The 21st British Academy Games Awards, held on April 8, 2025, at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, saw Team Asobi's Astro Bot emerge as the night's biggest winner. The PlayStation 5 platformer, celebrated for its innovative gameplay and charming design, took home an impressive five BAFTAs, solidifying its place as one of the year's most acclaimed titles. Hosted by comedian Phil Wang, the awards ceremony celebrated the best in gaming, showcasing creative excellence and storytelling.
Astro Bot's impressive haul included the coveted Best Game award, triumphing over strong contenders like Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Thank Goodness You're Here! The game also secured wins in the Animation, Audio Achievement, Family, and Game Design categories, demonstrating its all-around excellence. This victory further cements Astro Bot's position as the most awarded platformer game, surpassing It Takes Two with a total of 106 Game of the Year nominations and wins as of January 6, 2025.
Nicolas Doucet, president of Team Asobi, highlighted the diverse, international nature of his team. He mentioned that Team Asobi is based in Japan, yet comprises over 12 nationalities. He emphasized how this diversity allows the team to generate a universal playfulness by incorporating different perspectives and senses of humor into the game’s design.
While Astro Bot dominated the ceremony, other games were also recognized for their achievements. Still Wakes the Deep, a British psychological horror game by The Chinese Room, won three awards, including New Intellectual Property and Performer in a Leading Role for Alec Newman and Performer in a Supporting Role for Karen Dunbar. Helldivers 2 secured two awards for Multiplayer and Music, while Thank Goodness You're Here! was crowned Best British Game.
Other notable winners included Balatro for Debut Game, Vampire Survivors for Evolving Game, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II for Technical Achievement, and Metaphor: Refantazio for Narrative. Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the debut game from BAFTA Breakthrough Abubakar Salim's Surgent Studios, won Game Beyond Entertainment, exploring Salim's personal experience of grief. Neva received the award for Artistic Achievement.
Adding to the night's prestige, Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura, known for her contributions to the Kingdom Hearts, Xenoblade, and Final Fantasy series, was honored with the BAFTA Fellowship for her outstanding contribution to music in games.
To be eligible for the 21st BAFTA Game Awards, games had to be released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024. This year also saw the introduction of new rules, with remakes only eligible for technical nominations and the separation of the "New Intellectual Property" category from "Debut Game."
The BAFTA Games Awards not only celebrate the creative achievements within the gaming industry but also highlight the diverse talent and innovative spirit that drives it forward. Astro Bot's success is a testament to the power of excellent game design, captivating audio, and charming animation, making it a truly deserving winner of the coveted Best Game award.
