The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, shining a spotlight on some of the industry's most innovative titles. Among the top winners were Balatro, clinching the Debut Game award, and Vampire Survivors, which was honored with Best Evolving Game. These accolades are particularly noteworthy given the competition they faced from heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.
While the BAFTA Games Awards may not boast the massive reach of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they arguably surpass them in prestige, if not in glitz and glamour. However, a notable aspect of the BAFTAs is their decision to forgo platform-specific categories. This approach was solidified in 2019 when the mobile-specific category was eliminated, a move that has sparked ongoing debate within the gaming community.
I had the opportunity to discuss this with Luke Hebblethwaite from the BAFTA games team, who explained that the organization believes games should be judged on their merits, regardless of the platform they are released on. This philosophy is evident in the success of games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors, which have benefited significantly from their availability on mobile platforms. Their wins at the BAFTAs can be seen as a form of recognition for the impact of mobile gaming.
Yet, the absence of platform-specific categories raises questions about visibility for mobile games. While Balatro and Vampire Survivors have achieved remarkable success, the lack of dedicated mobile awards might obscure the achievements of other mobile titles that deserve recognition.
For those interested in diving deeper into the world of mobile gaming, I invite you to join Will and me on the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where we delve into these topics and more.
