British Academy Games Award for Technical Achievement

The British Academy Games Award for Technical Achievement (formerly, British Academy Games Award for Game Innovation) is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) as part of the British Academy Games Awards. It is given in honour of "the best innovation in gameplay or technology". The award was initially known as Innovation at the 3rd British Academy Games Awards ceremony, held in 2006, and was awarded to Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?, developed and published by Nintendo.[1] The award was absent from ceremonies held in 2008 to 2010. before returning to the 8th ceremony held in 2011, under the name Game Innovation. For the 2020 awards, the category was renamed again for Technical Achievement as to encompass gameplay programming and visual engineering.[2]

British Academy Games Award for Technology Achievement
Awarded for"The best innovation in gameplay or technology."
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBAFTA
First awarded2006
Currently held byHorizon Forbidden West
Websitewww.bafta.org/games

Since its inception, the award has been given to thirteen games. As a developer, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development has a leading six nominations in the category, including two wins, tied with Media Molecule. Japan Studio holds the record for most nominations without a win, with four. Among publishers, Sony Interactive Entertainment has the most wins, with six. Xbox Game Studios are the publisher with the most nominations without a win, with five.

The current holder of the award is Horizon Forbidden West by Guerrilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment, 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
YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)Ref.
2006

(3rd)

Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?Nintendo SPDNintendo[1]
ElectroplanktonindieszeroNintendo
Guitar HeroHarmonixRedOctane
LocoRocoJapan StudioSony Computer Entertainment
Shadow of the ColossusTeam Ico, Japan StudioSony Computer Entertainment
We Love KatamariNamcoNamco
2007

(4th)

Wii SportsNintendo EADNintendo[3]
Battlefield 2142EA DICEElectronic Arts
CrackdownRealtime WorldsMicrosoft Game Studios
Guitar Hero IIHarmonixActivision
World in ConflictMassive EntertainmentSierra Entertainment
World of Warcraft: The Burning CrusadeBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
2011

(8th)

LittleBigPlanet 2Media MoleculeSony Computer Entertainment Europe[4]
BastionSupergiant GamesWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Child of EdenQ EntertainmentUbisoft
From DustUbisoft MontpellierUbisoft
L.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar Games
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordNintendo EADNintendo
2012

(9th)

The Unfinished SwanGiant Sparrow, Santa Monica StudioSony Computer Entertainment[5]
FezPolytron CorporationTrapdoor
Call of Duty: Black Ops IITreyarchActivision
Wonderbook: Book of SpellsLondon StudioLondon Studio
JourneythatgamecompanySony Computer Entertainment
Kinect Sesame Street TVMicrosoft Studios, Soho ProductionsMicrosoft Studios
2013

(10th)

Brothers: A Tale of Two SonsStarbreeze Studios505 Games[6]
Grand Theft Auto VRockstar NorthRockstar Games
Papers, PleaseLucas Pope, 3909 LLC3909 LLC
The Stanley ParableGalactic CaféGalactic Café
TearawayTarsier Studios, Media MoleculeSony Computer Entertainment Europe
Year WalkSimogoSimogo
2014

(11th)

The Vanishing of Ethan CarterThe AstronautsThe Astronauts, Nordic Games[7]
80 DaysInkleInkle, Profile Books
Alien: IsolationThe Creative AssemblySega
Lumino CityState of Play GamesState of Play Games
Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
TitanfallRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts
2015

(12th)

Her StorySam BarlowSam Barlow[8]
Everybody's Gone to the RaptureThe Chinese Room, Santa Monica StudioSony Computer Entertainment
Life Is StrangeDontnod EntertainmentSquare Enix
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainKojima ProductionsKonami Digital Entertainment
SplatoonNintendo EADNintendo
Until DawnSupermassive GamesSony Computer Entertainment
2016

(13th)

That Dragon, CancerNuminous GamesNuminous Games[9]
Batman: Arkham VRRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
FirewatchCampo SantoPanic
Pokémon GoNianticNiantic
Unseen DiplomacyTriangular PixelsTriangulars Pixels
The WitnessThekla, Inc.Thekla, Inc.
2017

(14th)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildNintendo EPDNintendo
GorogoaJason Roberts, Buried SignalAnnapurna Interactive
Hellblade: Senua's SacrificeNinja Theory LtdNinja Theory Ltd
NieR: AutomataPlatinumGamesSquare Enix
SnipperclipsSFB GamesNintendo
What Remains of Edith FinchGiant SparrowAnnapurna Interactive
2018

(15th)

Nintendo LaboNintendo EPDNintendo
Astro Bot Rescue MissionJapan StudioSony Interactive Entertainment Europe
CelesteMatt Makes Games Inc.Matt Makes Games Inc.
Cultist SimulatorWeather FactoryHumble Bundle
MossPolyarcPolyarc
Return of the Obra DinnLucas Pope3909
2019

(16th)

Death StrandingKojima ProductionsSony Interactive Entertainment[10]
A Plague Tale: InnocenceAsobo StudioFocus Home Interactive
Call of Duty: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivision
ControlRemedy Entertainment505 Games
Metro Exodus4A GamesDeep Silver
Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceFromSoftwareActivision
2020

(17th)

DreamsMedia MoleculeSony Interactive Entertainment[11]
Demon's SoulsJapan StudioSony Interactive Entertainment
Doom Eternalid SoftwareBethesda Softworks
Microsoft Flight SimulatorAsobo StudioXbox Game Studios
The Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment
Spider-Man: Miles MoralesInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment
2021

(18th)

Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment[12]
Forza Horizon 5Playground GamesXbox Game Studios
Hitman 3IO Interactive
Psychonauts 2Double FineXbox Game Studios
Resident Evil VillageCapcom
ReturnalHousemarqueSony Interactive Entertainment
2022

(19th)

Horizon Forbidden WestGuerrillaSony Interactive Entertainment[13]
God of War RagnarökSanta MonicaSony Interactive Entertainment
The Last of Us Part INaughty Dog
Elden RingFromSoftwareBandai Namco
ImmortalityHalf Mermaid Productions
StrayBlueTwelveAnnapurna Interactive

Multiple nominations and wins

Developers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Nintendo SPD/Nintendo EAD62
Japan Studio40
Media Molecule32
Santa Monica Studio31
Giant Sparrow21
Harmonix20
Insomniac Games21
Kojima Productions21
Lucas Pope20
Naughty Dog20

Publishers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment196
Nintendo84
Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios50
Activision40
Annapurna Interactive30
Warner Bros Interactive30
390920
505 Games21
Electronic Arts20
Namco20
Rockstar Games20
Square Enix20
Ubisoft20

References