A new era of gaming: all the winners from last night’s BAFTA Games awards

Storytelling was the biggest winner at the BAFTA Games awards 
Ninja Theory's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was the big winner at last night's BAFTA games awards
Ninja Theory
Amelia Heathman13 April 2018

A small, independent UK studio was the biggest winner at the British Academy Games Awards last night,

Cambridge-based Ninja Theory won five awards at the annual gaming industry event for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, a fantasy game which explores Senua’s struggles with mental health issues and in particular, psychosis.

The game, which took three years to produce, saw Ninja Theory work with psychologists and medical professionals in order to craft the right approach to exploring psychosis in gaming.

Its efforts paid off. The game won awards for Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, British Game, and the new Game Beyond Entertainment category.

In addition, actress Melina Juergens won the Performer award for her role as Senua.

The success of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was a major coup for Ninja Theory, considering it was up against major studios such as Nintendo and Sony in some categories.

Yet, Ninja Theory’s wins demonstrated the strength of the UK gaming industry and how diverse gaming can be.

What Happened to Edith Finch won Best Game at this year's BAFTA Games awards
Giant Sparrow

Whilst traditional shooter games such as Fortnite were up for awards, several of the games on show last night covered categories such as mental health, loss, or the Syrian refugee crisis.

In fact, another indie studio, US-based Giant Sparrow, won the coveted Best Game award for its first-person mystery adventure game, What Happened to Edith Finch.

The story follows Edith, a young woman revisiting her old family home as she recalls and discovers the stories of dead family members.

BAFTA's award choices demonstrated this move away from the traditional trope of shooter games, to show how complex the gaming industry is.

As Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, the UK’s gaming industry body, told the Standard: “Gaming is just like any other medium for self-expression or to tell a story. Just like film, TV or Netflix, gaming can tackle really serious issues like death or depression.

“It’s time now for people think about games as a serious format; they’re not just about shooting people or for children. They are a way to treat serious topics and experience serious things, as well.”

Last night showed that gaming is ready for a new, serious era.

Here are all the winners from last night’s BAFTA Games awards

Fellowship award: Tim Schafer

Artistic achievement award: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory

Audio achievement award: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory

Best game award: What Remains of Edith Finch by Giant Sparrow/Annapurna Interactive

British game award: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory

Debut award: Gorogoa by Buried Signal / Annapurna Interactive

Evolving award: Overwatch by Blizzard Entertainment

The BAFTA Game awards were at The Troxy in East London
BAFTA/Thomas Alexander

Family award: Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo

Game beyond entertainment award: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory

Game design award: Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo

Game innovation award: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by Nintendo

Mobile award: Golf Clash by Playdemic

Multiplayer award: Divinity: Original Sin 2 by Larian Studios

Music award: Cuphead by StudioMDHR Entertainment

Narrative award: Night in the Woods by InfiniteFall/Finji

Original Property award: Horizon Zero Dawn by Guerilla / Sony Interactive Entertinment

Performer award: Melina Juergens as Senua in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory

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