The shortlist for this year’s Bafta Games Awards has been announced, with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II leading the field.
Along with nominations for Best British Game and Best Performance in a Leading Role for Melina Juergens, the psychological action-adventure sequel is up for 11 awards in total. Tied on eight nominations each are Astro Bot and Still Wakes The Deep, with Thank Goodness You’re Here on seven nominations and Black Myth: Wukong earning five nominations.
Joining Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on the shortlist for Best British Game are A Highland Song, LEGO Horizon Adventures, Paper Trail, Still Wakes the Deep and Thank Goodness You’re Here. Battling it out for the prize of Best Game will be Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Thank Goodness You’re Here.
Speaking to the BBC about the nominations, Bafta Games committee chair Tara Saunders said the shortlist represents “a strong year for British-made games” but also acknowledged the ongoing issues of games being cancelled, mass layoffs and studio closures saying “It’s really important to pause and celebrate the teams and individuals that have crafted these standout games experiences”
This year, Bafta is also asking the public to submit their thoughts to find the Most Influential Game of All Time. Players will have until 5 pm GMT on Thursday, March 20, to submit their suggestions and comments, either on Bafta’s social media pages or via their website.
See the full nominations list below:
Animation
- Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Artistic Achievement
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Harold Halibut
- Neva
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes The Deep
Audio Achievement
- Animal Well
- Astro Bot
- Helldivers 2
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Still Wakes The Deep
Best Game
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Helldivers 2
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
British Game
- A Highland Song
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Paper Trail
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes The Deep
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Debut Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Pacific Drive
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- The Plucky Squire
Evolving Game
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XIV Online
- No Man’s Sky
- Sea of Thieves
- Vampire Survivors
- World of Warcraft
Family
- Astro Bot
- Cat Quest III
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Little Kitty, Big City
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- The Plucky Squire
Game Beyond Entertainment
- Botany Manor
- Kind Words 2
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
- Tetris Forever
- Vampire Therapist
Game Design
- Animal Well
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Helldivers II
- Tactical Breach Wizards
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Multiplayer
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers II
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- TEKKEN 8
- Warhammer 40,000 – Space Marine 2
Music
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Helldivers II
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Star Wars Outlaws
Narrative
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Still Wakes The Deep
New Intellectual Property
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Still Wakes The Deep
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Performer in a Leading Role
- Alec Newman as Caz – Still Wakes The Deep
- Humberly Gonzalez as Kay Vess – Star Wars Outlaws
- Isabella Inchbald as Indika – Indika
- Luke Roberts as James Sunderland – Silent Hill 2
- Melina Juergens as Senua – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Y’lan Noel as Troy Marshall – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Performer in a Supporting Role
- Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen as The Furies – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Aldis Amah Hamilton as Ástríðr – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Jon Blyth as Big Ron – Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- Karen Dunbar as Finlay – Still Wakes The Deep
- Matt Berry as Herbert – Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- Michael Abubakar as Brodie – Still Wakes The Deep
Technical Achievement
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Tiny Glade
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
The 21st Bafta Games Awards will be held in London on April 8. More information about the awards and nominees can be found on the the Bafta Games Awards website.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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