It’s not every day that an award show happens and leaves viewers in a state of shock and surprise, yet that is precisely what happened at last night’s Bafta Games Awards. For those unfamiliar, the BAFTA Games Awards or British Academy Games Awards is an award ceremony to honour outstanding creative achievements in the video game industry.
First presented in 2004 by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the BAFTA Games Awards are wildly considered the Oscars of the video gaming world.
Last night marked the 19th British Academy Games Awards, and to say the outcome of the awards came as a surprise is to downplay what went down. Vampire Survivors, the indie game that sees players attempt to survive as long as possible in an ever-changing landscape swarming with monsters, not only walked away with a design award but also took home the ultimate award of the night as the best game of the year.
Other notable achievements of the night, although not quite as surprising, was God of War Ragnarök taking home the most awards, having been nominated in a record 14 categories and winning six. Tunic took home two awards for both artistic achievement and best debut game. At the same time, Immortality walked away with the narrative award.
From Software’s Elden Ring received multiple nominations to the surprise of no one and claimed two awards, original property and, most shockingly, best multiplayer game – beating titles like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
If you’re interested in the complete list of nominations and winners, you can follow the link here to the official BAFTA site.
What do you think about Vampire Survivors being honoured as the best game? Let us know.