Last night saw the BAFTA Games (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) ceremony, which once again honoured the best games released last year.

The prestigious awards ceremony delivered some surprising, yet positive, results in its 2023 edition. Although the majority of the awards were classic, a few surprises were thrown in the mix.
Many thought that Elden Ring would take home most of the accolades, but ultimately it was Sony’s games that came out on top, with Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarok leading the pack. God of War Ragnarok even won the public award, although it didn’t manage to fully convince the ceremony’s jury, who decided to reward another game with the highest distinction.
Surprisingly, Vampire Survivor took home the best game award from the BAFTA jury, beating out strong contenders like Cult of the Lamb, Elden Ring, Marvel Snap, Stray and God of War Ragnarok. Even the game’s team was taken aback by the win, not expecting to receive the trophy, even after winning the best game design category.
It is refreshing to see a popular ceremony like the BAFTA highlight an independent game, rather than giving yet another award to a AAA game.
Congrats to studio Poncle!
Complete list of nominees and winners on the ceremony’s official website.