More than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Alan Wake II or Super Mario Bros. Wonder or any of the rest of 2023’s biggest games, it often felt like all anyone wanted to talk about last year was Baldur’s Gate 3.
The RPG’s uncanny ability to become the center of the conversation has continued throughout awards season, as it won “Game of the Year” honors at The Game Awards in December, the DICE Awards in February, and the GDC Awards in March. Could we be looking at another sweep of the major year-end awards? The first, and only, time that happened was when Sony Santa Monica’s God of War took home all the “Game of the Year” trophies in 2018.
I could try to draw the suspense out a little more… but if you saw the headline you know… the development team from Larian Studios did indeed complete their sweep at the 2023-2024 BAFTA Games Awards. Baldur’s Gate 3 was the big winner of the night, not only winning “Best Game”, but also a handful of other statuettes as well. The RPG’s tally also includes awards for “Narrative”, “Music”, “Performer in a Supporting Role” (for Andrew Wincott portrayal of Raphael, and the fan-voted “EE Players’ Choice”.
While Baldur’s Gate 3 won a lot last night, the three aforementioned games also took home a few trophies. Remedy’s Alan Wake II was honored with “Artistic Achievement” and “Audio Achievement” awards. Playing together was at the heart of Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s victories for “Family” and “Multiplayer”. And The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom took home yet another “Technical Achievement” award at this year’s BAFTA Games Awards.
Comedian Phil Wang led the ceremony in London last night, but the membership of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts also decided to reveal the competition’s Longlist for the first time. Focusing on the “overwhelming proof of the tremendous creative talent prevalent across the industry”, the 60 titles chosen provide a great overview for one of the best years for video games ever.
You can view a replay of the ceremony after the break, along with a complete list of all the nominees and winners from this 20th edition of the BAFTA Games Awards.
Jury-Voted Categories
Best Game
- WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Alan Wake II
- Dave the Diver
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Spider-Man 2
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Best British Game
- WINNER: Viewfinder
- Cassette Beasts
- Dead Island 2
- Disney Illusion Island
- Football Manager 2024
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
New Intellectual Property
- WINNER: Viewfinder
- Chants of Sennaar
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Jusant
Debut Game
- WINNER: Venba
- Cocoon
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
- Viewfinder
Performer in a Leading Role
- WINNER: Nadji Jeter (As Miles Morales) – Spider-Man 2
- Amelia Tyler (As Narrator) – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Neil Newbon (As Astarion) – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Samantha Beart (As Karlach) – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Yuri Lowenthal (As Peter Parker) – Spider-Man 2
- Cameron Monaghan (As Cal Kestis) – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Performer in a Supporting Role
- WINNER: Andrew Wincott (As Raphael) – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Sam Lake (As Alex Casey) – Alan Wake II
- Tracy Wiles (As Jaheira) – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Ralph Ineson (As Cidolfus “Cid” Telamon) – Final Fantasy XVI
- Tony Todd (As Venom) – Spider-Man 2
- Debra Wilson (As Cere Junda) – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Animation
- WINNER: Hi-Fi Rush
- Alan Wake II
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Spider-Man 2
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Artistic Achievement
- WINNER: Alan Wake II
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cocoon
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Hi-Fi Rush
Audio Achievement
- WINNER: Alan Wake II
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Hi-Fi Rush
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Spider-Man 2
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Game Design
- WINNER: Dave the Diver
- Cocoon
- Dredge
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Spider-Man 2
- Viewfinder
Technical Achievement
- WINNER: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Alan Wake II
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Horizon: Call of the Mountain
- Spider-Man 2
- Starfield
Narrative
- WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Alan Wake II
- Dredge
- Final Fantasy XVI
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Multiplayer
- WINNER: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Diablo IV
- Forza Motorsport
- Party Animals
Music
- WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Alan Wake II
- Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Spider-Man 2
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Family
- WINNER: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Cocoon
- Dave the Diver
- Disney Illusion Island
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Hogwarts Legacy
Game Beyond Entertainment
- WINNER: Tchia
- Chants of Sennaar
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Terra Nil
- Thirsty Suitors
- Venba
Evolving Game
- WINNER: Cyberpunk 2077
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Forza Horizon 5
- Genshin Impact
- No Man’s Sky
BAFTA Special Award
- WINNER: SpecialEffect
Fan-Voted Categories
EE Players’ Choice
- WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Fortnite
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Lethal Company
- Spider-Man 2