The voting body behind the BAFTA Games Awards has gained something of a reputation as a group that is always interested in the road not taken. Just look at these examples…
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a certifiable phenomenon at this point, but the BAFTA Game Awards chose to honor Portal 2 as the “Best Game” from 2011. And while we all got swept up in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017, the “Best Game” statuette at the BAFTAs went to What Remains of Edith Finch. Even two years ago, while everyone else was gushing over Elden Ring, it was Vampire Survivors that won “Best Game” at the BAFTA Games Awards.
But what happened at the 2024-2025 BAFTA Games Awards? This year, the folks who make up the British Academy chose to join the crowd and give the “Best Game” statuette to Team Asobi’s Astro Bot. Sony’s robotic mascot took home four additional awards last night, including “Animation”, “Audio Achievement”, “Family”, and “Game Design”.
Did any other games win some awards last night? You bet!
The Chinese Room’s Still Wakes the Deep led the rest of the pack with wins in three categories (“New Intellectual Property”, “Performer in a Leading Role” for Alec Newman, and “Performer in a Supporting Role” for Karen Dunbar). Arrowhead’s Helldivers II also picked up a pair of awards (“Multiplayer” and “Music”) during the show.
And then there was Balatro.
The game’s pseudonymous developer, LocalThunk, was a no-show at the BAFTA Games Awards, but he sent actor Ben Starr (dressed as Balatro‘s Jimbo the Joker) to the show in his stead. So it was Starr who accepted the “Best Debut” statuette for Balatro on LocalThunk’s behalf and delivered an acceptance speech for the ages:
“I can say having met him personally, LocalThunk is really rich now. He has shoes made of gold and he thanks you for making him that way. He says here at the bottom, he wishes he could thank more people, but if he’s being honest, it was just him who made it. Everyone else is a freeloader, especially you, PlayStack.”
It was all fun and games until the end, when Starr closed by saying, “Play more independent games like Animal Well. They are the lifeblood of this industry and they deserve your respect.”
The 2024-2025 BAFTA Games Awards marks the end of awards season, and you can find a replay of the ceremony, as well as the rest of the winners and all the nominees, after the break. The extended Longlist, which includes more than 60 titles, is also available on BAFTA’s website.
Best Game
- WINNER: Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Helldivers II
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Best British Game
- WINNER: Thank Goodness You’re Here
- A Highland Song
- Lego Horizon Adventure
- Paper Trail
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes the Deep
New Intellectual Property
- WINNER: Still Wakes the Deep
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Debut Game
- WINNER: Balatro
- Animal Well
- Pacific Drive
- The Plucky Squire
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Performer in a Leading Role
- WINNER: Alec Newman (As Cameron “Caz” McLeary) – Still Wakes the Deep
- Y’lan Noel (As Troy Marshall) – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Isabella Inchbald (As Indika) – Indika
- Melina Juergens (As Senua) – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Luke Roberts (As James Sunderland) – Silent Hill 2
- Humberly González (As Kay Vess) – Star Wars Outlaws
Performer in a Supporting Role
- WINNER: Karen Dunbar (As Finlay) – Still Wakes the Deep
- Helen Golan and Abby Greenland (As The Furies) – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Aldís Amah Hamilton (As Astrior) – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Michael Abubakar (As Brodie) – Still Wakes the Deep
- Matt Berry (As Herbert the Gardner) – Thank Goodness You’re Here
- Jon Blyth (As Big Ron) – Thank Goodness You’re Here
Animation
- WINNER: Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Lego Horizon Adventures
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Artistic Achievement
- WINNER: Neva
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Harold Halibut
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes the Deep
Audio Achievement
- WINNER: Astro Bot
- Animal Well
- Helldivers II
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Still Wakes the Deep
Game Design
- WINNER: Astro Bot
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Helldivers II
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Tactical Breach Wizards
Technical Achievement
- WINNER: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Tiny Glade
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Narrative
- WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes the Deep
Multiplayer
- WINNER: Helldivers II
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Lego Horizon Adventures
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Tekken 8
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Music
- WINNER: Helldivers II
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Star Wars Outlaws
Family
- WINNER: Astro Bot
- Cat Quest III
- Lego Horizon Adventures
- Little Kitty Big City
- The Plucky Squire
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
Game Beyond Entertainment
- WINNER: Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Botany Manor
- Kind Words 2
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Tetris Forever
- Vampire Therapist
Evolving Game
- WINNER: Vampire Survivors
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XIV
- No Man’s Sky
- Sea of Thieves
- World of Warcraft
BAFTA Fellowship
- WINNER: Yoko Shimomura