The BAFTA Games Awards or British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honoring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry. First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Since the inaugural BAFTA Games Awards in 2004, eleven ceremonies have taken place. The most recent, the 18th British Academy Games Awards, was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the 7th of April 2022.
BAFTA's 2005 Ceremony was skipped.
Current Categories[]
- Animation Achievement (introduced in 2020)
- Artistic Achievement
- Audio Achievement
- Best Game
- British Game
- Debut Game
- EE Mobile Game (introduced in 2018, audience award)
- Evolving Game
- Family (previously "Children's Game")
- BAFTA Fellowship (presented sporadically)
- Game Beyond Entertainment (introduced in 2017)
- Game Design
- Multiplayer
- Music
- Narrative (previously "Screenplay/Story")
- Original Property (previously "Originality")
- Performer in a Leading Role (split from single Performer award in 2020)
- Performer in a Supporting Role (split from single Performer award in 2020)
- Special Award (presented sporadically)
- Technical Achievement (Renamed from "Game Innovation" in 2020)
- Young Game Designers (five per year)
Winners of 2004[]
- Best Game - Call of Duty
- Action Game - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Adventure Game - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Animation/Intro - Soulcalibur II
- Children's Game - EyeToy
- Design - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Game Boy Advance Game - Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
- GameCube Game - Metroid Prime
- Mobile Game - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
- Multiplayer Game - Battlefield 1942
- Original Music - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- PC Game - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- PS2 Game - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Racing - Project Gotham Racing 2
- Sound - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Sports - FIFA Football 2004
- Strategy - Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
- Sunday Times Reader Award For Games - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Technical Achievement - EyeToy
- Xbox Game - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Special Award - Chris Deering
Winners of 2006[]
- Best Game – Half-Life 2
- Action Game – Half-Life 2
- Animation – Half-Life 2
- Art Direction – Half-Life 2
- Audio Achievement – Call of Duty: Finest Hour
- Children's – Donkey Konga
- Gamecube – Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
- Handheld – Colin McRae Rally 2005
- Mobile Game – BlueTooth BiPlanes
- Online Multiplayer – Half-Life 2
- Original Music – Hitman: Contracts
- Originality – SingStar/Singstar Party
- PC – Half-Life 2
- PS2 – Burnout 3: Takedown
- Racing – Burnout 3: Takedown
- Sports – Pro Evolution Soccer 4
- Sunday Times Reader Award for Games – Football Manager 2005
- Technical Direction – Burnout 3: Takedown
- Xbox – Halo 2
- Special Award (Games) – Sam Houser & Leslie Benzies
Winners of 2007[]
- Best Game: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm
- Action and Adventure (Sponsored by PC World) – Shadow of the Colossus
- Artistic Achievement – Shadow of the Colossus
- Audio Achievement – Electroplankton
- Casual and Social – Buzz!: The BIG Quiz
- Character – LocoRoco (LocoRoco)
- Children's – LocoRoco
- Game (Sponsored by PC World) – Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
- Gameplay (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) – Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
- Gamers' Award (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) – 24: The Mobile Game
- Innovation – Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?
- Multiplayer – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach
- Original Score – Tomb Raider: Legend
- Screenplay – Psychonauts
- Simulation – The Movies
- Soundtrack – Guitar Hero
- Sports – Fight Night Round 3
- Strategy – Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War
- Technical Achievement (Sponsored by Skillset) – Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Winners of 2008[]
- Best Game – BioShock
- Action and Adventure (Sponsored by PC World) – Crackdown
- Artistic Achievement – Ōkami
- Casual – Wii Sports
- Gameplay (Sponsored by Nokia N-Gage) – Wii Sports
- Innovation – Wii Sports
- Multiplayer – Wii Sports
- Original Score – Ōkami
- Sports – Wii Sports
- Story and Character – God of War II
- Strategy and Simulation – Wii Sports
- Technical Achievement – God of War II
- Use of Audio – Crackdown
- BAFTA One's To Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Ragnarawk
- The PC World Gamers Award (voted for by the public) – Football Manager 2007
- Academy Fellowship – Will Wright
Winners of 2009[]
- Best Game – Super Mario Galaxy
- Action and Adventure – Fable II
- Artistic Achievement – LittleBigPlanet
- Casual – Boom Blox
- Gameplay – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Handheld – Professor Layton and the Curious Village
- Multiplayer – Left 4 Dead
- Original Score – Dead Space
- Sports – Race Driver: Grid
- Strategy – Civilization Revolution
- Story and Character – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Technical Achievement – Spore
- Use of Audio – Dead Space
- BAFTA One's to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Boro-Toro
- GAME Award of 2008 – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Academy Fellowship – Nolan Bushnell
Winners of 2010[]
- Best Game – Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Action – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Artistic Achievement – Flower
- Family & Social – Wii Sports Resort
- Gameplay – Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Handheld – LittleBigPlanet
- Multiplayer – Left 4 Dead 2
- Original Score – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Sports – FIFA 10
- Story – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Strategy – Empire: Total War
- Use of Audio – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Use of Online – FIFA 10
- BAFTA One's to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Shrunk!
- GAME Award of 2009 – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Academy Fellowship – Shigeru Miyamoto
Winners of 2011[]
- Best Game – Mass Effect 2
- Action – Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
- Artistic Achievement – God of War III
- Family – Kinect Sports
- Gameplay – Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Handheld – Cut the Rope
- Multiplayer – Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
- Original Music – Heavy Rain
- Puzzle – Rooms: The Main Building
- Social Network Game – My Empire
- Sports – F1 2010
- Story – Heavy Rain
- Strategy – Civilization V
- Technical Innovation – Heavy Rain
- Use of Audio – Battlefield: Bad Company 2
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Twang!
- GAME Award of 2010 – Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Academy Fellowship – Peter Molyneux
Winners of 2012[]
- Best Game – Portal 2
- Action – Batman: Arkham City
- Artistic Achievement – Rayman Origins
- Audio Achievement – Battlefield 3
- Debut Game – Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
- Family – LittleBigPlanet 2
- Game Design – Portal 2
- Game Innovation – LittleBigPlanet 2
- Mobile & Handheld – Peggle HD
- Online – Browser – Monstermind
- Online Multiplayer – Battlefield 3
- Original Music – L.A. Noire
- Performer – Mark Hamill (as The Joker, Batman: Arkham City)
- Sports/Fitness – Kinect Sports: Season Two
- Story – Portal 2
- Strategy – Total War: Shogun 2
- BAFTA Ones To Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Tick Tock Toys
- GAME Award of 2011 – Battlefield 3
- Special Award– Markus Persson
Winners of 2013[]
- Best Game – Dishonored
- Action – Far Cry 3
- Artistic Achievement – Journey
- Audio Achievement – Journey
- British Game – The Room
- Debut Game – The Unfinished Swan
- Family – Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Game Design – Journey
- Game Innovation – The Unfinished Swan
- Mobile & Handheld – The Walking Dead
- Online – Browser – SongPop
- Online Multiplayer – Journey
- Original Music – Journey
- Performer – Danny Wallace (as the narrator, Thomas Was Alone)
- Sports/Fitness – New Star Soccer
- Story – The Walking Dead
- Strategy – XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award (in association with Dare to Be Digital) – Starcrossed
- Academy Fellowship – Gabe Newell
Winners of 2014[]
- Best Game – The Last of Us
- Action & Adventure – The Last of Us
- Artistic Achievement – Tearaway
- Audio Achievement - The Last of Us
- British Game – Grand Theft Auto V
- Debut Game – Gone Home
- Family – Tearaway
- Game Design – Grand Theft Auto V
- Game Innovation – Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
- Mobile & Handheld – Tearaway
- Online Multiplayer – Grand Theft Auto V
- Original Music – BioShock Infinite
- Performer – Ashley Johnson (as Ellie, The Last of Us)
- Sports – FIFA 14
- Story – The Last of Us
- Strategy & Simulation – Papers, Please
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Size DOES Matter
- Academy Fellowship – Rockstar Games
Winners of 2015[]
- Best Game – Destiny
- Artistic Achievement – Lumino City
- Audio Achievement – Alien: Isolation
- British Game – Monument Valley
- Debut Game – Never Alone
- Family – Minecraft: Console Editions
- Game Design – Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Game Innovation – The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
- Mobile & Handheld – Monument Valley
- Online Multiplayer – Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
- Original Music – Far Cry 4
- Original Property – Valiant Hearts: The Great War
- Performer – Ashley Johnson (as Ellie, The Last of Us: Left Behind)
- Persistent Game – League of Legends
- Sports – OlliOlli
- Story – The Last of Us: Left Behind
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Chambara
- Academy Fellowship – David Braben
Winners of 2016[]
- Best Game – Fallout 4
- Artistic Achievement – Ori and the Blind Forest
- Audio Achievement – Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
- British Game – Batman: Arkham Knight
- Debut Game – Her Story
- Family – Rocket League
- Game Design – Bloodborne
- Game Innovation – Her Story
- Mobile & Handheld – Her Story
- Multiplayer – Rocket League
- Music - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
- Original Property – Until Dawn
- Performer – Merle Dandridge (as Kate Collins, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)
- Persistent Game – Prison Architect
- Sports – Rocket League
- Story – Life Is Strange
- Special - Amy Hennig
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Sundown
- Academy Fellowship – John Carmack
- AMD eSports Audience Award – Smite
Winners of 2017[]
- Best Game – Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- Artistic Achievement – Inside
- Audio Achievement – The Last Guardian
- British Game – Overcooked
- Debut Game – Firewatch
- Evolving Game – Rocket League
- Family – Overcooked
- Game Design – Inside
- Game Innovation – That Dragon, Cancer
- Mobile – Pokémon Go
- Multiplayer – Overwatch
- Music – Virginia
- Narrative – Inside
- Original Property – Inside
- Performer – Cissy Jones (as Delilah, Firewatch)
- BAFTA Special Award – Brenda Romero
- BAFTA Special Award - Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill of Riot Games
- BAFTA Ones to Watch Award – Among the Stones
- AMD eSports Audience Award – Clash Royale
Winners of 2018[]
- Best Game – What Remains of Edith Finch
- Artistic Achievement – Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Audio Achievement – Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- British Game – Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Debut Game – Gorogoa
- Evolving Game – Overwatch
- Family – Super Mario Odyssey
- Game Beyond Entertainment – Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Game Design – Super Mario Odyssey
- Game Innovation – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Mobile Game – Golf Clash
- Multiplayer – Divinity: Original Sin II
- Music – Cuphead
- Narrative – Night in the Woods
- Original Property – Horizon Zero Dawn
- Performer – Melina Juergens (as Senua, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice)
- Special Award: Nolan North
Winners of 2019[]
- Best Game – God of War
- Artistic Achievement – Return of the Obra Dinn
- Audio Achievement – God of War
- British Game – Forza Horizon 4
- Debut Game – Yoku's Island Express
- EE Mobile Game – Old School RuneScape
- Evolving Game – Fortnite Battle Royale
- Family – Nintendo Labo
- Game Beyond Entertainment – My Child Lebensborn
- Game Design – Return of the Obra Dinn
- Game Innovation – Nintendo Labo
- Mobile Game – Florence
- Multiplayer – A Way Out
- Music – God of War
- Narrative – God of War
- Original Property – Into the Breach
- Performer – Jeremy Davies as The Stranger in God of War
- Special Award – Epic Games
Winners of 2020[]
- Best Game – Outer Wilds
- Animation – Luigi's Mansion 3
- Artistic Achievement – Sayonara Wild Hearts
- Audio Achievement – Ape Out
- British Game – Observation
- Debut Game – Disco Elysium
- EE Mobile Game – Call of Duty: Mobile
- Evolving Game – Path of Exile
- Family – Untitled Goose Game
- Game Beyond Entertainment – Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to)
- Game Design – Outer Wilds
- Multiplayer – Apex Legends
- Music – Disco Elysium
- Narrative – Disco Elysium
- Original Property – Disco Elysium
- Performer in a Leading Role – Gonzalo Martin as Sean Diaz in Life Is Strange 2
- Performer in a Supporting Role – Martti Suosalo as Ahti the Janitor in Control
- Technical Achievement – Death Stranding
- BAFTA Fellowship – Hideo Kojima
Winners of 2021[]
- Best Game – Hades
- Animation – The Last of Us Part II
- Artistic Achievement – Hades
- Audio Achievement – Ghost of Tsushima
- British Game – Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- Debut Game – Carrion
- EE Game of the Year – The Last of Us Part II
- Evolving Game – Sea of Thieves
- Family – Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- Game Beyond Entertainment – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Game Design – Hades
- Multiplayer – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Music – Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Narrative – Hades
- Original Property – Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- Performer in a Leading Role – Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part II
- Performer in a Supporting Role – Logan Cunningham for multiple roles in Hades
- Technical Achievement – Dreams
- BAFTA Fellowship – Siobhan Reddy
Winners of 2022[]
- Best Game - Returnal
- Animation - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Artistic Achievement - The Artful Escape
- Audio - Achievement - Returnal
- British Game - Forza Horizon 5
- Debut Game - TOEM
- Evolving Game - No Man's Sky
- Family - Chicory: A Colourful Tale
- Game Beyond Entertainment - Before Your Eyes
- Game Design - Inscryption
- Multiplayer - It Takes Two
- Music - Returnal
- Narrative - Unpacking
- Original Property - It Takes Two
- Performer in a Leading Role - Jane Perry
- Performer in a Supporting Role - Kimberly Brooks
- Technical Achievement - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- EE Game of the Year - Unpacking