Vampire Survivors, Balatro win big at BAFTA

Last night marked the conclusion of the prestigious BAFTA Games Awards

This year's standout winners included Balatro and Vampire Survivors

However, with platform-specific categories absent from the awards, some question whether mobile gaming receives adequate recognition

While perhaps lacking the spectacle of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, the BAFTAs arguably surpass its counterpart in terms of industry prestige. Though mobile-specific categories were again absent from the BAFTA Games Awards 2024 schedule, several major mobile releases from the past year took home coveted honors.

Balatro secured the Debut Game award - an achievement that cuts both ways. While celebrating Localthunk's ingenious roguelike deckbuilder, this recognition has sparked a gold rush among publishers desperately seeking similar indie success stories.

Meanwhile, 2023's Game of the Year winner Vampire Survivors claimed the Best Evolving Game trophy, triumphing over AAA contenders including Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

Mobile Representation Questions

The BAFTA Games Awards maintain a unique approach by eliminating platform-based categories, having removed mobile-specific awards in 2019. Despite major mobile and cross-platform successes like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, this structure remains unchanged.

Previously, discussions with BAFTA's Luke Hebblethwaite revealed the organization's philosophy: awards should judge games on merit regardless of platform. While this perspective has merit, one can't ignore how mobile platforms amplified the reach and success of titles like Balatro and Vampire Survivors - a factor that undoubtedly contributed to their recognition.

If you're still craving gaming discussions, consider tuning into our latest Pocket Gamer Podcast episode. Will and I explore mobile gaming trends and beyond in our signature co-op style analysis.