Astro Bot Triumphs at the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards
The 2025 BAFTA Games Awards ceremony, held in London, saw the platform game Astro Bot emerging as the big winner, securing five prestigious awards, including the coveted title of Best Game of the Year. Following closely behind was the psychological horror title Still Wakes the Deep, which took home three awards, prominently featuring two for outstanding performance.
Topping the nomination list was Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, with an impressive 11 nominations, placing it ahead of both Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep, which each garnered six. Other celebrated titles including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Lego Horizon Adventures, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also received nominations. All nominated games were launched between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024, showcasing the year’s best in the industry.
Notable Awards and Recognition
During the star-studded event, actress and Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh presented the award for Performer in a Leading Role to Alec Newman for his portrayal of Cameron McLeary in Still Wakes the Deep.
Additionally, renowned composer Yoko Shimomura received the BAFTA Fellowship for her outstanding contributions to video game music. Her iconic soundtracks, including those from the Kingdom Hearts series and Final Fantasy XV, have resonated with millions of fans around the globe.
Calls for Industry Improvements
The BAFTA Games Awards also served as a platform for the performers’ trade union, Equity, to advocate for better pay and conditions within the gaming industry. Assistant General Secretary John Barclay stated, “Equity is here to make sure the poor practices frequently reported by our members do not continue to be overlooked.” He highlighted the enormous scale of the U.K. gaming industry, worth over £7 billion (approximately $8.9 billion), and urged major gaming companies to adopt union-negotiated agreements that would ensure fairer compensation for performers, a standard already prevalent in the United States.
PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images
Comparison to Last Year’s Winners
In comparison, last year’s BAFTA Games Awards saw Baldur’s Gate 3 take the lead with five awards, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Viewfinder, and Alan Wake 2 each won two accolades.
Promoting the Art of Game Storytelling
In conjunction with the awards, BAFTA and Digital Cinema Media launched a national cinema advertising campaign aimed at celebrating video game storytelling. The campaign features actors such as Susan Wokoma, alongside the stars of Baldur’s Gate 3, Samantha Béart and Neil Newbon, in a trailer directed by Jennifer Sheridan.
Watch the trailer here
A Snapshot of Award Categories and Winners
- Best Game: Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- British Game: A Highland Song, LEGO Horizon Adventures, Paper Trail, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Still Wakes the Deep, Thank Goodness You’re Here!
- Performer in a Leading Role: Alec Newman as Cameron ‘Caz’ McLeary in Still Wakes the Deep
- Performer in a Supporting Role: Aldis Amah Hamilton as Astrior in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Michael Abubakar as Brodie in Still Wakes the Deep
- Animation: Astro Bot, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Game Design: Animal Well, Astro Bot, Balatro
- Artistic Achievement: Astro Bot, Black Myth: Wukong, Still Wakes the Deep
- Audio Achievement: Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, Still Wakes the Deep
- Game Beyond Entertainment: Botany Manor, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
- New Intellectual Property (IP): Animal Well, Balatro, Still Wakes the Deep