"Vampire Survivors and Balatro Shine at BAFTA Games Awards"

The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night, celebrating the industry's finest with Balatro and Vampire Survivors among the top winners. However, the absence of platform-specific categories raises questions about visibility, particularly for mobile games.

While the BAFTAs may not match the global reach of Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, they arguably surpass them in prestige. The 2024 BAFTA Games Awards did not feature specific mobile categories, yet two notable mobile games made significant impacts. Balatro, a roguelike deckbuilder, clinched the Debut Game award, sparking industry-wide interest and prompting publishers to scout for similar indie gems. Meanwhile, Vampire Survivors, which won Best Game in 2023, was honored with Best Evolving Game, competing against heavyweights like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

What, no mobile? The BAFTA Games Awards take a unique approach by not having platform-specific accolades, a decision made since 2019. Despite the success of mobile and multiplatform titles like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, the awards structure has remained unchanged. Luke Hebblethwaite, from the BAFTAs game team, once shared that the organization believes games should be judged equally across platforms.

It's undeniable that mobile platforms have significantly boosted the reach of games like Balatro and Vampire Survivors. This can be seen as a form of recognition, even without dedicated mobile categories. However, the lack of such categories might affect the visibility of mobile games within the awards.

That's just my take on it. If you're keen to dive deeper into mobile gaming discussions, don't miss the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I team up to explore the latest trends and insights in mobile gaming and beyond.