Vampire Survivors, Balatro shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating the pinnacle of gaming achievement, albeit without the glitz and glamour of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards. Yet, in terms of prestige, the BAFTAs arguably stand taller. This year's awards highlighted some significant wins from recent mobile and multiplatform releases, despite the absence of platform-specific categories.

Balatro, the breakout roguelike deckbuilder from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This victory has sparked a frenzy within the industry, with publishers now scouring the indie scene for the next potential blockbuster. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, already celebrated as Best Game in 2023, added another feather to its cap by winning Best Evolving Game. This accolade is especially noteworthy as it outshone giants like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

The Absence of Mobile Categories

The BAFTA Games Awards have taken a unique stance by eliminating platform-specific awards since 2019. This approach, as explained by Luke Hebblethwaite from the BAFTAs game team, reflects their belief that games should be judged on their merit, irrespective of the platform they're played on. While this has led to the omission of mobile-specific accolades, the success of games like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact at the BAFTAs demonstrates the significant impact mobile platforms can have.

The widespread reach of mobile platforms undoubtedly played a role in the success and recognition of both Balatro and Vampire Survivors. This can be seen as a form of indirect acknowledgment for mobile gaming's influence and potential.

These are just my thoughts on the matter. For more in-depth discussions on mobile gaming and beyond, consider tuning into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where I and Will dive into all things mobile gaming in a co-op style chat.