Vampire Survivors, Balatro shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating the best in gaming with notable wins for Balatro and Vampire Survivors. While the event may not match the scale of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, it holds a higher level of prestige, focusing more on the art and craft of game development rather than sheer spectacle.

Balatro, a standout roguelike deckbuilder, clinched the Debut Game award. This victory has sparked a frenzy within the industry, with many publishers now scouring the indie scene for the next big hit. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, which previously won Best Game in 2023, was honored with the Best Evolving Game award. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the competition from heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

What, no mobile? The BAFTA Games Awards have taken a unique approach by eliminating platform-specific categories since 2019. This decision was based on the belief that games should be judged on their merit, regardless of the platform they are released on. Despite this, mobile games like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact have still managed to shine at the awards.

In a past conversation, Luke Hebblethwaite from the BAFTAs game team shared that the organization views games as equals across platforms. This perspective allows games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors to gain recognition for their quality and innovation, regardless of their mobile origins.

While the lack of mobile-specific categories might affect visibility, the success of these games suggests that mobile titles can still compete on a level playing field. This is a testament to the growing influence and quality of mobile gaming.

For more insights into mobile gaming and beyond, tune into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where I and Will dive deep into the latest trends and developments in the industry.