• The BAFTA Games Awards concluded last night with exciting winners
• Balatro and Vampire Survivors emerged as major victors
• How does the absence of platform-specific awards impact recognition?

Though less flashy than Geoff Keighley's Game Awards, the BAFTAs arguably hold greater prestige. While mobile-specific categories were absent in the 2024 ceremony, we witnessed significant victories from notable mobile releases.

Balatro rightfully claimed the Debut Game award. This success comes with mixed implications - while Localthunk's innovative roguelike deckbuilder has captivated the industry, it's sparked concerns about publishers desperately seeking the next indie phenomenon.

Vampire Survivors, last year's Best Game winner, secured Best Evolving Game this time, outperforming giants like Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XIV Online.

Where's mobile representation?

BAFTA maintains its unique stance of avoiding platform-specific awards, eliminating mobile categories back in 2019. Despite mobile-powered successes like Vampire Survivors and Genshin Impact, this approach remains unchanged.

Previously, BAFTA's Luke Hebblethwaite explained their philosophy: they believe games should compete equally regardless of platform.

Regardless of one's stance, it's undeniable that Balatro and Vampire Survivors benefited from mobile exposure. Their recognition offers some validation for the platform.

That's just my perspective. For more mobile gaming discussions, check out the latest Pocket Gamer Podcast episode where Will and I dive deep into industry topics.