Vampire Survivors, Balatro shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, shining a spotlight on some remarkable titles, including Balatro and Vampire Survivors. These awards, while perhaps not as widely watched as Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, are often considered more prestigious, offering a deeper dive into the artistry and innovation of gaming.

Despite the absence of platform-specific categories at the BAFTA Games Awards 2024, we saw significant achievements from mobile titles. Balatro, a roguelike deckbuilder from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This win underscores the buzz around Balatro, sparking a frenzy among publishers eager to find the next big indie hit. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, which previously won Best Game in 2023, was awarded Best Evolving Game, impressively outperforming giants like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

The BAFTA Games Awards have taken a unique stance by eliminating platform-specific awards since 2019. This decision, as explained by Luke Hebblethwaite, a member of the BAFTA games team, reflects their belief that games should be judged on merit, regardless of the platform they're released on. This approach was evident with the success of Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, both of which have significant mobile presences, demonstrating that mobile games can indeed compete on a level playing field.

The reach and recognition that mobile platforms have provided to games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors highlight the importance of mobile gaming in today's industry. While the lack of specific mobile categories might reduce visibility for some, the achievements of these games suggest that mobile titles can still shine brightly in a platform-agnostic awards system.

For further discussion on this topic and more insights into the world of mobile gaming, you can tune into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where I join forces with Will to explore the latest trends and developments in the industry.