Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 claimed the top prize at the BAFTA Games Awards 2026, but the French studio's night proved bittersweet as the title lost out in several major categories where it had been nominated.
Sandfall Interactive's action adventure took home Best Game, the ceremony's most prestigious award. The win capped a strong showing that included Jennifer English's victory in Performer in a Leading Role for her work as Maelle, and a Debut Game award that recognized the studio's first major release.
Yet the wins masked some surprises elsewhere. Ghost of Yōtei upset Clair Obscur in the Music category, while Kingdom Come: Deliverance II claimed Best Narrative. Microsoft's South of Midnight won New Intellectual Property, another category where Clair Obscur had been in contention.
The supporting acting race delivered its own twist. Jeffrey Wright, fresh from voicing Chase in Dispatch, took the Performer in a Supporting Role award, preventing what would have been a high-profile moment for Daredevil star Charlie Cox, who was nominated for his motion capture work as Gustave in Clair Obscur.
Dispatch itself had a productive evening, winning both Animation and Audio Achievement awards. Ghost of Yōtei added Technical Achievement to its Music win, while Sucker Punch's sequel demonstrated strength across multiple disciplines.
The ceremony highlighted the strength of emerging and evolving titles. No Man's Sky claimed Evolving Game after its years of post-launch development, and Rebellion's Atomfall won the British Game category. Arc Raiders, Embark Studios' multiplayer shooter, took home the Multiplayer award.
Other winners included Blue Prince for Game Design, LEGO Party for Family, and Hello Games' No Man's Sky for Evolving Game. The Fellowship Award went to Ilkka Paananen, CEO and co-founder of Supercell.
Author Emily Chen: "Clair Obscur took the prize that matters most, but those losses in music and narrative sting for a game that was clearly built to impress across every dimension."
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