BAFTA Winners Revealed!

Typically, as a year draws to a close, we become reflective and start to look back on our favourite gaming moments from the past twelve months – but with so many showcases and events inhabiting an already-packed Holiday season, it makes sense for certain showcases to flip the calendar and do things their own special way by hosting their award season in Spring.

Who is best known for this, other than BAFTA? The association has kept a slot free in April to celebrate the best of film, television and games since 1949 – well, not always games you understand. 

This year was a celebration with significant expectations. Last year’s The Game Awards in Los Angeles saw a standout performance from Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, which took home awards for nine out of the thirteen nominations it received – a new record. Would the game repeat such a performance in London? 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

The evening began by bringing everyone together to celebrate connection, with the award for Multiplayer going to Arc Raiders. The extraction shooter has been towards the top of the concurrent player charts for some time and it was only fitting to see it awarded here. 

We then turned to Artistic Achievement, the first award for which Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had been nominated. Perhaps we’d be likely to see another sweep, the game having won Best Artistic Direction at The Game Awards. Also in the running were Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – all distinct and varied games each demonstrating excellent visual art. With the envelope opened, the winner was declared: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Further awards championed disciplines bespoke to the world of games such as No Man’s Sky’s Evolving Game award or Despelote’s win for Game Beyond Entertainment. Unique and diverse crafts were praised including Music for Ghost of Yōtei and Narrative for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, both accolades previously claimed by Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 at The Game Awards in December.

A more varied arrangement of titles laid claim to awards throughout the course of the evening, with a total of twelve games all winning BAFTAs. There was however still a clear winner on the night afterall, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking the Best Game trophy, alongside two other awards. 

Ghost of Yōtei

Overall the showcase was less of a sweep for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 than the event in December, with other excellent titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Dispatch and Ghost of Yōtei all recognised as worthy winners. Sandfall’s game did however remain the most decorated title of the evening. 

Have you played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Do you feel the praise it has received is justified? Let us know, below. 

See the full winners below: 

Multiplayer Game - Arc Raiders
Artistic Achievement - Death Stranding 2
Evolving Game - No Man's Sky
Performer in a Supporting Role - Jeffrey Wright, Dispatch
British Game - Atomfall
Game Design - Blue Prince
Animation - Dispatch
Technical Achievement - Ghost of Yōtei
Family - Lego Party!
Audio Achievement - Dispatch
Music - Ghost of Yōtei
Narrative - Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
New Intellectual Property - South of Midnight
Debut Game - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Game Beyond Entertainment - Despelote
Fellowship Award - Ilkka Paananen, Supercell
Lead Performance - Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Game - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Author: George Eastmead