British Academy Games Award for Artistic Achievement
Awarded forThe best visual art in a game.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
Currently held byTunic
Websitewww.bafta.org/games

The British Academy Video Games Award for Artistic Achievement is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given "for demonstrating exceptional visual art across all genres".[1]

The award was first presented at the 2nd British Academy Games Awards in 2005 to Half-Life 2 under the name Art Direction. The following year it was awarded as Artistic Achievement and has been presented under that name ever since. As developers, Ubisoft Montreal hold the record for most nominations, with seven, as well as most nominations without a win. Media Molecule and Thatgamecompany are the only developers to have won the category twice. The most nominated publishers are Sony Interactive Entertainment, who have thirty three and six wins. Electronic Arts and Xbox Game Studios are tied for most nominations without a win, with seven.

The current holder of the award is Tunic by Finji, which won at the 19th British Academy Games Awards in 2023.

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 key
Indicates the winner
Year Game Recipient(s) Developer(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
2003/04
(2nd) 		Half-Life 2 Valve [2]
Burnout 3: Takedown Criterion Games Electronic Arts
Doom 3 id Software Activision
Killzone Guerrilla Games Sony Computer Entertainment
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Capcom
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
2005/06
(3rd) 		Shadow of the Colossus Team Ico and Japan Studio Sony Computer Entertainment [3]
Black Criterion Games Electronic Arts
Hitman: Blood Money IO Interactive Eidos Interactive
LocoRoco Japan Studio Sony Computer Entertainment
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Bethesda Game Studios Bethesda Softworks
We Love Katamari Namco
2006/07
(4th) 		Ōkami Atsushi Inaba Clover Studio Capcom [4]
BioShock 2K Boston and 2K Australia 2K Games
Heavenly Sword Ninja Theory Sony Computer Entertainment
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction Insomniac Games
Skate EA Black Box Electronic Arts
Viva Piñata Ryan Stevenson, Ed Bryan Rare Microsoft Game Studios
2007/08
(5th) 		LittleBigPlanet Kareem Ettouney, Mark Healey, Leo Cubbin Media Molecule Sony Computer Entertainment [5][6]
Assassin's Creed Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude Langlais Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward Activision
Dead Space Visceral Games Electronic Arts
Gears of War 2 Epic Games Microsoft Game Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Yoji Shinkawa Konami
2009
(6th) 		Flower thatgamecompany Sony Computer Entertainment [7]
Assassin's Creed II Sebastien Puel, Patrice Desilets Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Batman: Arkham Asylum Rocksteady Studios Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Infinity Ward Activision
Street Fighter IV Yoshinori Ono Dimps and Capcom Capcom
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
2010
(7th) 		God of War III Stig Asmussen, Ken Feldman, Cecil Kim Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment [8]
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Mohamed Gambouz Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Call of Duty: Black Ops Colin Whitney, Brian Anderson, Dominique Drozdz Treyarch Activision
Heavy Rain David Cage, Guillaume de Fondaumiere, Scott Johnson Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment
Limbo Arnt Jensen, Morten Bramsen Playdead Microsoft Game Studios
Mass Effect 2 BioWare Electronic Arts
2011
(8th) 		Rayman Origins Michel Ancel, Celine Tellier, Christophe Villez Ubisoft [9]
Batman: Arkham City Rocksteady Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
L.A. Noire Ben Brudenell, Cheekin Chan, Simon Wood Team Bondi Rockstar Games
LittleBigPlanet 2 Media Molecule Sony Computer Entertainment
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Naughty Dog
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Todd Howard Bethesda Game Studios Bethesda Softworks
2012
(9th) 		Journey thatgamecompany Sony Computer Entertainment [10]
The Room Fireproof Games
Halo 4 343 Industries Microsoft Game Studios
Dear Esther Robert Briscoe The Chinese Room
Borderlands 2 Randy Pitchford, Paul Hellquist, Jeramy Cooke Gearbox Software 2K Games
Far Cry 3 Jean-Alexis Doyon, Genseki Tanaka, Vincent Jean Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
2013
(10th) 		Tearaway Tarsier Studios and Media Molecule Sony Computer Entertainment Europe [11]
BioShock Infinite Scott Sinclair, Shawn Robertson, Stephen Alexander Irrational Games 2K Games
Beyond: Two Souls John Rostron, David Cage, Guillaume De Fondaumiere Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment
The Last of Us Naughty Dog
Device 6 Simogo
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Yoshiyuki Momose Level-5 Bandai Namco Games
2014
(11th) 		Lumino City State of Play Games [12][13]
Assassin's Creed Unity Mohamed Gambouz, Patrick Limoges, Jean-Sébastien Guay Ubisoft Montréal Ubisoft
Far Cry 4 Jean-Alexis Doyon, David Wilkinson, Scott Mitchell
Valiant Hearts: The Great War Paul Tumelaire, Ghislain Avrillon, Laurent Labouille Ubisoft Montpellier
Hohokum Honeyslug and Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Monument Valley ustwo Games
2015
(12th) 		Ori and the Blind Forest Moon Studios Microsoft Studios [14][15]
Assassin's Creed Syndicate Ubisoft Quebec Ubisoft
Batman: Arkham Knight Rocksteady Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture The Chinese Room and Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Kojima Productions Konami Digital Entertainment
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CD Projekt Red CD Projekt
2016
(13th) 		Inside Playdead [16][17]
Abzû Giant Squid Studios 505 Games
Dishonored 2 Arkane Studios Bethesda Softworks
The Last Guardian Japan Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Naughty Dog
Unravel Coldwood Interactive Electronic Arts
2017

(14th)

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Ninja Theory [18]
Cuphead StudioMDHR Entertainment
Gorogoa Jason Roberts Annapurna Interactive
Horizon Zero Dawn Guerrilla Games Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Naughty Dog
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo EPD Nintendo
2018

(15th)

Return of the Obra Dinn Lucas Pope Lucas Pope 3909 [19]
Detroit: Become Human Guillaume de Fondaumière, David Cage, John O’Brien Quantic Dream Sony Interactive Entertainment
God of War Santa Monica Studio
Marvel's Spider-Man Insomniac Games
Gris Nomada Studio Devolver Digital
Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar Games
2019

(16th)

Sayonara Wild Hearts Simogo Annapurna Interactive [20][21]
Concrete Genie Pixelopus Sony Interactive Entertainment
Death Stranding Kojima Productions
Control Remedy Entertainment 505 Games
Disco Elysium ZA/UM
Knights and Bikes Rex Crowle, Moo Yu, Kenneth C M Young Foam Sword Double Fine Presents
2020

(17th)

Hades Jen Zee Supergiant Games [22][23]
Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt Red CD Projekt
Dreams Media Molecule Sony Interactive Entertainment
The Last of Us Part II Naughty Dog
Ghost of Tsushima Jason Connell, Joanna Wang, Ian Jun Wei Chiew Sucker Punch Productions
Half-Life: Alyx Valve Corporation
2021

(18th)

The Artful Escape Beethoven & Dinosaur Annapurna Interactive [24][25]
It Takes Two Hazelight Studios Electronic Arts
Psychonauts 2 Double Fine Xbox Game Studios
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Returnal Housemarque
Resident Evil Village Capcom
2022

(19th)

Tunic Finji [26][27]
Elden Ring FromSoftware Bandai Namco
God of War Ragnarök Raf Grassetti, Dan McKim, Eric Valdes Santa Monica Sony Interactive Entertainment
Immortality Doug Potts, Stephanie Reese, Kerry Hennessy Half Mermaid Productions
Pentiment Hannah Kennedy, Soojin Paek Obsidian Xbox Game Studios
A Plague Tale: Requiem Asobo Focus

Multiple nominations and wins

Developers

Developer Nominations Wins
Ubisoft Montreal 7 0
Naughty Dog 6 0
Santa Monica Studio 5 1
Media Molecule 4 2
Capcom 3 0
Insomniac Games 3 0
Japan Studio 3 0
Quantic Dream 3 0
Rocksteady Studios 3 0
Bethesda Game Studios 2 0
CD Projekt RED 2 0
Criterion Games 2 0
Guerrilla Games 2 0
Infinity Ward 2 0
Kojima Productions 2 0
Ninja Theory 2 1
Playdead 2 1
Simogo 2 1
Thatgamecompany 2 2
The Chinese Room 2 0
Valve 2 0

Publishers

Developer Nominations Wins
Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 33 6
Ubisoft 9 1
Electronic Arts 7 0
Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 7 0
Activision 4 0
Capcom 4 1
2k Games 3 0
Annapurna Interactive 3 1
Bandai Namco Games 3 0
Bethesda Softworks 3 0
Warner Bros Interactive 3 0
505 Games 2 0
CD Projekt 2 0
Eidos Interactive 2 0
Konami 2 0
Valve 2 0

References

  1. ^ "BAFTA Games Awards Rules and Guidelines 2022" (PDF). British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Games in 2005". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Games in 2006". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Games in 2007". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Games in 2009". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  6. ^ Beaument, Claudine (2009-02-10). "Bafta video games nominations announced". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  7. ^ "Games in 2010". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Games in 2011". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Games in 2012". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Games in 2013". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Games in 2014". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Games in 2015". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  13. ^ Karmali, Luke (10 February 2015). "BAFTA Games Awards 2015 Nominees Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  14. ^ "British Academy Games Awards Winners in 2016". BAFTA.org. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  15. ^ Skrebels, Joe (10 March 2016). "BAFTA Games Awards 2016 Nominees Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Games in 2017 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  17. ^ Erica Webber, Jordan (9 March 2017). "Bafta games awards 2017: Inside and Uncharted 4 lead the way". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Winners List for the British Academy Games Awards in 2018 (Plain Text) | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  19. ^ "BAFTA Games Awards winners 2019". awards.bafta.org. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  20. ^ "2020 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  21. ^ Powell, Steffan; Rahman-Jones, Imran (25 March 2021). "Bafta Games Awards 2021: Hades takes Best Game". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  22. ^ Ankers, Adele (March 2, 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  23. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (25 March 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards: Supergiant Games' 'Hades' Takes Home Top Prize – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  24. ^ "2022 BAFTA Games Awards Winners". 3 March 2022.
  25. ^ Julians, Joe (8 April 2022). "BAFTA Games Awards 2022: Full list of winners as Returnal wins Best Game". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  26. ^ Wood, Anthony (2 March 2023). "BAFTA Games Awards 2023 Nominations Announced". IGN. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  27. ^ "2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners". BAFTA Games Awards. 30 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.

External links

British Academy Games Awards
Category