British Academy Games Award for Narrative

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.

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 byImmortalitySam Barlow, Amelia Gray, Allan Scott
Websitewww.bafta.org/games

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 holders of the award are Sam Barlow, Amelia Gray and Allan Scott, writers of Immortality by Half Mermaid Productions, 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
YearGameRecipient(s)Developer(s)Publisher(s)Ref.
2005/06
(3rd)
PsychonautsDouble Fine ProductionsMajesco Entertainment[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 IICory Barlog, James Barlog and Marianne KrawczykSanta Monica StudioSony 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 WarfareInfinity WardActivision[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 ThievesNaughty DogSony 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 RainDavid Cage, Guillaume de Fondaumiere, Scott JohnsonQuantic DreamSony 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 2Valve 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 DeadTelltale 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 UsBruce Straley, Neil DruckmannNaughty DogSony 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 BehindNeil DruckmannNaughty DogSony 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 StrangeDontnod EntertainmentSquare 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)
InsideArnt JensenPlaydead[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 WoodsScott Benson, Alec Holowka, Bethany HockenberryInfinite FallFinji[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 WarCory Barlog, Matt Sophos, Richard Zangrande GaubertSanta Monica StudioSony 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 ElysiumZA/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)

HadesGreg KasavinSupergiant 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)

UnpackingWren Brier, Tim Dawson, Annie VanderMeerWitch BeamHumble 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 3Larian 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
  • 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

DeveloperNominationsWins
Neil Druckmann32
Tim Schafer30
Cory Barlog22
Dan Houser20
Jeffrey Yohalem20
Li Kuo20
Lucien Soulban20
Matt Sophos21
Richard Gaubert21
Rupert Humphries20
Sam Barlow21
Tameem Antoniades20
Todd Howard20

Developers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Naughty Dog52
Ubisoft Montreal50
BioWare40
Double Fine41
Bethesda Game Studios30
Obsidian Entertainment30
Remedy Entertainment30
Santa Monica Studio32
Arkane Studios20
CD Projekt Red20
Don't Nod21
Eidos-Montréal20
Fullbright20
Insomniac Games20
Ninja Theory20
Respawn Entertainment20
Rockstar North20
Rocksteady Studios20
Starbreeze Studios20
Telltale Games21

Publishers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment196
Electronic Arts80
Bethesda Softworks70
Square Enix70
Ubisoft70
Annapurna Interactive50
Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios50
Rockstar Games40
2k Games30
505 Games20
Activision21
CD Projekt20
Eidos Interactive20
Warner Bros Interactive20

References

External links