Vampire Survivors, Balatro shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating excellence in gaming with notable wins by Balatro and Vampire Survivors. While these awards may not have the extensive audience of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they arguably carry more prestige, even if they lack the same level of glitz and glamour. A significant point of discussion this year was the absence of platform-specific categories, particularly for mobile games, despite the success of mobile titles in the awards.

Balatro, a standout debut from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This roguelike deckbuilder has sparked significant interest in the industry, prompting many publishers to scout for similar indie hits. Meanwhile, Vampire Survivors, which previously won Best Game in 2023, was honored with the Best Evolving Game award this year, impressively outperforming major titles like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

What, no mobile? The BAFTA Games Awards have taken a unique stance by eliminating platform-specific categories since 2019. This decision has led to the absence of a dedicated mobile category, despite the significant impact of mobile and multiplatform games like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact. Luke Hebblethwaite, a member of the BAFTAs game team, once shared with me that the organization believes games should be judged equally, regardless of the platform they are released on.

The success of games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors, which have benefited greatly from their mobile availability, suggests that the reach of mobile platforms can indeed contribute to a game's recognition, even without specific mobile categories. While the lack of platform-specific awards may affect visibility, the achievements of these games at the BAFTAs provide some level of acknowledgment.

That's just my take on it. If you're eager to dive deeper into the world of mobile gaming, consider tuning into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where my co-host Will and I discuss the latest trends and developments in mobile gaming and beyond.