Awards: BAFTA Pick Amazing Family and Narrative Games Each Year
The British Academy Games Awards are presented annually to recognise, honour and reward outstanding creative achievement in Games. The awards categories reflect the wealth and diversity of the games sector.
The 2020 nominations have just been announced and include a rich array of games for a diverse range of categories.
The awards started in 2004 and are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). For parents, they are a great way of discovering brilliant games to play in their family.
The Family Games award highlights games that will work really well for parents and children. These often include multiplayer features and feature a cast of family-friendly characters.
The Games Beyond Entertainment award is also of interest as this highlights more unusual games with an emphasis on storytelling that addresses topics that parents may find appealing themselves.
FAMILY GAMES
For the best game experience for a family audience, whether played as individuals or as a group. This category is only open to titles with a PEGI age rating of 12 or under.
2020
Concrete Genie
Knights and Bikes
Luigi's Mansion 3
Untitled Goose Game
Vacation Simulator
WATTAM
2019
LEGO The Incredibles
Nintendo Labo
Overcooked 2
Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Evee
Super Mario Party
Yoku's Island Express
2018
Super Mario Odyssey
Just Dance 2018
Lego Worlds
Mario & Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Monument Valley 2
Snipperclips
2017
Overcooked
Lego Star Wars The Force Awakens
The Playroom VR
Pokemon Go
Ratchet & Clank
Toca Hair Salon 3
2016
Rocket League
Disney Infinity 3.0
FIFA 16
Guitar Hero: Live
LEGO Dimensions
Super Mario Maker
2015
Minecraft
The LEGO Movie Video Game
LittleBigPlanet 3
Mario Kart 8
Skylanders Trap Team
Twelve a Dozen
ORIGINAL DIGITAL PROPERTY
Games that create original characters and settings. This is a great list that highlights new or less well-known games.
2020
Baba Is You
Control
Death Stranding
Disco Elysium
Outer Wilds
Untitled Goose Game
2019
Dead Cells
Florence
Into The Breach
Moss
Return of the Obra Dinn
Subnautica
2018
Horizon Zero Dawn
Cuphead
Gorogoa
Night in the Woods
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
What Remains of Edith Finch
2017
Inside
Firewatch
The Last Guardian
Overwatch
Unravel
The Witness
2016
Until Dawn
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Her Story
Life is Strange
Ori and the Blind Forest
Splatoon
2015
Valliant Hearts
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Monument Valley
Sunset Overdrive
Monument Valley
Titanfall
The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter
GAMES BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT
For the best game that capitalises on the unique and maturing medium of video games to deliver a transformational experience beyond pure entertainment - whether that is to raise awareness through empathy and emotional impact, to engage with real-world problems, or to make the world a better place.
2020
Civilization VI: Gathering Storm
Death Stranding
Kind Words
Life Is Strange 2
Neo Cab
Ring Fit Adventure
2019
11-11: Memories Retold
Celeste
Florence
Life Is Strange 2
My Child Lebensborn
Nintendo Labo
2018
Hellblade
Bury Me My Love
Last Day of June
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Night in the Woods
Sea Hero Quest VR
2017
Inside
Dishonoured 2
Firewatch
Mafia III
Oxenfree
Uncharted 4