Vampire Survivors and Balatro Shine at BAFTA Games Awards

• The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night
• Leading accolades went to Balatro and Vampire Survivors
• But does the absence of platform-specific categories impact mobile visibility?

While it may not match the global spectacle of Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards, the BAFTA Games Awards hold a distinct prestige—less flash, more gravitas. Though the 2024 ceremony didn’t feature any dedicated mobile categories, two major mobile and multiplatform titles still emerged victorious, highlighting the growing influence of mobile gaming in the broader industry landscape.

Balatro, the breakout roguelike deckbuilder from developer Localthunk, claimed the Debut Game award—an honor that underscores its meteoric rise. The game has sparked widespread industry attention, with many indie developers now chasing a similar lightning-in-a-bottle success, while publishers scramble to replicate its formula.

Meanwhile, Vampire Survivors, which won Best Game in 2023, added another trophy to its collection by securing Best Evolving Game this year. Notably, it triumphed over major live-service titles like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online, a testament to its enduring appeal and consistent post-launch support.

Where’s the mobile recognition?

The BAFTA Games Awards have long taken a platform-agnostic approach, eliminating platform-specific categories in 2019—including the dedicated mobile award. Since then, the organization has maintained that games should compete on equal footing, regardless of the device they’re played on.

As explained by Luke Hebblethwaite of the BAFTA Games team in a past conversation, the decision stems from a belief that great games stand out no matter the platform. While this philosophy promotes inclusivity, it also raises questions about visibility for mobile-first titles, which often operate under different design, monetization, and distribution models.

Still, the success of Balatro and Vampire Survivors—both of which leveraged mobile’s broad reach to achieve mainstream acclaim—suggests that mobile is no longer on the sidelines. Their wins may not come with a “mobile” label, but they carry the platform’s influence all the same.

But hey—that’s just my take. If you’d like to hear more, tune into the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, where Will and I team up to dive deep into mobile gaming and beyond.