Vampire Survivors, Balatro Shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating the best in gaming with notable wins for Balatro and Vampire Survivors. While the event may not have the same widespread viewership as Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, it holds a prestigious status that arguably surpasses it in terms of industry respect. However, the absence of platform-specific categories, particularly for mobile games, raises questions about visibility and recognition in the industry.

Balatro, a breakout roguelike deckbuilder from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This victory highlights the buzz surrounding the game, with many in the industry now scouring for the next potential indie hit. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, which won Best Game in 2023, was honored with the Best Evolving Game award this year, impressively outperforming competitors like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

The Absence of Mobile-Specific Categories

The BAFTA Games Awards have not included mobile-specific categories since 2019, a decision that reflects their belief that games should compete equally across all platforms. This approach was explained by Luke Hebblethwaite, a member of the BAFTAs game team, who emphasized that the organization views games as standing toe-to-toe regardless of the platform they're released on.

Despite the lack of a dedicated mobile category, games like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact have still managed to shine at the BAFTAs, suggesting that mobile games can achieve significant recognition. The widespread reach that mobile platforms offer has undoubtedly played a role in the success of games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors, providing some solace in the absence of platform-specific accolades.

These opinions are my own, of course. If you're interested in delving deeper into mobile gaming and more, consider tuning into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I dive into all things mobile gaming and beyond.