Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads 2026’s BAFTA Games Awards nominations

The 2026 BAFTA Games Awards nominations have been revealed, and as seen in previous award shows, it's a historic year for independent and debut projects. Leading the pack is the critically acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has secured an extraordinary 12 nominations.

Developed by Sandfall Interactive, the turn-based RPG has struck a chord with voters, appearing in major categories including Best Game and Debut Game. Expedition 33 also won prestigious GOTY awards at The Game Awards and the Golden Joystick awards.

While Clair Obscur holds the lead, it faces stiff competition from a diverse field of other titles. Dispatch, the superhero workplace comedy developed by veterans of the former Telltale team, has earned an impressive nine nominations. Close behind are Ghost of Yōtei with eight nominations and Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On the Beach with seven. Rounding out the top contenders are Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with six nominations and the extraction shooter Arc Raiders with five. The full list of categories and respective nominees can be found below:

Animation

• Battlefield 6
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Artistic Achievement

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• South of Midnight

Audio Achievement

• ARC Raiders
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Best Game

• ARC Raiders
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

British Game

• Atomfall
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
• Mafia: The Old Country
• Monument Valley 3
• Powerwash Simulator 2
• Two Point Museum

Debut Game

• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Consume Me
• Despelote
• Dispatch
• The Midnight Walk

Evolving Game

• Fallout 76
• Helldivers 2
• Hitman: World of Assassination
• No Man's Sky
• Vampire Survivors
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Family

• Donkey Kong Bananza
• Is This Seat Taken?
• LEGO Party!
• Mario Kart World
• Powerwash Simulator 2
• Two Point Museum

Game Beyond Entertainment

• The Alters
• And Roger
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
• Consume Me
• Despelote
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl

Game Design

• Ball x Pit
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades II
• Split Fiction

Multiplayer

• ARC Raiders
• Dune: Awakening
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• LEGO Party!
• Peak
• Split Fiction

Music

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Dispatch
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Narrative

• The Alters
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

New Intellectual Property

• The Alters
• ARC Raiders
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Dispatch
• South of Midnight
• Split Fiction

Performer in a Leading Role

• Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson in Dispatch
• Ben Starr as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei
• Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Tom McKay as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Troy Baker as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Performer in a Supporting Role

• Alix Wilton Regan as Lea Florence Monad in Lies of P: Overture
• Charlie Cox as Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Jane Perry as Lia Cain in Dead Take
• Jeffrey Wright as Chase in Dispatch
• Kirsty Rider as Lune in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Troy Baker as Higgs in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Technical Achievement

• ARC Raiders
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Split Fiction

The winners of the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards will be crowned on April 17th during a live ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

KitGuru says: As the industry gathers in London, the spotlight will be on whether Clair Obscur can translate its massive nomination count into another sweep of trophies, or if established franchises like Indiana Jones and Ghost of Yōtei will claim the top honours.

Become a Patron!