Vampire Survivors, Balatro Shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating the best in the gaming industry. Among the top winners were Balatro and Vampire Survivors, which took home prestigious awards. However, the absence of platform-specific categories, particularly for mobile games, raises questions about visibility and recognition within the awards.

While the BAFTAs might not have the same level of mainstream attention as Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they are often considered to carry more prestige. The 2024 BAFTA Games Awards did not feature specific mobile categories, yet two significant mobile launches from the past year shone brightly. Balatro, a roguelike deckbuilder by Localthunk, won the Debut Game award. This victory has sparked a buzz in the industry, with many publishers now scouring the indie scene for the next big hit. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, which previously won Best Game in 2023, was awarded Best Evolving Game this year, impressively beating out heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

The Absence of Mobile Categories

The BAFTA Games Awards have taken a unique stance by not including platform-specific accolades since 2019. Despite notable wins from mobile and multiplatform titles like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, the awards format has remained consistent. Luke Hebblethwaite, a member of the BAFTAs game team, once shared with me that the organization believes games should be judged on their merit, regardless of the platform they are released on. This approach aims to highlight that games can compete on equal footing, regardless of where they are played.

Both Balatro and Vampire Survivors have undoubtedly benefited from their availability on mobile platforms, which has contributed to their widespread recognition. This could be seen as a form of acknowledgment, even if not explicitly categorized as mobile games. However, the lack of specific mobile categories might still affect the visibility of mobile gaming achievements.

These are just my thoughts on the matter. If you're interested in diving deeper into mobile gaming discussions, don't miss the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I explore the latest trends and developments in the mobile gaming world.