British Academy Games Award for Narrative

British Academy Games Award for Narrative
Awarded forThe best story or narrative for a game
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
Currently held byKingdom Come: Deliverance II
Websitewww.bafta.org/games

The British Academy Video Games Award for Narrative is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given to recognize "excellence in the creation and delivery of the best story or narrative that captivates and engages the player".[1] The award is given to the writers/development team, the developer and the publisher of the winning game. The award was first presented at the 3rd British Academy Games Awards under the name Screenplay. The following year it was renamed into Story and Character. From the 6th edition to the 12th, it was presented as Story. Since the 13th British Academy Games Awards, it has been presented with its current name.

Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio are the only developers with two wins in the category, while Ubisoft Montreal are the developer with the most nominations without a win, with five. Among publishers, Sony Interactive Entertainment has a leading nineteen nominations, with six wins. Bethesda Softworks, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts are tied for most nominations without a win, with seven each. To date, two writers (Neil Druckmann and Cory Barlog) have won the BAFTA twice for their work on The Last of Us and God of War franchises respectively. With three nominations, Tim Schafer is the most nominated writer without a win.

The current holder of the award is Kingdom Come: Deliverance II by Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver, which won at the 22nd British Academy Games Awards in 2026.

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.
2005/06
(3rd) 		Psychonauts Double Fine Productions Majesco [2]
24: The GameSCE Studio CambridgeSony Computer Entertainment Europe
Rogue TrooperRebellion DevelopmentsEidos Interactive
Tomb Raider: LegendCrystal Dynamics
The Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionBethesda Game StudiosBethesda Softworks
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced WarfighterUbisoft ParisUbisoft
2006/07
(4th) 		God of War II Cory Barlog, James Barlog and Marianne Krawczyk Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment [3]
Final Fantasy XIIDaisuke Watanabe, Miwa Shoda and Yasumi MatsunoSquare Enix
Heavenly SwordTameem Antoniades, Rhianna Pratchett and Andrew S. WalshNinja TheorySony Computer Entertainment
ŌkamiHideki KamiyaClover StudioCapcom
The DarknessDenby Grace, Lars Johansson, Jerk GustafssonStarbreeze Studios2K Games
The Simpsons GameMatt Selman, Scot AmosEA Redwood ShoresElectronic Arts
2007/08
(5th) 		Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward Activision [4][5]
Assassin's CreedJade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude LanglaisUbisoft MontrealUbisoft
Fable IILionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game Studios
Mass EffectCasey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn, Derek WattsBioWare
Fallout 3Todd Howard, Emil PagliaruloBethesda Game StudiosBethesda Softworks
Grand Theft Auto IVRockstar NorthRockstar Games
2009
(6th) 		Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment [6]
Assassin's Creed IICorey May, Joshua Rubin, Jeffrey YohalemUbisoft MontréalUbisoft
Batman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosEidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director's CutCharles Cecil, Neil Richards, Tony WarrinerRevolution SoftwareUbisoft
Brütal LegendTim SchaferDouble Fine ProductionsElectronic Arts
Dragon Age: OriginsRay Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, Mike LaidlawBioWare
2010
(7th) 		Heavy Rain David Cage, Guillaume de Fondaumiere, Scott Johnson Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment [7]
Alan WakeRemedy EntertainmentMicrosoft Game Studios
BioShock 2Jordan Thomas, Zak McClendon2K Marin2K Games
Call of Duty: Black OpsDave Anthony, Craig HoustonTreyarchActivision
Fallout: New VegasJohn Gonzalez, Eric Fenstermaker, Travis StoutObsidian EntertainmentBethesda Softworks
Mass Effect 2BioWareElectronic Arts
2011
(8th) 		Portal 2 Valve Corporation [8]
Batman: Arkham CityRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Deus Ex: Human RevolutionJean-François Dugas, Marie DeMarle, James SwallowEidos-MontréalSquare Enix Europe
L.A. NoireBrendan McNamaraTeam BondiRockstar Games
The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimTodd HowardBethesda Game StudiosBethesda Softworks
Uncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment
2012
(9th) 		The Walking Dead Telltale Games [9]
JourneythatgamecompanySony Computer Entertainment
Far Cry 3Jeffrey Yohalem, Lucien Soulban, Li KuoUbisoft MontréalUbisoft
DishonoredArkane StudiosBethesda Softworks
Mass Effect 3Mac WaltersBioWareElectronic Arts
Thomas Was AloneMike BithellMike Bithell
2013
(10th) 		The Last of Us Bruce Straley, Neil Druckmann Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment [10]
The Stanley ParableGalactic Cafe
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White WitchAkihiro HinoLevel-5Namco Bandai Games
Grand Theft Auto VDan Houser, Rupert HumphriesRockstar NorthRockstar Games
Gone HomeFullbright
Brothers: A Tale of Two SonsStarbreeze Studios505 Games
2014
(11th) 		The Last of Us: Left Behind Neil Druckmann Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment Europe [11][12]
80 DaysJoseph Humfrey, Jon Ingold, Meg JayanthInkle
Broken AgeTim SchaferDouble Fine Productions
Far Cry 4Mark Thompson, Lucien Soulban, Li KuoUbisoft MontréalUbisoft
The Wolf Among UsTelltale Games
Never Alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa)Upper One GamesE-Line Media
2015
(12th) 		Life Is Strange Dontnod Entertainment Square Enix Europe [13][14]
Everybody's Gone to the RaptureThe Chinese RoomSony Computer Entertainment
Until DawnSupermassive Games
Her StorySam BarlowSam Barlow
UndertaleToby Fox
The Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt RedCD Projekt
2016
(13th)		 Inside Arnt Jensen Playdead [15][16]
Dishonored 2Arkane StudiosBethesda Softworks
FirewatchCampo SantoPanic
Mafia IIIHangar 132K Games
OxenfreeNight School Studio
Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndNeil Druckmann, Josh ScherrNaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment
2017

(14th)

 Night in the Woods Scott Benson, Alec Holowka, Bethany Hockenberry Infinite Fall Finji [17]
Hellblade: Senua's SacrificeTameem AntoniadesNinja Theory
Horizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive Entertainment
TacomaSteve Gaynor, Karla ZimoniaFullbright
What Remains of Edith FinchGiant SparrowAnnapurna Interactive
Wolfenstein II: The New ColossusJens Matthies, Tommy Tordsson Björk, Tom KeeganMachineGamesBethesda Softworks
2018

(15th)

 God of War Cory Barlog, Matt Sophos, Richard Zangrande Gaubert Santa Monica Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment [18]
FlorenceMountainsAnnapurna Interactive
Frostpunk11 bit studios
Marvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment
Red Dead Redemption 2Dan Houser, Rupert Humphries, Michael UnsworthRockstar Games
Return of the Obra DinnLucas PopeLucas Pope
2019

(16th)

 Disco Elysium ZA/UM [19][20]
ControlRemedy Entertainment505 Games
Life Is Strange 2Dontnod EntertainmentSquare Enix
Outer WildsMobius DigitalAnnapurna Interactive
The Outer WorldsObsidian EntertainmentPrivate Division
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderAaron Contreras, Matt Michnovetz, Stig AsmussenRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts
2020

(17th)

 Hades Greg Kasavin Supergiant Games [21][22]
Assassin's Creed ValhallaUbisoft MontrealUbisoft
Cyberpunk 2077CD Projekt RedCD Projekt
Ghost of TsushimaNate Fox, Ian Ryan, Writing TeamSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive Entertainment
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesInsomniac Games
Kentucky Route Zero: TV EditionCardboard ComputerAnnapurna Interactive
2021

(18th)

 Unpacking Wren Brier, Tim Dawson, Annie VanderMeer Witch Beam Humble Bundle [23][24]
It Takes TwoHazelight StudiosElectronic Arts
Life Is Strange: True ColorsDeck NineSquare Enix
Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyEidos-Montréal
Psychonauts 2Tim SchaferDouble FineXbox Game Studios
ReturnalHousemarqueSony Interactive Entertainment
2023

(20th)

 Baldur's Gate 3 Larian Studios [25]
Alan Wake 2Remedy EntertainmentEpic Games
DredgeJoel Mason, Alex Ritchie, Nadia ThorneBlack Salt GamesTeam17
Final Fantasy XVIKazutoyo Maehiro, Michael-Christopher Koji FoxSquare Enix Creative Business Unit IIISquare Enix
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomNintendo EPDNintendo
Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts
2024

(21st)

 Metaphor: ReFantazio Studio Zero Sega [26][27]
Black Myth: Wukong Game Science
Dragon Age: The Veilguard BioWare Electronic Arts
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Square Enix
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Ninja Theory Xbox Game Studios
Still Wakes the Deep The Chinese Room Secret Mode
2025

(22nd)

 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Warhorse Studios Deep Silver [28][29]
Blue Prince Tonda Ros Dogubomb Raw Fury
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Guillaume Broche, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen Sandfall Interactive Kepler Interactive
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Hideo Kojima, Kenji Yano, Ray Khalastchi Kojima Productions Sony Interactive Entertainment
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle MachineGames Bethesda Softworks
The Alters Tomasz Kisilewicz, Katarzyna Tybinka 11 Bit Studios
  • Note: The games that don't have recipients on the table had Development Team or Writing Team credited on the awards page.

Multiple nominations and wins

Writers

Developer Nominations Wins
Neil Druckmann 3 2
Tim Schafer 3 0
Cory Barlog 2 2
Dan Houser 2 0
Jeffrey Yohalem 2 0
Li Kuo 2 0
Lucien Soulban 2 0
Matt Sophos 2 1
Richard Gaubert 2 1
Rupert Humphries 2 0
Sam Barlow 2 1
Tameem Antoniades 2 0
Todd Howard 2 0

Developers

Developer Nominations Wins
Naughty Dog 5 2
Ubisoft Montreal 5 0
BioWare 5 0
Double Fine 4 1
Bethesda Game Studios 3 0
Obsidian Entertainment 3 0
Remedy Entertainment 3 0
Santa Monica Studio 3 2
Arkane Studios 2 0
CD Projekt Red 2 0
Don't Nod 2 1
Eidos-Montréal 2 0
Fullbright 2 0
Insomniac Games 2 0
Ninja Theory 3 0
Respawn Entertainment 2 0
Rockstar North 2 0
Rocksteady Studios 2 0
Starbreeze Studios 2 0
Telltale Games 2 1
The Chinese Room 2 0

Publishers

Developer Nominations Wins
Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 19 6
Electronic Arts 9 0
Bethesda Softworks 7 0
Square Enix 8 0
Ubisoft 7 0
Annapurna Interactive 5 0
Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 6 0
Rockstar Games 4 0
2k Games 3 0
505 Games 2 0
Activision 2 1
CD Projekt 2 0
Eidos Interactive 2 0
Warner Bros Interactive 2 0
Xbox Game Studios 2 0

References

  1. ↑ "BAFTA Games Awards Rules and Guidelines 2022" (PDF). British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Games in 2006". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Games in 2007". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Games in 2009". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Games in 2010". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Games in 2011". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Games in 2012". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Games in 2013". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Games in 2014". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Games in 2015". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Karmali, Luke (10 February 2015). "BAFTA Games Awards 2015 Nominees Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "British Academy Games Awards Winners in 2016". BAFTA.org. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  14. ↑ Skrebels, Joe (10 March 2016). "BAFTA Games Awards 2016 Nominees Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Games in 2017 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  16. ↑ Erica Webber, Jordan (9 March 2017). "Bafta games awards 2017: Inside and Uncharted 4 lead the way". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Winners List for the British Academy Games Awards in 2018 (Plain Text) | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  18. ↑ "BAFTA Games Awards winners 2019". awards.bafta.org. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  19. ↑ "2020 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  20. ↑ Powell, Steffan; Rahman-Jones, Imran (25 March 2021). "Bafta Games Awards 2021: Hades takes Best Game". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ "2022 BAFTA Games Awards Winners". 3 March 2022.
  24. ↑ Julians, Joe (8 April 2022). "BAFTA Games Awards 2022: Full list of winners as Returnal wins Best Game". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  25. ↑ "20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners & Nominations". Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "2025-Nominations BAFTA Games Awards".
  27. ↑ "BAFTA Games Awards: 'Senua's Saga: Hellblade II,' 'Astro Bot,' 'Still Wakes the Deep' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  28. ↑ "2026-Nominations BAFTA Games Awards".
  29. ↑ Welsh, Oli; McWhertor, Michael (April 17, 2026). "Clair Obscur completes its sweep of all the major GOTY awards with BAFTA win". Polygon. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
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