Baldur’s Gate 3 wins the Best Game award at the BAFTAs, with Hi-Fi Rush taking Best Animation
With the main award going of course to the almighty Baldur’s Gate 3, we also got to celebrate some smaller wins for Xbox Game Pass titles
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What you need to know
It’s that time of year again: the BAFTA Games Awards. It is a more stoic event than Jeff’s Game Awards, but it is a favorite of mine because it often has some surprise winners. For example, it awarded the indie hitVampire Survivorswith Best Game in 2023. Nominations for 2024 across the categories included 10 nominations for Baldur’s Gate 3—no surprise there—9 nominations for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and even 5 nominations for Hi-Fi Rush.The winner this year was of no surprise, with a clean sweep of the best awards for Baldur’s Gate 3 taking Best Game. Best Music and the Player’s Choice award amongst others. Here’s a run-through of the nominees and deserved winners, two of which you can play onXbox Game Pass.
Debut Game Award
Nominees
WINNER
You can play Venba on Xbox Game Pass or purchase for$14.99 at Xbox
Audio Achievement
Nominees
WINNER
Alan Wake 2 is currently$39.99 at Green Man Gamingand you can read our fullAlan Wake 2 review.
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Multiplayer Game
Nominees
WINNER
Super Mario Bros Wonderwas$59.99now $69.99 at Amazon
EVOLVING GAME
Nominees
WINNER
Available fromGOG for $59.99and you can check out ourCyberpunk 2077andCyberpunk 2077 Phantom Libertyreviews.
Game Design
Nominees
WINNER
You can grab Dave the Diver for$19.99 at Green Man Gaming.
BRITISH GAME
Nominees
WINNER
Viewfinder is currently$17.49 at Steam.
MULTIPLAYER
Nominees
WINNER
Super Mario Bros Wonderwas$59.99now $69.99 at Amazon
Artistic Achievement
Nominees
WINNER
Alan Wake 2 is currently$39.99 at Green Man Gamingand you can read our fullAlan Wake 2 review.
New Intellectual Property
Nominees
WINNER
Narrative
Nominees
WINNER
You can get Baldur’s Gate 3 for$59.99 on GOGor$62.99 at Xbox. Check our ourBaldur’s Gate 3 review.
Supporting Role
Nominees
WINNER
You can get Baldur’s Gate 3 for$59.99 on GOGor$62.99 at Xbox. Check our ourBaldur’s Gate 3 review.
Family
Nominees
WINNER
Players' Choice
Nominees
WINNER
You can get Baldur’s Gate 3 for$59.99 on GOGor$62.99 at Xbox. Check our ourBaldur’s Gate 3 review.
Animation
Nominees
WINNER
Hi-Fi Rush is another Xbox Game Pass title, or you can grab atFanatical for $16.79. Check out orHi-Fi Rush review.
Music
Nominees
WINNER
You can get Baldur’s Gate 3 for$59.99 on GOGor$62.99 at Xbox. Check our ourBaldur’s Gate 3 review.
Game beyond entertainment
Nominees
WINNER
Tchia is currently$14.99 at Epic Games.
Technical Achievement
Nominees
WINNER
Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is currently on sale at Amazon, and you cangrab it for $55.
Leading Role
Nominees
WINNER
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a PlayStation exclusive, and it’s$69.99 at Amazon.
Best Game
Nominees
WINNER
You can get Baldur’s Gate 3 for$59.99 on GOGor$62.99 at Xbox. Check our ourBaldur’s Gate 3 review.
A celebration of games
I was hoping for a few surprises this evening, but let’s face it, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the deserved winner and at least for me, blew everything else out of the water in 2023, and I say that as a hot-bloodied Diablo 4 fan. It was nice to see both Hi-Fi Rush and Dave the Diver get awards, and I must admit I teared up a tad seeing Borislav Slavov emotionally accepting his award for the Baldur’s Gate 3 soundtrack, something I still listen to often. It is possibly my favorite game soundtrack of all time.This evening’s focus was firmly on the games and the wonderful hearts and souls that make them, which is why the BAFTA Games Awards will always remain my favorite award ceremony. If you want to catch the full two-hour ceremony,it’s available on YouTube.
Jen is a News Writer for Windows Central, focused on all things gaming and Microsoft. Anything slaying monsters with magical weapons will get a thumbs up such as Dark Souls, Dragon Age, Diablo, and Monster Hunter. When not playing games, she’ll be watching a horror or trash reality TV show, she hasn’t decided which of those categories the Kardashians fit into. You can follow Jen on Twitter@Jenbox360for more Diablo fangirling and general moaning about British weather.
