Vampire Survivors, Balatro Shine at BAFTA Games Awards

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating some remarkable achievements in the gaming industry. Among the top winners were Balatro and Vampire Survivors, both of which have made significant impacts in the mobile gaming scene over the past year. While the BAFTAs may not have the widespread reach of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they arguably surpass it in prestige, if not in glitz and glamour. Notably, the 2024 BAFTA Games Awards did not feature specific mobile categories, yet these two games still managed to shine.

Balatro, developed by Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This roguelike deckbuilder has captivated the industry, sparking a surge of interest in indie games as publishers scour for the next potential blockbuster. On the other hand, Vampire Survivors, which won Best Game in 2023, was honored with the Best Evolving Game award this year. This accolade is particularly impressive given the stiff competition from titles like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

What, No Mobile?

The BAFTA Games Awards take a unique approach by not featuring platform-specific categories. This decision, made back in 2019, has been maintained despite the success of mobile and multiplatform releases like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact. Luke Hebblethwaite, a member of the BAFTAs game team, once explained to me that the organization believes games should be judged on their merits, regardless of the platform they're released on.

It's undeniable that both Balatro and Vampire Survivors have benefited from their availability on mobile platforms, reaching a broader audience. This can be seen as a form of recognition, even if it's not through a dedicated mobile category. The absence of platform-specific awards might raise questions about visibility, but it also underscores the BAFTAs' commitment to evaluating games based on their overall quality and impact.

That's just my take on it. If you're interested in diving deeper into the world of mobile gaming and beyond, don't miss the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I team up to discuss all the latest developments in the industry.