The British Academy Video Games Award for Best Game is an award presented annually at the British Academy Games Awards. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is honouring "the best game of the year, across all genres and platforms". The 1st British Academy Video Games Awards ceremony was held in 2004, with Infinity Ward and Activision's game Call of Duty receiving the award. The award was originally known as Game of the Year – The Year's Best Game for the 2004 ceremony.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 21 games. As developers, Valve and Naughty Dog have received the most awards in this category, with two wins, while Sony Interactive Entertainment are the most awarded publishers in this category, with five wins. Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis & Development division were nominated on six occasions, more than any other developer; and Sony are the most nominated publisher, with sixteen nominations.
The most recent winner of the award is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive, published by Kepler Interactive which received it at the 22nd British Academy Games Awards.
Winners and nominees In the following table, the years are listed as per BAFTA convention, and generally correspond to the year of game release in the United Kingdom. + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2002/03 (1st) Call of DutyInfinity WardActivision2003/04 (2nd) Half-Life 2ValveFIFA Football 2005EA CanadaElectronic ArtsFootball Manager 2005Sports InteractiveSegaGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasRockstar NorthRockstar GamesHalo 2BungieMicrosoft Game StudiosPro Evolution Soccer 4Konami Computer Entertainment TokyoKonami2005/06 (3rd) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced WarfighterUbisoft Paris, Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Shanghai, Darkworks, GrinUbisoftBlackCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsDr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?Nintendo SPDNintendoGuitar HeroHarmonixRedOctaneHitman: Blood MoneyIO InteractiveEidos InteractiveLego Star Wars II: The Original TrilogyTraveller's TalesLucasArts2006/07 (4th) BioShock2K Boston, 2K Australia2K GamesCrysisCrytekElectronic ArtsGears of WarEpic GamesMicrosoft Game StudiosGuitar Hero IIHarmonixActivisionKane & Lynch: Dead MenIO InteractiveEidos InteractiveWii SportsNintendo EADNintendo2007/08 (5th) Super Mario GalaxyNintendo EAD TokyoNintendoCall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionFallout 3Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksFable IILionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosGrand Theft Auto IVRockstar NorthRockstar GamesRock BandHarmonix, Pi StudiosMTV Games, Electronic Arts2009 (6th) Batman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosEidos Interactive, Warner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity WardActivisionFIFA 10EA Canada, HB Studios, Sumo Digital, Exient EntertainmentElectronic ArtsLeft 4 Dead 2 ValveUncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2010 (7th) Mass Effect 2BioWareElectronic Arts, Microsoft Game StudiosAssassin's Creed: BrotherhoodUbisoft MontrealUbisoftFIFA 11EA Canada, HB Studios, Exient EntertainmentElectronic ArtsHeavy RainQuantic DreamSony Computer EntertainmentLimboPlaydeadMicrosoft Game StudiosSuper Mario Galaxy 2Nintendo EAD TokyoNintendo2011 (8th) Portal 2ValveBatman: Arkham CityRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentFIFA 12EA CanadaElectronic ArtsL.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar GamesThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordNintendo EADNintendo2012 (9th) DishonoredArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksFar Cry 3Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftFIFA 13EA CanadaElectronic ArtsJourneyThatgamecompany, Santa Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentMass Effect 3BioWare, Straight RightElectronic ArtsThe Walking Dead Telltale Games2013 (10th) The Last of UsNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IV: Black FlagUbisoft MontrealUbisoftGrand Theft Auto VRockstar NorthRockstar GamesPapers, Please 3909Super Mario 3D WorldNintendo EAD Tokyo, 1-Up StudioNintendoTearawayMedia MoleculeSony Computer Entertainment2014 (11th) DestinyBungieActivisionAlien: IsolationThe Creative AssemblySegaDragon Age: InquisitionBioWareElectronic ArtsMario Kart 8Nintendo EADNintendoMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentMonument Valleyustwo Gamesustwo Studio2015 (12th) Fallout 4Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksEverybody's Gone to the RaptureThe Chinese Room, Santa Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentLife Is StrangeDontnod EntertainmentSquare EnixMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainKojima ProductionsKonamiRocket League PsyonixThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt RedCD Projekt2016 (13th)Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentFirewatchCampo SantoPanicInsidePlaydeadPlaydeadOverwatch Blizzard EntertainmentStardew ValleyConcernedApeChucklefishTitanfall 2Respawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts2017 (14th)What Remains of Edith FinchGiant SparrowAnnapurna InteractiveAssassin's Creed OriginsUbisoft MontrealUbisoftHellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Ninja TheoryHorizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildNintendo EPDNintendoSuper Mario OdysseyNintendo EPD TokyoNintendo2018 (15th)God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentAssassin's Creed OdysseyUbisoft QuebecUbisoftAstro Bot Rescue MissionJapan StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentCeleste Maddy Makes GamesRed Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar GamesReturn of the Obra DinnLucas Pope39092019 (16th)Outer WildsMobius DigitalAnnapurna Interactive ControlRemedy Entertainment505 GamesDisco ElysiumZA/UMZA/UMLuigi's Mansion 3Next Level GamesNintendoSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceFromSoftwareActivisionUntitled Goose GameHouse HousePanic2020 (17th)HadesSupergiant Games Supergiant Games Ghost of TsushimaSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsNintendo EPDNintendoHalf-Life: Alyx ValveThe Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment2021 (18th)ReturnalHousemarqueSony Interactive Entertainment Deathloop Arkane Studios Bethesda Softworks Forza Horizon 5 Playground Games Xbox Game Studios Inscryption Daniel Mullins Games Devolver Digital It Takes Two Hazelight Studios Electronic Arts Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment2022 (19th) Vampire Survivors Poncle Elden Ring FromSoftware Bandai Namco Entertainment God of War Ragnarök Santa Monica Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment Marvel Snap Second Dinner Nuverse Stray BlueTwelve Studio Annapurna Interactive Cult of the Lamb Massive Monster Devolver Digital2023 (20th) Baldur's Gate 3 Larian Studios Alan Wake 2 Remedy Entertainment Epic Games Dave the Diver Mintrocket The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo2024 (21st) Astro Bot Team Asobi Sony Interactive Entertainment Balatro LocalThunk Playstack Black Myth: Wukong Game Science Helldivers 2 Arrowhead Game Studios Sony Interactive Entertainment The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Nintendo EPD, Grezzo Nintendo Thank Goodness You're Here! Coal Supper Panic Inc.2025 (22nd) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sandfall Interactive Kepler Interactive ARC Raiders Embark Studios Blue Prince Dogubomb Raw Fury Dispatch AdHoc Studio Ghost of Yōtei Sucker Punch Productions Sony Interactive Entertainment Indiana Jones and the Great Circle MachineGames Bethesda Softworks
Multiple nominations and wins
Developers Developer Nominations Wins Nintendo 12 1 EA Vancouver 5 0 Ubisoft Montreal 5 0 Naughty Dog 4 2 Valve Corporation 4 2 Santa Monica Studio 4 1 Bethesda Game Studios 3 1 BioWare 3 1 Infinity Ward 3 1 Harmonix 3 0 Insomniac Games 3 0 Rockstar North 3 0 Arkane Studios 2 1 Bungie 2 1 Rocksteady Studios 2 1 FromSoftware 2 0 IO Interactive 2 0 Playdead 2 0 Remedy Entertainment 2 0
Publishers Publisher Nominations Wins Sony Interactive Entertainment 17 5 Electronic Arts 13 1 Nintendo 13 1 Ubisoft 7 1 Activision 6 2 Bethesda Softworks 5 2 Rockstar Games 5 0 Xbox Game Studios 5 0 Valve Corporation 4 2 Annapurna Interactive 3 2 Eidos Interactive 3 1 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 3 1 3909 2 0 Devolver Digital 2 0 Konami 2 0 Panic 2 0 Sega 2 0
Notes
References
External links Official website