Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

And that's a wrap from us at the 22nd Bafta Games Awards!

It wouldn't be Bafta without a few surprises - for example, Clair Obscur missing out on best music to Ghost of Yōtei, and the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II team looking genuinely shocked to win best narrative.

But at the end of the day, despite some good competition from Dispatch, which matched Clair Obscur in number of awards, Clair Obscur continued its run by winning best game, surely making it one of the most successful titles in recent years.

Both onstage and off, there was plenty of talk about the importance of connection and community in gaming - and a particularly emotional speech from our fabulous host Els the Witch highlighted how games can help people through difficult times.

We too have been spurred by the emotion, frenzy and excitement this industry brings. From us now backstage though, it's au revoir, adieu, à bientôt!

• Read our full report on the Bafta Games Awards here

Here’s the moment the best game award is announced.

"It was a tremendous team effort from a lot of different people, so thank you so much to everyone," Guillaume Broche, co-founder of Sandfall, says on stage.

Mel Ramsay
Reporting from the awards venue

Rap star AJ Tracey and his cousin, TV presenter and chef Big Zuu, spoke to BBC News backstage after presenting the audio achievement award.

Tracey, who rose to fame with his 2019 hit Ladbroke Grove, said League of Legends is his favourite game. "I've been addicted since the first game came out, since I was like 14 or something," he said.

Zuu added: "He spends a lot of money on League and computers. He has 14 computers in his house. I only have one measly computer... AJ's set up is crazy... Like, honestly, he has an incredible set up."

Tracey said: "I just think it's nice that, you know, when I'm out and doing shows and stuff or whatever, when I come home [to my gaming room], that's like my retreat."

I’m pleased that games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Ghost of Yōtei have picked up some awards.

I was worried they’d get undeservedly forgotten in a Clair Obscur sweep (although CO deserves all the praise!).

Seeing Dispatch perform so well has tempted me to buy it after being on the fence for a while.

My personal game of the year is probably Ghost of Yōtei since I platinumed it, but KCDII is a very close second with over 100+ hours played and still more to do.

Leon

I was really disappointed to see Kingdom Come: Deliverance II only got two nominations. It was a strong year for gaming but I had expected to see it pick up a few more nominations as it stood out so strongly to me.

Erin Shields

Greatest Game for the last 20 years plus is World of Warcraft. It is so addictive if you get into it. Will admit not every expansion has been great but they are getting it right with the latest one in Midnight.

Mark

Only recently released but Crimson Desert just passed the five million copies sold mark. Great game with very active developers listening to the critique and acting quickly.

Definitely a game that will be prominent next year at the awards.

Ceiron, Bedfordshire

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the biggest winner of the night, taking home the best game award among its three wins.

Episodic animated superhero game Dispatch also picked up three awards, including best animation.

Meanwhile, Ghost of Yōtei won both the technical achievement and music awards.

There was a wide spread of winners across the other categories, from the puzzle-filled Blue Prince, Despelote - a game about Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup - and even a Lego Party!

Here are the winners in full:

Multiplayer game - Arc Raiders

Artistic achievement - Death Stranding 2

Evolving game - No Man's Sky

Performer in a supporting role - Jeffrey Wright, Dispatch

British game - Atomfall

Game design - Blue Prince

Animation - Dispatch

Technical achievement - Ghost of Yōtei

Family - Lego Party!

Audio achievement - Dispatch

Music - Ghost of Yōtei

Narrative - Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

New intellectual property - South of Midnight

Debut game - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Game beyond entertainment - Despelote

Fellowship - Ilkka Paananen, Supercell

Lead performance - Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best game - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

Guillaume Broche, co-founder of Sandfall, the studio behind Clair Obscur, says the game connects with people because "it's made by really passionate people and comes from a place of truth".

When asked what's next, he says they've got a table tennis table - and they'll be playing lots of that.

Clair Obscur wins best game - but tonight is not what fans expectedpublished at 21:21 BST 17 April

21:21 BST 17 April

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

It hasn't been the sweep Clair Obscur fans might have expected tonight compared to some other game awards shows, but it still took home the big trophy of the night with best game, along with best debut and best performance.

Some might be surprised to see it tie with Dispatch, but it just goes to show the Baftas has lived up to its reputation as one of the most surprising and unpredictable awards shows.

The most coveted award of the night - six nominees, only one winner. Which one is your pick?

• Arc Raiders
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Image source, Sandfall Interactive

"I was sorting out my stuff the other day and I found my vision board photograph... I realised every single one [of my wishes] had come true but the Bafta award," Jennifer English says.

"Thank you all, I love video games, yay, thanks."

Tom Richardson
BBC Newsbeat

The lead performer award is coming up.

It’s a strong field and there could be a surprise.

Expedition 33 star Jennifer English is the favourite to win for her portrayal of Maelle, with castmate Ben Starr, who played Verso, not far behind.

Erika Ishii, nominated for their performance in Ghost of Yōtei, celebrated English’s win at December’s Game Awards, so expect a display of joy whether they win or lose.

They all face stiff competition from Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, for his role in Dispatch, and Troy Baker, in his second nomination of the night for his lead performance as Indiana Jones in the Great Circle.

But Tom McKay, who spent a mammoth 508 hours in a recording booth as main character Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, could be a dark horse.

Nominees for best performer in a leading role:

• Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson in Dispatch
• Ben Starr as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei
• Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Tom McKay as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Troy Baker as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Jacob Phillips
Live reporter, reporting from the awards venue

Ilkka Paananen takes to the stage and describes the fellowship as “unreal”.

He says none of Supercell’s games were his idea, and jokes that his parents and children have questioned what he’s actually been doing for the past 26 years.

He says that “his product is not actually the games” but creating a culture that helps creativity.

“This might be the least exciting thing anyone has ever said on this stage,” he jokes.

Paananen also praises Bafta for honouring mobile games, and thanks the Supercell team - past and present - for all their hard work over the years.

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

Image source, Supercell

The ceremony is now presenting its highest accolade - the Fellowship award - which recognises outstanding and long-standing contribution to the games industry.

Previous recipients include Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura, Metal Gear Solid series creator Hideo Kojima, and GTA-maker Rockstar Games.

This year, the honour goes to Finnish entrepreneur Ilkka Paananen, CEO and co-founder of mobile games giant Supercell.

They’ve made games like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars, which have generated more than a billion dollars between them.

Despite the success, in 2025 he told the BBC he still wants to take bigger risks in creating new kinds of game experiences, as the industry tries to pull ahead in an "attention war" with other media.

He said receiving the Bafta Fellowship was an "incredible honour" and thanked the "talented and passionate game developers" he’s worked with over 25 years.

"They are the ones who create the magic. This award truly belongs to each and every one of them," he said.

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

South of Midnight's team are honestly speechless after their win when I ask them how they're feeling.

They say that what means the most is hearing from people in the region - the game is set in a fictionalised Deep South of the US - who have told them they love it.

Tom Richardson
BBC Newsbeat

Video games are fun, and an escape for a lot of people. But they can also educate or elicit empathy in a way other entertainment media can't.

That's what the game beyond entertainment award celebrates. Tonight's shortlist has big, existential themes from The Alters and Citizen Sleeper 2, deeply moving examinations of illness from And Roger, and a sensitive portrayal of disordered eating in Consume Me.

And, as the award title suggests, it's also about video games that have an impact beyond the screen such as Stalker 2. Made by a Ukrainian team who had to flee Russia's invasion, it's become a symbol of resistance and pride.

This year's nominees are:

• The Alters
• And Roger
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
• Consume Me
• Despelote
• Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the awards venue

The guys behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, who just won the best narrative award, tell me they are awestruck to have won when there were so many great narrative games out this year.

They say it is mad that 12 years ago they were making a Kickstarter and nearly going broke.

But it was the community that kept them going.

"This Bafta is also for you guys," they say!

Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the award venue

Image source, Panic

What do games about Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the creator’s childhood struggle with an eating disorder, and uncovering the secrets of your deceased uncle’s mysteriously evolving house have in common?

They (Despelote, Consume Me and Blue Prince) are all nominated for best Debut Game - and all come from solo developers or a very small team.

While there are plenty of big studios up for awards overall tonight, Bafta has a tendency to highlight more independent efforts too.

Perhaps one of the most recent shocks came in 2023, when indie studio Poncle beat the blockbuster hit God of War Ragnarok with its retro-style 2D venture Vampire Survivors, for the coveted Best Game award.

Des Gayle, deputy chairman of the Bafta Games Committee, said each Debut Game nominee brought something unique to the table.

"Irrelevant of who is eventually crowned winner they are all exciting studios to watch out for," he said.

The nominees this year are:

• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Consume Me
• Despelote
• Dispatch
• The Midnight Walk