Hellblade 2 leads the way at Bafta Games Awards
Tom Richardson
BBC Newsbeat
Ninja Theory
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has been praised for its depiction of the main character’s psychosis
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has picked up the most nominations at this year’s Bafta Games Awards.
The action-adventure game, developed by Cambridge-based studio Ninja Theory, is up for awards in 11 out of 14 categories at the annual ceremony.
It’s in the running for best game alongside 3D platformer Astro Bot – up for eight awards – which clinched top prize at the US-based Game Awards in December.
The event, considered one of the most prestigious in the games industry calendar, will be held in London on 8 April.
The other contenders in the best game category are:
Balatro – a poker-inspired card gameBlack Myth: Wukong – an action-adventure made in China and inspired by a popular mythHelldivers II – a multiplayer co-operative shooterThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – the first game in Nintendo’s popular series to star the princess it’s named afterThank Goodness You’re Here! – a wacky cartoon adventure game developed by two friends from BarnsleyBafta hands out prizes each year in a range of categories, including acting, music and game design.
Three of the six most-nominated games this year were made in the UK.
Still Wakes the Deep, a horror game from Brighton-based studio The Chinese Room set on a Scottish oil rig, is up for eight awards, while Thank Goodness You’re Here! is up for seven.
Lego Horizon Adventures, based on the PlayStation series and largely developed by London-based Studio Gobo, is nominated in four categories.
Indie hits Animal Well and Balatro, each have four nominations, as does Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Coal Supper
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a bizarre comedy adventure heavily inspired by its creators’ Yorkshire roots
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a sequel to Senua’s Sacrifice – which picked up five awards at 2018’s gaming Baftas.
Its 11 nominations might surprise some – the game was an impressive technical showcase and received positive if not outstanding reviews.
However, like the first game, it was praised for its sensitive depiction of the main character’s psychosis.
Bafta Games committee chair Tara Saunders tells BBC Newsbeat it represents “a strong year for British-made games”.
She says the voting panel is made up of members across the world who take the awards “very seriously” and vote based on a range of features.
“It’s all about excellence,” she says.
“Excellence in the crafts and maybe some of those games have nailed all of those craft areas.”
Bafta CEO Jane Millichip agrees, and wants to embrace the fact they have a British game category.
“Our members are international and they’re the people who choose,” she says.
Most-nominated games
The Bafta Games Awards are no stranger to the odd upset.
In 2023, Vampire Survivors – made by a tiny British studio – beat Sony’s God of War: Ragnarök to the top prize.
This year’s best game field has a similar mix of big-budget blockbusters and indie hits.
“I love that Bafta can surprise, I love that it’s not a given and we can get to that night and we don’t know what’s going to come out on top,” Tara says.
“It’s putting a spotlight on some really tiny games that might have slipped by.”
Metaphor: Refantazio featured prominently in other awards lists but only picked up two nominations, with one for its narrative.
And Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was nominated in the narrative and music categories but ineligible for best game due to Bafta rules on remakes.
The Chinese Room
Still Wakes the Deep – a horror game set on a Scottish oil rig – is up for eight awards
Times remain tough for people working in the games industry worldwide, with mass layoffs, studio closures and cancelled projects continuing to make headlines.
Tara says awards like the Baftas are “a beacon of light in the dark times”.
“It’s really important to pause and celebrate the teams and individuals that have crafted these standout games experiences,” she says.
And Jane, who also oversees Bafta’s events across film, TV and other creative industries, says the gaming awards are a place for people to support each other.
“I’ve never seen a community cheer so much when they lose, it’s a brilliant thing to behold,” she says.
“It’s so wonderful to see the whole games community being so supportive of each other and there to celebrate the sector, not themselves.
“It’s kind of devoid of ego and that’s great.”
You can find a full list of Bafta Games Awards nominations for 2025 here.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.
