In London final night time, the twentieth Bafta video games awards celebrated a yr that was stacked with critically acclaimed video games. Happening towards the backdrop of an unprecedented yr of layoffs and studio closures within the gaming trade, acknowledged by Bafta chair Sara Putt in her speech firstly of the night, it was a much-needed night time of recognition of the inventive efforts of the online game growth neighborhood.
The sprawling Dungeons & Dragons-inspired role-playing recreation Baldur’s Gate 3 received 5 awards, together with the general public voted EE gamers’ selection award and greatest recreation, alongside music, narrative and greatest performer in a supporting function (received by Andrew Wincott for his function on the devilish Raphael). Nintendo picked up the household and multiplayer awards for the exuberant Tremendous Mario Bros Surprise, and technical achievement for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Alan Wake 2, the arresting, idiosyncratic horror recreation from Finnish studio Treatment, received inventive achievement and audio achievement.
Any of the large winners might have cleaned up in every other yr, however, because the nominations confirmed, 2023 was such a high-quality yr for gaming that competitors in every class was fierce. Dave the Diver, an excellent recreation a few sushi restaurant proprietor who hunts his personal seafood beneath the waves, received the sport design award, and the charming New Caledonia-inspired Tchia received recreation past leisure. Venba, an autobiographical cooking recreation a few household’s expertise as immigrants in Canada, received debut recreation – beating Dredge, the wonderful unsettling fishing recreation. Venba’s designer Abhi used the winner’s speech to name for “an entire ceasefire and finish to the horrific genocide that’s nonetheless occurring in Palestine”.
The most important indie winner of the night time was Unhappy Owl Studios’ ingenious photographic puzzler Viewfinder, winner of the British recreation and new mental property prizes, which additionally gave us among the most gratifying speeches of the night time from its delighted and considerably overwhelmed growth staff, ending with: “We’d like to make Viewfinder 2, so, please, give us cash.”
Nadji Jeter, who performs Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, received the celebrated performer in a number one function award, whereas Cyberpunk 2077 cemented its comeback from a shaky begin in late 2020 by successful greatest evolving recreation, and Hello-Fi Rush received greatest animation. This yr’s particular award was handed to SpecialEffect, a charity that works to create customized setups to open the worlds of gaming to bodily disabled folks. Its chief govt Dr Mick Donegan obtained the award to a standing ovation.
The total checklist of Bafta video games awards winners
Animation Hello-Fi Rush
Creative achievement Alan Wake 2
Audio achievement Alan Wake 2
Finest recreation Baldur’s Gate 3
British recreation Viewfinder
Debut recreation Venba
EE gamers’ selection Baldur’s Gate 3
Evolving recreation Cyberpunk 2077
Household Tremendous Mario Bros Surprise
Recreation past leisure Tchia
after publication promotion
Recreation design Dave the Diver
Multiplayer Tremendous Mario Bros Surprise
Music Baldur’s Gate 3
Narrative Baldur’s Gate 3
New mental property Viewfinder
Performer in a number one function Nadji Jeter, Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Performer in a supporting function Andrew Wincott, Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3
Particular award SpecialEffect
Technical achievement The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
