The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, spotlighting some remarkable winners like Balatro and Vampire Survivors. However, the absence of platform-specific categories raises questions about visibility for different gaming platforms, particularly mobile.
While the BAFTA Games Awards may not match the reach of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they arguably surpass it in prestige, if not in glitz and glamour. The 2024 awards did not feature specific mobile categories, yet we witnessed notable wins from major mobile releases over the past year.
Balatro, a standout roguelike deckbuilder from Localthunk, clinched the Debut Game award. This victory has sparked excitement within the industry, though it's also led to concerns that publishers are now frantically searching for the next big indie hit, which may not exist.
Vampire Survivors, which previously won Best Game in 2023, was honored with the Best Evolving Game award this year. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the competition from heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.
The BAFTA Games Awards take a distinctive approach by not featuring platform-specific accolades, a decision made back in 2019. Despite significant wins by top mobile and multiplatform titles such as Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, the awards format has remained consistent.
In a past conversation with Luke Hebblethwaite from the BAFTAs game team, he explained that the organization believes platform-specific categories are unnecessary because games should be evaluated on their merit regardless of the platform they're released on.
It's undeniable that mobile platforms have significantly boosted the reach of games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors. This broader exposure can be seen as a form of recognition, even if it's not through a dedicated mobile category.
These are just my thoughts, of course. If you're interested in diving deeper into mobile gaming and more, why not check out the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I discuss these topics and more?
LATEST ARTICLES 08
2025-05
Yostar is thrilled to announce the Closed Beta Test (CBT) Recruitment for their highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stella Sora. This cross-platform title is gearing up for an exciting CBT, welcoming Android and PC users to join the adventure. Stella Sora is set to launch as a top-down, light-
Author: CamilaReading:1
08
2025-05
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, though not the marketing behemoth that Skyrim became, remains a cherished classic in the gaming community. However, its age has started to show, leaving fans longing for a refreshed experience. Thus, whispers of an Oblivion remake have been met with great anticipation
Author: CamilaReading:1
08
2025-05
The upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater retains the suggestive and sexual content from Metal Gear Solid 3, including the controversial Peep Demo Theatre, as confirmed by the ESRB's Mature 17+ rating. This rating is attributed to the game's realistic gunfire, cries of pain, bloody combat, an
Author: CamilaReading:1
08
2025-05
Dell is currently offering one of the best deals on a prebuilt desktop equipped with an RTX 5080 GPU. You can grab the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 gaming PC for just $2,399.99 shipped. This is an excellent price for a high-quality, warrantied system that's perfect for 4K gaming at high frame rates
Author: CamilaReading:1
