The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating a diverse range of titles with Balatro and Vampire Survivors emerging as top winners. While these awards might not boast the expansive audience of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they carry a significant prestige that arguably outshines the glitz and glamour of their counterparts. Notably, the 2024 BAFTA Games Awards did not feature platform-specific categories, yet mobile games made a strong impression.
Balatro, a captivating roguelike deckbuilder from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This victory has sparked a frenzy within the industry, with publishers eagerly sifting through indie projects in hopes of discovering the next big hit. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, already crowned Best Game in 2023, continued its winning streak by securing the Best Evolving Game award. This accolade is especially impressive given the competition from heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.
What, no mobile? The BAFTA Games Awards adopt a unique stance by not offering platform-specific awards. Since the mobile category was discontinued in 2019, the awards have remained consistent despite notable successes from mobile and multiplatform titles like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact. In a past discussion, Luke Hebblethwaite from the BAFTAs game team explained that the organization believes games should be judged on merit, regardless of the platform they're released on.
It's undeniable that the widespread reach of mobile platforms has significantly benefited games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors. This broad accessibility can be seen as a form of recognition in itself. However, the absence of platform-specific categories raises questions about visibility for mobile games.
That's my take on it, but I'm curious to hear yours. If you're interested in delving deeper into mobile gaming discussions, tune into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast where Will and I explore the latest trends and developments in the mobile gaming world.
