Country:	United Kingdom
Former Name:	BAFTA Video Games Awards
Website:	bafta.org

The BAFTA Games Awards or British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honouring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry.^[1] First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Since the inaugural BAFTA Games Awards in February 2004, twenty ceremonies have taken place. The most recent, the 20th British Academy Games Awards, was held at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 11 April 2024.

Ceremonies and winners

The BAFTA ceremonies are typically held in March or April of each year. In some years, BAFTA has given out additional awards just prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo event, which happens in May or June of the year.

2003

See main article: 1st British Academy Games Awards. The 2003 ceremony took place in February 2004.^[3]

Action Game –
Adventure Game –
Animation or Intro – Soulcalibur II (Jame Chung Edition)
Children's Game –
Design –
Game Boy Advance Game –
Game on Any Platform – The Year's Best Game – Call of Duty
Gamecube – Metroid Prime
Mobile Game – Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Multiplayer – Battlefield 1942
Original Music – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
PC –
PS2 –
Racing – Project Gotham Racing 2
Sound –
Sports – FIFA Football 2004
Strategy –
Sunday Times Reader Award for Games –
Technical Achievement –
Xbox – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Special Award (Games) – Chris Deering

2004

See main article: 2nd British Academy Games Awards. The 2004 ceremony took place on 1 March 2005.^[4]

Action Game – Half-Life 2
Animation – Half-Life 2
Art Direction – Half-Life 2
Audio Achievement –
Best Game – Half-Life 2
Children's – Donkey Konga
Gamecube –
Handheld – Colin McRae Rally 2005
Mobile Game – BlueTooth BiPlanes
Online Multiplayer – Half-Life 2
Original Music –
Originality – SingStar/Singstar Party
PC – Half-Life 2
PS2 –
Racing –
Sports – Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Sunday Times Reader Award for Games – Football Manager 2005
Technical Direction –
Xbox – Halo 2
Special Award (Games) – Sam Houser & Leslie Benzies

2006

See main article: 3rd British Academy Games Awards. The 2006 ceremony took place at The Roundhouse on 5 October 2006 and was hosted by Vernon Kay.^[5]

Action and Adventure (Sponsored by PC World) – Shadow of the Colossus
Artistic Achievement – Shadow of the Colossus
Audio Achievement – Electroplankton
Best Game (Sponsored by PC World) – Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Casual and Social –
Character – LocoRoco (LocoRoco)
Children's – LocoRoco
Gameplay (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) –
Gamers' Award (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) –
Innovation – Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?
Multiplayer – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach
Original Score –
Screenplay – Psychonauts
Simulation – The Movies
Soundtrack – Guitar Hero
Sports – Fight Night Round 3
Strategy –
Technical Achievement (Sponsored by Skillset) – Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

2007

See main article: 4th British Academy Games Awards. The 2007 ceremony took place at Battersea Evolution on 23 October 2007 and was hosted by Vic Reeves.^[6]

Action and Adventure (Sponsored by PC World) – Crackdown
Artistic Achievement – Ōkami
Best Game – BioShock
Casual – Wii Sports
Gameplay (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) – Wii Sports
Innovation – Wii Sports
Multiplayer – Wii Sports
Original Score – Ōkami
Sports – Wii Sports
Story and Character – God of War II
Strategy and Simulation – Wii Sports
Technical Achievement – God of War II
Use of Audio – Crackdown
BAFTA One's To Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Ragnarawk
The PC World Gamers Award (voted for by the public) – Football Manager 2007
Academy Fellowship – Will Wright

2008

See main article: 5th British Academy Games Awards. The 2008 ceremony took place at London Hilton on 10 March 2009 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[7]

Action and Adventure – Fable II
Artistic Achievement – LittleBigPlanet
Best Game – Super Mario Galaxy
Casual – Boom Blox
Gameplay –
Handheld – Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Multiplayer – Left 4 Dead
Original Score – Dead Space
Sports –
Strategy – Civilization Revolution
Story and Character –
Technical Achievement – Spore
Use of Audio – Dead Space
BAFTA One's to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Boro-Toro
GAME Award of 2008 –
Academy Fellowship – Nolan Bushnell

2009

See main article: 6th British Academy Games Awards. The 2009 ceremony took place at London Hilton 19 March 2010 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[8]

Action –
Artistic Achievement – Flower
Best Game –
Family & Social – Wii Sports Resort
Gameplay –
Handheld – LittleBigPlanet
Multiplayer – Left 4 Dead 2
Original Score –
Sports – FIFA 10
Story –
Strategy –
Use of Audio –
Use of Online – FIFA 10
BAFTA One's to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Shrunk!
GAME Award of 2009 –
Academy Fellowship – Shigeru Miyamoto

2010

See main article: 7th British Academy Games Awards. The 2010 ceremony took place at London Hilton on 16 March 2011 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[9]

Action –
Artistic Achievement – God of War III
Best Game – Mass Effect 2
Family – Kinect Sports
Gameplay – Super Mario Galaxy 2
Handheld – Cut the Rope
Multiplayer – Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Original Music – Heavy Rain
Puzzle –
Social Network Game – My Empire
Sports – F1 2010
Story – Heavy Rain
Strategy – Civilization V
Technical Innovation – Heavy Rain
Use of Audio –
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Twang!
GAME Award of 2010 –
Academy Fellowship – Peter Molyneux

2011

See main article: 8th British Academy Games Awards. The 2011 ceremony took place at London Hilton on 16 March 2012 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[10]

Action –
Artistic Achievement – Rayman Origins
Audio Achievement – Battlefield 3
Best Game – Portal 2
Debut Game – Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Family – LittleBigPlanet 2
Game Design – Portal 2
Game Innovation – LittleBigPlanet 2
Mobile & Handheld – Peggle HD
Online – Browser – Monstermind
Online Multiplayer – Battlefield 3
Original Music – L.A. Noire
Performer – Mark Hamill (as The Joker, )
Sports/Fitness –
Story – Portal 2
Strategy –
BAFTA Ones To Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Tick Tock Toys
GAME Award of 2011 – Battlefield 3
Special – Markus Persson

2012

See main article: 9th British Academy Games Awards. The 2012 ceremony took place at London Hilton on 5 March 2013 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[11]

Action – Far Cry 3
Artistic Achievement – Journey
Audio Achievement – Journey
Best Game – Dishonored
British Game – The Room
Debut Game – The Unfinished Swan
Family –
Game Design – Journey
Game Innovation – The Unfinished Swan
Mobile & Handheld – The Walking Dead
Online – Browser – SongPop
Online Multiplayer – Journey
Original Music – Journey
Performer – Danny Wallace (as the narrator, Thomas Was Alone)
Sports/Fitness – New Star Soccer
Story – The Walking Dead
Strategy –
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Starcrossed
Academy Fellowship – Gabe Newell

2013

See main article: 10th British Academy Games Awards. The 2013 ceremony took place at Tobacco Dock on 12 March 2014 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[12]

Action & Adventure – The Last of Us
Artistic Achievement – Tearaway
Audio Achievement - The Last of Us
Best Game – The Last of Us
British Game – Grand Theft Auto V
Debut Game – Gone Home
Family – Tearaway
Game Design – Grand Theft Auto V
Game Innovation –
Mobile & Handheld – Tearaway
Online Multiplayer – Grand Theft Auto V
Original Music – BioShock Infinite
Performer – Ashley Johnson (as Ellie, The Last of Us)
Sports – FIFA 14
Story – The Last of Us
Strategy & Simulation – Papers, Please
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Size DOES Matter
Academy Fellowship – Rockstar Games

2014

See main article: 11th British Academy Games Awards. The 2014 ceremony took place at Tobacco Dock on 12 March 2015 and was hosted by Rufus Hound.^[13]

Artistic Achievement – Lumino City
Audio Achievement –
Best Game – Destiny
British Game – Monument Valley
Debut Game – Never Alone
Family – Minecraft: Console Editions
Game Design –
Game Innovation – The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Mobile & Handheld – Monument Valley
Online Multiplayer – Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Original Music – Far Cry 4
Original Property –
Performer – Ashley Johnson (as Ellie, )
Persistent Game – League of Legends
Sports – OlliOlli
Story –
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Chambara
Academy Fellowship – David Braben

2015

See main article: 12th British Academy Games Awards. The 2015 ceremony took place at Tobacco Dock on 7 April 2016 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[14]

Artistic Achievement – Ori and the Blind Forest
Audio Achievement – Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
Best Game – Fallout 4
British Game –
Debut Game – Her Story
Family – Rocket League
Game Design – Bloodborne
Game Innovation – Her Story
Mobile & Handheld – Her Story
Multiplayer – Rocket League
Music - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
Original Property – Until Dawn
Performer – Merle Dandridge (as Kate Collins, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)
Persistent Game – Prison Architect
Sports – Rocket League
Story – Life Is Strange
Special - Amy Hennig^[15]
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Sundown
Academy Fellowship – John Carmack
AMD eSports Audience Award – Smite

2016

See main article: 13th British Academy Games Awards. The 2016 ceremony took place at Tobacco Dock on 6 April 2017 and was hosted by Danny Wallace.^[16]

Artistic Achievement – Inside
Audio Achievement – The Last Guardian
Best Game –
British Game – Overcooked
Debut Game – Firewatch
Evolving Game – Rocket League
Family – Overcooked
Game Design – Inside
Game Innovation – That Dragon, Cancer
Mobile – Pokémon Go
Multiplayer – Overwatch
Music – Virginia
Narrative – Inside
Original Property – Inside
Performer – Cissy Jones (as Delilah, Firewatch)
BAFTA Special Award – Brenda Romero
BAFTA Special Award - Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill of Riot Games^[17]
BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Among the Stones
AMD eSports Audience Award – Clash Royale

2017

See main article: 14th British Academy Games Awards. The 2017 ceremony took place at The Troxy on 12 April 2018 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[18] ^[19]

Artistic Achievement –
Audio Achievement –
Best Game – What Remains of Edith Finch
British Game –
Debut Game – Gorogoa
Evolving Game – Overwatch
Family – Super Mario Odyssey
Game Beyond Entertainment –
Game Design – Super Mario Odyssey
Game Innovation –
Mobile Game – Golf Clash
Multiplayer –
Music – Cuphead
Narrative – Night in the Woods
Original Property – Horizon Zero Dawn
Performer – Melina Juergens (as Senua, )
Special Award: Nolan North^[20]

2018

See main article: 15th British Academy Games Awards. The 2018 ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 4 April 2019 and was hosted by Dara Ó Briain.^[21] ^[22]

Artistic Achievement – Return of the Obra Dinn
Audio Achievement – God of War
Best Game – God of War
British Game – Forza Horizon 4
Debut Game – Yoku's Island Express
EE Mobile Game – Old School RuneScape
Evolving Game – Fortnite Battle Royale
Family – Nintendo Labo
Game Beyond Entertainment – My Child Lebensborn
Game Design – Return of the Obra Dinn
Game Innovation – Nintendo Labo
Mobile Game – Florence
Multiplayer – A Way Out
Music – God of War
Narrative – God of War
Original Property – Into the Breach
Performer – Jeremy Davies as The Stranger/Baldur in God of War
Special Award – Epic Games^[23] ^[24]

2019

See main article: 16th British Academy Games Awards. Though originally planned to be presented at a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the event was instead presented as a live stream on 2 April 2020 due to concern over the COVID-19 pandemic.^[25]

Animation – Luigi's Mansion 3
Artistic Achievement – Sayonara Wild Hearts
Audio Achievement – Ape Out
Best Game – Outer Wilds
British Game – Observation
Debut Game – Disco Elysium
EE Mobile Game –
Evolving Game – Path of Exile
Family – Untitled Goose Game
Game Beyond Entertainment – Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to)
Game Design – Outer Wilds
Multiplayer – Apex Legends
Music – Disco Elysium
Narrative – Disco Elysium
Original Property – Disco Elysium
Performer in a Leading Role – Gonzalo Martin as Sean Diaz in Life Is Strange 2
Performer in a Supporting Role – Martti Suosalo as Ahti the Janitor in Control
Technical Achievement – Death Stranding
BAFTA Fellowship – Hideo Kojima

2020

See main article: 17th British Academy Games Awards. The event was held as a live-streamed event on 25 March 2021. The nominees were announced on 3 March 2021.^[26]

Animation – The Last of Us Part II
Artistic Achievement – Hades
Audio Achievement – Ghost of Tsushima
Best Game – Hades
British Game –
Debut Game – Carrion
EE Game of the Year – The Last of Us Part II
Evolving Game – Sea of Thieves
Family –
Game Beyond Entertainment –
Game Design – Hades
Multiplayer –
Music –
Narrative – Hades
Original Property –
Performer in a Leading Role – Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part II
Performer in a Supporting Role – Logan Cunningham for multiple roles in Hades
Technical Achievement – Dreams
BAFTA Fellowship – Siobhan Reddy

2021

See main article: 18th British Academy Games Awards. The ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 7 April 2022 and was hosted by television presenter Elle Osili-Wood for the second time. The nominees were announced on 3 March 2022.^[27]

Animation –
Artistic Achievement – The Artful Escape
Audio Achievement – Returnal
Best Game – Returnal
British Game – Forza Horizon 5
Debut Game – TOEM
EE Game of the Year – Unpacking
Evolving Game – No Man's Sky
Family –
Game Beyond Entertainment – Before Your Eyes
Game Design – Inscryption
Multiplayer – It Takes Two
Music – Returnal
Narrative – Unpacking
Original Property – It Takes Two
Performer in a Leading Role – Jane Perry as Selene Vassos in Returnal
Performer in a Supporting Role – Kimberly Brooks as Hollis Forsythe in Psychonauts 2
Technical Achievement –

2022

See main article: 19th British Academy Games Awards. The ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 30 March 2023 and was hosted by esports presenter Frankie Ward. The nominees were announced on 2 March 2023.^[28] ^[29]

Animation – God of War Ragnarök
Artistic Achievement – Tunic
Audio Achievement – God of War Ragnarök
Best Game – Vampire Survivors
British Game – Rollerdrome
Debut Game – Tunic
EE Game of the Year – God of War Ragnarök
Evolving Game – Final Fantasy XIV Online
Family – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Game Beyond Entertainment –
Game Design – Vampire Survivors
Multiplayer – Elden Ring
Music – God of War Ragnarök
Narrative – Immortality
Original Property – Elden Ring
Performer in a Leading Role – Christopher Judge as Kratos in God of War Ragnarök
Performer in a Supporting Role – Laya Deleon Hayes as Angrboða in God of War Ragnarök
Technical Achievement – Horizon Forbidden West

2023

See main article: 20th British Academy Games Awards. The ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 11 April 2024. For the first time, BAFTA released their official longlist on 14 December 2023, with the shortlisted nominees announced on 7 March 2024.^[30] ^[31]

Animation – Hi-Fi Rush
Artistic Achievement – Alan Wake 2
Audio Achievement – Alan Wake 2
Best Game – Baldur's Gate 3
British Game – Viewfinder
Debut Game – Venba
EE Game of the Year – Baldur's Gate 3
Evolving Game – Cyberpunk 2077
Family – Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Game Beyond Entertainment – Tchia
Game Design – Dave the Diver
Multiplayer – Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Music – Baldur's Gate 3
Narrative – Baldur's Gate 3
New Intellectual Property – Viewfinder
Performer in a Leading Role – Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales in Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Performer in a Supporting Role – Andrew Wincott as Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3
Technical Achievement –

External links

Official website

Notes and References

Web site: British Academy Games Awards: Rules and Guidelines 2015 . . 15 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150501002926/http://awards.bafta.org/sites/default/files/images/2015_british_academy_games_awards_rule_book_5.pdf . 1 May 2015 .
Web site: BAFTA announces new categories for 2020 video game awards, submissions now open . Matt . Wales . September 9, 2019 . September 9, 2019 . .
Web site: Games in 2004 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2005 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2006 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2007 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073426/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2007/games . 5 March 2016 .
Web site: Games in 2009 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2010 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2011 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2012 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2013 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413154853/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/games . 13 April 2016 .
Web site: Games in 2014 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2015 . BAFTA Awards . . 15 March 2015 .
Web site: Games in 2016 . BAFTA Awards . . 25 January 2017 .
Web site: BAFTA honors veteran game designer Amy Hennig with a Special Award . Alex . Wawro . May 24, 2016 . December 11, 2018 . .
Web site: Games in 2017 . BAFTA Awards . . 10 April 2017 .
Web site: BAFTA to honour Riot Games' Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill at E3 . James . Batchelor . June 2, 2017 . December 11, 2018 . .
Web site: Games in 2018 . BAFTA Awards . . 5 July 2018 .
Web site: Nominations Announced for the British Academy Games Awards in 2018. BAFTA Awards . . 5 July 2018. 15 March 2018 .
Web site: Nolan North to Receive BAFTA Special Award in June . Liz . Lanier . May 11, 2018 . December 11, 2018 . .
Web site: BAFTA Games Awards winners 2019 . BAFTA.org . . 5 April 2018 .
Web site: Winners Announced: British Academy Games Awards in 2019 . BAFTA.org . . 5 April 2018. 4 April 2019 .
Web site: Epic Games to receive BAFTA Special Award for contribution to game development . Chris . Kerr . May 14, 2019 . May 14, 2019 . .
Web site: Fortnite Studio Epic Given Special BAFTA Award At E3 2019 . Oscar . Dayus . June 13, 2019 . June 13, 2019 . .
Web site: BAFTAs to Live Stream Game Awards Amid Coronavirus Fears . Manori . Raindran . 12 March 2020 . 12 March 2020 . .
Web site: BAFTA Games Awards: Supergiant Games' 'Hades' Takes Home Top Prize – Complete Winners List . Alexandra . Del Rosario . 25 March 2021 . 25 March 2021 . .
Web site: Kennedy . Victorira . 1 March 2022 . BAFTA Game of the Year nominees announced . 3 March 2022 . Eurogamer . en.
Web site: BAFTA announces the nominations for the BAFTA Games Awards 2023. BAFTA. 2 March 2023. 2 March 2023.
Web site: 2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners. BAFTA Games Awards. 30 March 2023. 30 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230331014639/https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2023-nominations-winners. 31 March 2023. live.
News: 2024-03-07 . Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 and Spider-Man lead nods . 2024-04-11 . BBC News . en-GB.
Web site: 11 April 2024 . Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 wins game of the year . 12 April 2024 . BBC.