Clair Obscur takes top Bafta Games Award but misses out on clean sweep

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the top prize at this year’s Bafta Games Awards, securing three awards including Best Game, Debut Game, and Lead Performer for actress Jennifer English. The role-playing adventure, developed by Sandfall Interactive, entered the ceremony with 12 nominations across 10 categories but did not achieve a clean sweep, missing out on Supporting Performer and Music awards. The event took place at London’s Southbank Centre, where other notable winners included the superhero adventure Dispatch with three awards and PlayStation action game Ghost of Yōtei with two. Set in a world controlled by a supernatural entity called The Paintress, Expedition 33 follows a group of adventurers on a quest to end her reign, blending emotional storytelling with classic turn-based combat. The game was developed by a team of former Ubisoft employees who pursued their passion project independently. Studio chief Guillaume Broche described the win as a “tremendous team effort” and highlighted the positive impact the game has had on players dealing with themes of grief and loss. Jennifer English, who won Lead Performer for her role, expressed her gratitude and love for video games during her acceptance speech. Despite high expectations, Expedition 33 did not dominate all categories. The Music award went to Ghost of Yōtei, whose score uniquely combined Western orchestral elements with traditional Japanese instruments, composed by Lorien Testard. The Narrative award was claimed by Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a role-playing game known for its complex, player-influenced storylines. Jennifer English’s win marked a personal milestone, fulfilling her long-held wish for Bafta recognition. Dispatch, an episodic superhero adventure, was another standout, winning three awards including Animation. The varied distribution of awards across different games reflects the diverse strengths and creative achievements within the gaming industry this year, highlighting innovation in storytelling, music, and performance.