The 22nd British Academy Video Game Awards were hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts on 17 April 2026 to honour the best video games of 2025. Held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the ceremony was hosted by content creator Elz the Witch for the first time.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 led the nominees, with twelve total nominations, and tied with Dispatch for most wins at the ceremony, with three. Clair Obscur won the top prize: Best Game.
Background Eligibility Any game released between 16 November 2024 and 14 November 2025 was eligible for nomination.
Awards changes For the 22nd BAFTA Games Awards, the following changes were announced:
To bring the voting processes more in line with the Film Awards, BAFTA has created three additional craft chapters, allowing only members with experience in art, audio, and performance to participate in first round voting of their respective categories (Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Performer in a Leading Role, and Performer in a Supporting Role). These chapters join the already established chapters who vote in the Game Design and Technical Achievement categories. Previously, the entire BAFTA membership would vote on these categories during round one. The criteria for the two performance categories has been amended to allow individuals to submit a supporting clip reel to highlight the best representation of their performance. The criteria for the Animation, Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Game Design, Narrative, Music, and Technical Achievement categories has been amended to allow greater representation in nominations for individuals who made a significant creative contribution in their respective area.
Longlist On 9 December 2025, the official longlist, featuring sixty-four games, was revealed in a YouTube livestream by British journalist Jane Douglas. Of the list, BAFTA chair Tara Saunders stated, “the BAFTA Games Awards longlists offers a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the creativity and craft shaping this year's games, ahead of nominations on March 12. It's a moment to acknowledge the breadth of remarkable work recognised by our wonderful BAFTA games members – 1,700 industry professionals whose expertise and passion continue to drive the games industry forward. This list showcases a wide range of games to dive into over the holiday season, honours the teams behind these standout titles and shines a light on the incredible skill across our whole industry.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 led the longlist, with seventeen appearances, followed by Dispatch with eleven mentions, as well as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, each with ten mentions.
Fellowship Finnish games executive and co-founder of Supercell Ilkka Paananen was announced as the recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship on 8 April 2026. In a statement, BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip explained, "It is a real privilege to honour Ilkka with the BAFTA Fellowship this year. A visionary leader in games, he has built a globally influential company while championing creative collaboration and trust at every level. His deep respect and commitment to nurturing emerging talent and his ongoing support for young people reflect the very best of BAFTA's values."
Shortly before the ceremony, a trailer for the upcoming game The Quiet Things was withdrawn. The game, which explores autobiographical themes including childhood trauma and abuse, had been scheduled for inclusion in the broadcast. The decision was described by the developer as having been communicated shortly beforehand and as distressing. BAFTA stated that the trailer was removed as a "compliance decision" due to potentially triggering content and insufficient time to provide appropriate audience warnings.
Winners and nominees First round voting took place between 18 November and 2 December 2025 to determine the official longlist, with all BAFTA membership voting on all categories aside from those selected by the specialised craft chapters. Second round voting took place for the Best Game and British Game categories between 3 and 12 February 2026 to determine the five nominees. The BAFTA juries for each category met on 25 February to narrow down to the five nominees in each of the other categories. The official nominees were announced on 12 March 2026. Third round voting to determine the winners will take place between 18 and 26 March 2026. The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Games Awards ceremony on 17 April 2026.
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 |- | valign="top" |
Dispatch – AdHoc Studio Battlefield 6 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Hades II – Supergiant Games Hollow Knight: Silksong – Team Cherry | valign="top" |
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Dispatch – AdHoc Studio Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Hollow Knight: Silksong – Team Cherry South of Midnight – Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
Dispatch – AdHoc Studio ARC Raiders – Embark Studios Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks | valign="top" |
Atomfall – Rebellion Developments Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Jump Over the Age / Fellow Traveller Mafia: The Old Country – Hangar 13 / 2K Monument Valley 3 – Ustwo Games PowerWash Simulator 2 – FuturLab Two Point Museum – Two Point Studios / Sega |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Blue Prince – Dogubomb / Raw Fury Consume Me – Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson / Hexacutable Despelote – Julián Cordero, Sebastián Valbuena / Panic Dispatch – AdHoc Studio The Midnight Walk – MoonHood / Fast Travel Games | valign="top" |
No Man's Sky – HelloGames Fallout 76 – Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks Helldivers 2 – Arrowhead Game Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment Hitman World of Assassination – IO Interactive Vampire Survivors – Poncle Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – Saber St. Petersburg / Focus Entertainment |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
Lego Party – SMG Studio / Fictions Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo EPD Is This Seat Taken? – Poti Poti Studio / Wholesome Games Mario Kart World – Nintendo EPD PowerWash Simulator 2 – FuturLab Two Point Museum – Two Point Studios / Sega | valign="top" |
Despelote – Julián Cordero, Sebastián Valbuena / Panic And Roger – TearyHand Studio / Kodansha Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Jump Over the Age / Fellow Traveller Consume Me – Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson / Hexacutable S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – GSC Game World The Alters – 11 Bit Studios |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
Blue Prince – Dogubomb / Raw Fury Ball x Pit – Kenny Sun / Devolver Digital Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Hades II – Supergiant Games Split Fiction – Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts | valign="top" |
ARC Raiders – Embark Studios Dune: Awakening – Funcom Elden Ring Nightreign – FromSoftware / Bandai Namco Entertainment Lego Party – SMG Studio / Fictions Peak – Aggro Crab / Landfall Games Split Fiction – Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Dispatch – AdHoc Studio Hollow Knight: Silksong – Team Cherry Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks | valign="top" |
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver Blue Prince – Dogubomb / Raw Fury Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks The Alters – 11 Bit Studios |- | width="50%" valign="top" |
South of Midnight – Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios ARC Raiders – Embark Studios Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive Dispatch – AdHoc Studio Split Fiction – Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts The Alters – 11 Bit Studios | valign="top" |
Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson in Dispatch Ben Starr as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei Tom McKay as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Troy Baker as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Jeffrey Wright as Chase in Dispatch Alix Wilton Regan as Lea Florence Monad in Lies of P: Overture Charlie Cox as Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Jane Perry as Lia Cain in Dead Take Kirsty Rider as Lune in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Troy Baker as Higgs in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment ARC Raiders – Embark Studios Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment Doom: The Dark Ages – id Software / Bethesda Softworks Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks Split Fiction – Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts Ilkka Paananen
Presenters and performers Charlie Cox – presented Multiplayer AlicesPixels – presented Artistic Achievement Shai Matheson – presented Evolving Game Angela Sant'Albano and Nick Apostolides – presented Performer in a Supporting Role Jade Scott and DanTDM – presented British Game Jane Douglas and Lucy James – presented Game Design Talia Mar – performed "Lady" Abubakar Salim – presented Animation Lee Petty – presented Technical Achievement James Phoon and Mei Mac – presented Family Game Big Zuu and AJ Tracey – presented Audio Achievement David Arnold – presented Music and introduced a 007 First Light sneak peek Mark Choi and the Sonaris Ensemble – performed "Suteki Da Ne" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy X Alix Wilton Regan – presented Narrative Ludi Lin – presented New Intellectual Property Dylan Llewellyn and Emma Naomi – presented Debut Game Jacksepticeye and Erin Yvette – presented Game Beyond Entertainment David Gardner – presented the BAFTA Fellowship to Ilkka Paananen Lennie James – presented Performer in a Leading Role Swen Vincke – presented Best Game
Games with multiple wins Game Wins Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 3 Dispatch Ghost of Yōtei 2
Games with multiple nominations Game Nominations Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 12 Dispatch 9 Ghost of Yōtei 8 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach 7 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 6 ARC Raiders 5 Blue Prince 4 Split Fiction Hollow Knight: Silksong 3 The Alters Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector 2 Consume Me Despelote Hades II Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Lego Party PowerWash Simulator 2 South of Midnight Two Point Museum
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