Results of the BAFTA Game Awards 2026: Triumph of Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and Dispatch

The BAFTA Game Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the industry. Since 2004, it has annually celebrated outstanding achievements in video game development. The event brings together leading specialists, publishers, programmers, artists, and screenwriters from around the world. Winning or even being nominated for one of the BAFTA awards is considered recognition of the highest quality of work.

The 22nd edition of the awards took place on April 17, 2026. At the event, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts recognized the most significant projects released between November 16, 2024, and November 14, 2025. You can learn about all the highlights of the event in our article.

The award went to one of the best modern extraction shooters. It's set in the near future, where people are forced to hide underground from deadly machines. Only a few brave souls venture to the surface in search of valuable resources that will help humanity survive. We covered the game in more detail in our ARC Raiders review.

The award was presented by actor Charlie Cox, known for his role as Daredevil in the series of the same name.

Other nominees:

Many fans of Hideo Kojima's work were upset that his new project did not receive any awards at The Game Awards 2025. The BAFTA Artistic Achievement Award may offer some consolation. From our review of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, you can see that the game is quite controversial. But it will surely appeal to those who loved the first game.

The signature mask was presented by blogger and cosplayer AlicesPixels.

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This project disappointed many players upon its release in 2016. But over the past 10 years, No Man's Sky has received numerous updates. As a result, it has acquired new content that has transformed it and made it truly interesting. Such cases are rare in the gaming industry. Perhaps the only one that comes to mind is Cyberpunk 2077, which took three years to perfect. But No Man's Sky continues to be developed, with new content released every two to three months. We even included it in our top of the best space games for PC: RPGs, Horror, Puzzles, and Strategy.

The award was presented by voice actor Shai Matheson, who has voiced many video game characters, including Batman in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.

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This character turned out to be a peculiar parody of the Flash from DC Comics. He remained in the background for a long time, but his actions influenced the overall plot. And in general, such well-developed characters are needed in games that focus on an interesting story. You can learn about the game's merits from our [url=/game-reviews/138375-dispatch-review-an-episodic-interactive-game-that-plays-like-a-charming-emotional-animated-series-about-dispatch-work.html]Dispatch review[url] .

The BAFTA Mask was presented by actors Angela Sant'Albano and Nick Apostolides. You may recognize them from their roles as Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem. Unfortunately, Jeffrey Wright himself was unable to attend the ceremony.

Nominees:

BAFTA singled out representatives of the British games industry. The winner could be called an English take on the modern Fallout theme, with its own unique twist. It's a decent project, but it still falls short of the best in the genre. For more details, see our Atomfall review.

The award was presented by YouTuber DanTDM and actress Jade Scott, known for her work on the TV series The Traitors.

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Interestingly, the jury didn't favor action games, RPGs, or roguelikes. They favored a puzzle game in which you explore the rooms of a large mansion, the location of which changes every day. This simple concept turned out to be quite captivating, as we detailed in our Blue Prince review.

The BAFTA Mask was presented by games journalists Lucy James and Jane Douglas.

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The animation quality in Dispatch is on par with the best modern cartoons — every emotion of the characters is perfectly felt. This makes the game feel like a full-fledged film, only in an interactive format.

The award was presented by Abubakar Salim, founder and CEO of Silver Rain Games. As an actor, you may have seen him in the series Raised by Wolves and House of the Dragon.

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Like the second Death Stranding, this game did not win any awards at The Game Awards 2025. Fans were unhappy with this outcome, believing that the sequel Ghost of Tsushima deserved recognition. The game boasts pleasing visuals that push the PlayStation 5 to its limits. As a reminder, Ghost of Yotei remains a Sony exclusive and has not yet been released on other platforms.

The award was presented by Lee Petty.

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This game offers a variety of minigames for every taste, from competing against each other to battling giant monsters. In theory, you can play it alone, but Lego Party! is clearly designed for shared fun. For example, you can gather the whole family around the big TV. After all, it supports shared and split-screen. You can find other similar projects in our top best co-op games 2026: top picks for PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox.

The mask was presented by actor James Phoon, known for his work on "Bridgerton," and Mei Mac, who you might have seen as Burnita in The Witcher on Netflix.

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Sound production is extremely important in modern games. In this regard, Dispatch excels, as all the characters are beautifully voiced, and all the voices and ambient noises are expertly orchestrated and seamless. Many characters and specific actions in this project can be identified by sound alone, without even looking at the image.

The award was presented by British rappers Big Zuu and AJ Tracey.

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The music in this game evokes the thoughts and emotions of the main character, Atsu. Despite her obsession with avenging the deaths of her family, she found time to paint or relax while soaking in the hot springs. During these moments, the battle music gave way to lyrical melodies.

The award was presented by composer David Arnold. You might have heard his music in the James Bond films and the TV series Sherlock.

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Another game that many fans feel is underrated at various awards ceremonies. It truly delivered a compelling story, not just through cutscenes but also through gameplay. This made even simple situations and mild challenges feel like personal dramas. This effect was already evident in Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, which Daniel Vavra also worked on. For all the details, check out our review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

The award was presented by Alix Wilton Regan, known for her roles as Samantha in Mass Effect 3 and the Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

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This category recognizes new games that are not part of any existing series. The winner is a fantasy action game dedicated to the mythology of the American South. The project feels like a modern fairy tale, featuring the beauty of nature, terrifying monsters, and the main character's unusual abilities, all tied to magic. For more details, read our South of Midnight review.

The award was presented by actor Ludi Lin, who played Liu Kang in the last two Mortal Kombat films.

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It's hard to name another game from 2025 that would have made such a splash. Unlike the second Kingdom Come: Deliverance, few took it seriously before its release. But the lack of hype played into Guillaume Broche's hands – his creation was appreciated without inflated expectations. It combines a touching story, an unusual world, well-developed characters, and intriguing mechanics with turn-based combat and real-time evasion. You can find more information about the game in our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review.

The award was presented by actor Dylan Llewellyn, known for his work on the TV series "Big Boys," and actress Emma Naomi, whom you may know as Alice Mondrich from Bridgerton.

Nominees:

This category recognizes thought-provoking projects. Despelote is dedicated to the early 2000s in Ecuador. This difficult period in the country's life, when the economy was in deep crisis, and the only escape for many was the victories of the national football team. As a result, many adored this sport. Despelote perfectly recreates a bygone era.

The mask was presented by Erin Yvette, known for voicing Blondie Blazer in Dispatch, and blogger Jacksepticeye.

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This project places a strong emphasis on acting. Without it, the local story wouldn't evoke strong emotions, excitement, and suspense. Actress Jennifer English beautifully conveyed Mael's emotions and motivations. This is especially important considering the ending of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, in which she plays a key role.

The award was presented by Lennie James, who you might have seen in Snatch and Blade Runner 2049.

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Another triumph for Guillaume Broch, who appeared on stage alongside other developers from the Sandfall Interactive team. Clearly, his decision to leave Ubisoft and pursue his own project was the right one. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proved to be a highly original game, combining high-quality gameplay with a touching story. The experience is comparable to watching a high-quality drama. It's gratifying that this approach was highly praised by critics, and the project itself performed well in sales.

The award was presented by Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios, which developed Baldur's Gate 3 and the Divinity series.

Other nominees:

This is the video game awards ceremony held by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

In recent years, it has been held at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The exact date is unclear; it is constantly changing.

Nominees include not only studios but also actors who have participated in the creation of video games. The decision is made by a committee of more than 1,700 industry professionals.

You can see the full list above in our article.

Yes, on the official BAFTA YouTube channel or on Twitch.

The BAFTA Game Awards ceremony confirms its status as one of the key events in the video game industry. The ceremony's results highlight market trends and industry preferences that will likely be reflected in the future. But perhaps you personally disagree with the results. If so, share your thoughts in the comments!