2026 BAFTA Game Awards Nominees: The Ones Who Stayed Awake Long Enough to Be Considered

The 22nd BAFTA Game Awards 2026 is rapidly approaching, and we now have access to the full list of nominations. Yes, that magical night where game developers dress up in their finest “I’ve been working 80-hour weeks” attire and pretend to enjoy champagne that tastes suspiciously like Red Bull.

Many of these games were expected to be on the list, and most of them got more than just one nomination. The heavy award season hitter, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is holding 12 nominations for various categories. An unexpected Dispatch is leading behind it with nine nominations, the second-place holder. And after that is the gorgeous Ghost of Yōtei with eight nominations, and then Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, with seven nominations and so on and so forth.

“Hey everyone, look at us! We made games!” said chair of BAFTA’s Games Committee, Tara Saunders, probably while trying to remember if she had turned off her PlayStation before leaving the house. “Today’s nominations recognize 42 outstanding games that highlight the very best of the global games industry. This year’s nominations reflect an industry reshaping itself – with a vibrant mix of established studios standing alongside a wide range of independent studios, and a number of development teams earning nominations for the first time.”

Ah yes, the classic “vibrant mix” speech. Translation: “We had so many games to choose from that we basically just threw darts at a board and hoped for the best.”

“The exceptional craft, artistry and innovation behind these titles shines through. A nomination is an extraordinary achievement, and I extend my warmest congratulations to every nominee for their innovation, hard work and resilience.” She added, probably hoping nobody would ask about the “innovation” behind the 47th sequel to a game about space marines.

Without further ado, here is the full list of nominations that you’ll forget about approximately 15 minutes after reading them.

2026 BAFTA Game Awards Nominees

Best Game

• ARC Raiders – Because we needed another game about shooting things in space
• Blue Prince – Probably not about Prince, though that would be interesting
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The game that’s nominated for literally everything
• Dispatch – The dark horse that’s making everyone go “Wait, what’s Dispatch?”
• Ghost of Yotei – Gorgeous, but can it run on my laptop? No? Next!
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Because punching Nazis never gets old

Animation

• Battlefield 6 – More realistic than actual warfare, apparently
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Norman Reedus’s beard gets its own nomination
• Dispatch – Surprise! It’s good at more than just existing
• Ghost of Yotei – The game that makes your graphics card weep
• Hades II – When your first game was so good you had to make it again
• Hollow Knight: Silksong – Finally out and already nominated for everything

Artistic Achievement

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – It’s pretty, we get it
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Hideo Kojima’s fever dream continues
• Dispatch – The game that keeps on giving
• Ghost of Yotei – Looks like a painting, plays like a dream
• Hollow Knight: Silksong – Hand-drawn and proud of it
• South of Midnight – Wait, what’s this one?

Audio Achievement

• ARC Raiders – Pew pew sounds just right
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 12 nominations and counting
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Featuring the sounds of Norman Reedus walking
• Dispatch – Didn’t know games could sound this good in 2026
• Ghost of Yotei – Your subwoofer will thank you
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Whip cracks: perfect

British Game

• Atomfall – Post-apocalyptic Britain, because why not
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Space capitalism is still bad, apparently
• Mafia: The Old Country – Italian food but make it crime
• Monument Valley 3 – Escher would be proud
• Powerwash Simulator 2 – Cleaning has never been so satisfying
• Two Point Museum – The game where you manage a museum. Thrilling!

Debut Game

• Blue Prince – New studio, who dis?
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Making everyone else look bad
• Consume Me – Probably not about eating disorders, hopefully
• Despelote – Soccer meets storytelling
• Dispatch – The surprise debut that’s taking names
• The Midnight Walk – Walking simulator or hidden gem?

Evolving Game

• Fallout 76 – Still going, somehow
• Helldivers 2 – Democracy: it’s what’s for dinner
• Hitman: World of Assassination – Agent 47’s murder vacation continues
• No Man’s Sky – The comeback kid of gaming
• Vampire Survivors – One more run, I swear
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – Grimdark: the game

Family

• Donkey Kong Bananza – Monkeys in barrels, still a classic
• Is This Seat Taken? – Probably not about airplane etiquette
• LEGO Party! – Plastic bricks: bringing families together since forever
• Mario Kart World – Blue shells ruining friendships since 1992
• Powerwash Simulator 2 – Cleaning: now a family activity
• Two Point Museum – Educational AND fun? What is this witchcraft?

Game Beyond Entertainment

• The Alters – Making you question reality
• And Roger – Wait, what’s this one?
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Space Marxism: the game
• Consume Me – Eating disorders: now in game form
• Despelote – Soccer and feelings
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl – Radiation poisoning never felt so good

Game Design

• Ball x Pit – It’s like billiards but more chaotic
• Blue Prince – Clever puzzles incoming
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 12 nominations, still counting
• Ghost of Yotei – The game that makes you go “how did they DO that?”
• Hades II – When your roguelike is so good you have to make it again
• Split Fiction – Reality is subjective, apparently

Multiplayer

• ARC Raiders – Because shooting friends is better than shooting AI
• Dune: Awakening – Spice must flow, and so must you
• Elden Ring Nightreign – Suffering together is better than suffering alone
• LEGO Party! – Plastic violence with friends
• Peak – Climbing mountains, virtually
• Split Fiction – Your reality isn’t the only one, apparently

Music

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The soundtrack to your 12 nominations
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Featuring the haunting sounds of Norman Reedus walking
• Dispatch – Music so good it deserves its own nomination
• Ghost of Yotei – Traditional instruments meet modern composition
• Hollow Knight: Silksong – Creepy crawly sounds
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Adventure music that makes you want to punch Nazis

Narrative

• The Alters – Making you question your existence
• Blue Prince – Story so good you forget you’re solving puzzles
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 12 nominations and a great story? Overachiever
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Hideo Kojima’s brain, now in game form
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Adventure, romance, Nazis
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Medieval realism: it’s like history but with buttons

New Intellectual Property

• The Alters – Original ideas still exist!
• ARC Raiders – Space marines, but NEW ones
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The game that’s everywhere
• Dispatch – Surprise! It’s not based on anything
• South of Midnight – Wait, what IS this?
• Split Fiction – Reality is subjective, apparently

Performer in a Leading Role

• Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson in Dispatch – Breaking Bad meets video games
• Ben Starr as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Voice acting: it’s a real job
• Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yotei – Bringing characters to life, one line at a time
• Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – More voice acting excellence
• Tom McKay as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Medieval voices: still a thing
• Troy Baker as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Troy Baker: doing what Troy Baker does

Performer in a Supporting Role

• Alix Wilton Regan as Lea Florence Monad in Lies of P: Overture – Supporting roles: still important
• Charlie Cox as Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Daredevil does video games now
• Jane Perry as Lia Cain in Dead Take – Voice acting: it’s everywhere
• Jeffrey Wright as Chase in Dispatch – Westworld meets video games
• Kirsty Rider as Lune in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – More voice acting, because why not
• Troy Baker as Higgs in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Troy Baker again, because he’s Troy Baker

Technical Achievement

• ARC Raiders – Technical wizardry in space
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Hideo Kojima’s technical playground
• DOOM: The Dark Ages – Making demons look pretty
• Ghost of Yotei – Technical achievement in being gorgeous
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Technical achievement in punching Nazis
• Split Fiction – Making multiple realities work

Anyone who wants to watch the BAFTA Game Awards when they happen on Friday, April 17th, 2026, can find what they’re looking for on the BAFTA YouTube channel. Set your reminders now, because you definitely won’t forget in the next year. Definitely.