British Academy Games Award for Artistic Achievement
# British Academy Games Award for Artistic Achievement

The British Academy Video Games Award for Artistic Achievement is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given "for demonstrating exceptional visual art across all genres".

The award was first presented at the 2nd British Academy Games Awards in 2005 to Half-Life 2 under the name Art Direction. The following year it was awarded as Artistic Achievement and has been presented under that name ever since. As developers, Ubisoft Montreal hold the record for most nominations, with seven, as well as most nominations without a win. Media Molecule and Thatgamecompany are the only developers to have won the category twice. The most nominated publishers are Sony Interactive Entertainment, who have thirty three and six wins. Electronic Arts and Xbox Game Studios are tied for most nominations without a win, with seven.

The current holder of the award is Tunic by Finji, 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

| Year | Game | Recipient(s) | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Half-Life 2 | Half-Life 2 | Valve | Valve |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Burnout 3: Takedown | Burnout 3: Takedown | Criterion Games | Electronic Arts |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Doom 3 | Doom 3 | id Software | Activision |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Killzone | Killzone | Guerrilla Games | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Onimusha 3: Demon Siege | Onimusha 3: Demon Siege | Capcom | Capcom |
| 2003/04 (2nd) | Prince of Persia: Warrior Within | Prince of Persia: Warrior Within | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | Shadow of the Colossus | Shadow of the Colossus | Team Ico and Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | Black | Black | Criterion Games | Electronic Arts |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | Hitman: Blood Money | Hitman: Blood Money | IO Interactive | Eidos Interactive |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | LocoRoco | LocoRoco | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2005/06 (3rd) | We Love Katamari | We Love Katamari | Namco | Namco |
| 2006/07 (4th) | Ōkami | Atsushi Inaba | Clover Studio | Capcom |
| 2006/07 (4th) | BioShock | BioShock | 2K Boston and 2K Australia | 2K Games |
| 2006/07 (4th) | Heavenly Sword | Heavenly Sword | Ninja Theory | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2006/07 (4th) | Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction | Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction | Insomniac Games | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2006/07 (4th) | Skate | Skate | EA Black Box | Electronic Arts |
| 2006/07 (4th) | Viva Piñata | Ryan Stevenson, Ed Bryan | Rare | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2007/08 (5th) | LittleBigPlanet | Kareem Ettouney, Mark Healey, Leo Cubbin | Media Molecule | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2007/08 (5th) | Assassin's Creed | Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Claude Langlais | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2007/08 (5th) | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Infinity Ward | Activision |
| 2007/08 (5th) | Dead Space | Dead Space | Visceral Games | Electronic Arts |
| 2007/08 (5th) | Gears of War 2 | Gears of War 2 | Epic Games | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2007/08 (5th) | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Yoji Shinkawa | Konami | Konami |
| 2009 (6th) | Flower | Flower | thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2009 (6th) | Assassin's Creed II | Sebastien Puel, Patrice Desilets | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2009 (6th) | Batman: Arkham Asylum | Batman: Arkham Asylum | Rocksteady Studios | Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2009 (6th) | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Infinity Ward | Activision |
| 2009 (6th) | Street Fighter IV | Yoshinori Ono | Dimps and Capcom | Capcom |
| 2009 (6th) | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2010 (7th) | God of War III | Stig Asmussen, Ken Feldman, Cecil Kim | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2010 (7th) | Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood | Mohamed Gambouz | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2010 (7th) | Call of Duty: Black Ops | Colin Whitney, Brian Anderson, Dominique Drozdz | Treyarch | Activision |
| 2010 (7th) | Heavy Rain | David Cage, Guillaume de Fondaumiere, Scott Johnson | Quantic Dream | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2010 (7th) | Limbo | Arnt Jensen, Morten Bramsen | Playdead | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2010 (7th) | Mass Effect 2 | Mass Effect 2 | BioWare | Electronic Arts |
| 2011 (8th) | Rayman Origins | Michel Ancel, Celine Tellier, Christophe Villez | Ubisoft | Ubisoft |
| 2011 (8th) | Batman: Arkham City | Batman: Arkham City | Rocksteady Studios | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2011 (8th) | L.A. Noire | Ben Brudenell, Cheekin Chan, Simon Wood | Team Bondi | Rockstar Games |
| 2011 (8th) | LittleBigPlanet 2 | LittleBigPlanet 2 | Media Molecule | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2011 (8th) | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2011 (8th) | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Todd Howard | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2012 (9th) | Journey | Journey | thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (9th) | The Room | The Room | Fireproof Games | Fireproof Games |
| 2012 (9th) | Halo 4 | Halo 4 | 343 Industries | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2012 (9th) | Dear Esther | Robert Briscoe | The Chinese Room | The Chinese Room |
| 2012 (9th) | Borderlands 2 | Randy Pitchford, Paul Hellquist, Jeramy Cooke | Gearbox Software | 2K Games |
| 2012 (9th) | Far Cry 3 | Jean-Alexis Doyon, Genseki Tanaka, Vincent Jean | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2013 (10th) | Tearaway | Tearaway | Tarsier Studios and Media Molecule | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| 2013 (10th) | BioShock Infinite | Scott Sinclair, Shawn Robertson, Stephen Alexander | Irrational Games | 2K Games |
| 2013 (10th) | Beyond: Two Souls | John Rostron, David Cage, Guillaume De Fondaumiere | Quantic Dream | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2013 (10th) | The Last of Us | The Last of Us | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2013 (10th) | Device 6 | Device 6 | Simogo | Simogo |
| 2013 (10th) | Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | Yoshiyuki Momose | Level-5 | Bandai Namco Games |
| 2014 (11th) | Lumino City | Lumino City | State of Play Games | State of Play Games |
| 2014 (11th) | Assassin's Creed Unity | Mohamed Gambouz, Patrick Limoges, Jean-Sébastien Guay | Ubisoft Montréal | Ubisoft |
| 2014 (11th) | Far Cry 4 | Jean-Alexis Doyon, David Wilkinson, Scott Mitchell | Ubisoft Montréal | Ubisoft |
| 2014 (11th) | Valiant Hearts: The Great War | Paul Tumelaire, Ghislain Avrillon, Laurent Labouille | Ubisoft Montpellier | Ubisoft |
| 2014 (11th) | Hohokum | Hohokum | Honeyslug and Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| 2014 (11th) | Monument Valley | Monument Valley | ustwo Games | ustwo Games |
| 2015 (12th) | Ori and the Blind Forest | Ori and the Blind Forest | Moon Studios | Microsoft Studios |
| 2015 (12th) | Assassin's Creed Syndicate | Assassin's Creed Syndicate | Ubisoft Quebec | Ubisoft |
| 2015 (12th) | Batman: Arkham Knight | Batman: Arkham Knight | Rocksteady Studios | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2015 (12th) | Everybody's Gone to the Rapture | Everybody's Gone to the Rapture | The Chinese Room and Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2015 (12th) | Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | Kojima Productions | Konami Digital Entertainment |
| 2015 (12th) | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | CD Projekt Red | CD Projekt |
| 2016 (13th) | Inside | Inside | Playdead | Playdead |
| 2016 (13th) | Abzû | Abzû | Giant Squid Studios | 505 Games |
| 2016 (13th) | Dishonored 2 | Dishonored 2 | Arkane Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2016 (13th) | The Last Guardian | The Last Guardian | Japan Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2016 (13th) | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2016 (13th) | Unravel | Unravel | Coldwood Interactive | Electronic Arts |
| 2017 (14th) | Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | Ninja Theory | Ninja Theory |
| 2017 (14th) | Cuphead | Cuphead | StudioMDHR Entertainment | StudioMDHR Entertainment |
| 2017 (14th) | Gorogoa | Gorogoa | Jason Roberts | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2017 (14th) | Horizon Zero Dawn | Horizon Zero Dawn | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe |
| 2017 (14th) | Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe |
| 2017 (14th) | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2018 (15th) | Return of the Obra Dinn | Lucas Pope | Lucas Pope | 3909 |
| 2018 (15th) | Detroit: Become Human | Guillaume de Fondaumière, David Cage, John OBrien | Quantic Dream | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (15th) | God of War | God of War | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (15th) | Marvel's Spider-Man | Marvel's Spider-Man | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (15th) | Gris | Gris | Nomada Studio | Devolver Digital |
| 2018 (15th) | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Rockstar Games | Rockstar Games |
| 2019 (16th) | Sayonara Wild Hearts | Sayonara Wild Hearts | Simogo | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2019 (16th) | Concrete Genie | Concrete Genie | Pixelopus | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2019 (16th) | Death Stranding | Death Stranding | Kojima Productions | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2019 (16th) | Control | Control | Remedy Entertainment | 505 Games |
| 2019 (16th) | Disco Elysium | Disco Elysium | ZA/UM | ZA/UM |
| 2019 (16th) | Knights and Bikes | Rex Crowle, Moo Yu, Kenneth C M Young | Foam Sword | Double Fine Presents |
| 2020 (17th) | Hades | Jen Zee | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games |
| 2020 (17th) | Cyberpunk 2077 | Cyberpunk 2077 | CD Projekt Red | CD Projekt |
| 2020 (17th) | Dreams | Dreams | Media Molecule | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2020 (17th) | The Last of Us Part II | The Last of Us Part II | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2020 (17th) | Ghost of Tsushima | Jason Connell, Joanna Wang, Ian Jun Wei Chiew | Sucker Punch Productions | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2020 (17th) | Half-Life: Alyx | Half-Life: Alyx | Valve Corporation | Valve Corporation |
| 2021 (18th) | The Artful Escape | The Artful Escape | Beethoven & Dinosaur | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2021 (18th) | It Takes Two | It Takes Two | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts |
| 2021 (18th) | Psychonauts 2 | Psychonauts 2 | Double Fine | Xbox Game Studios |
| 2021 (18th) | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2021 (18th) | Returnal | Returnal | Housemarque | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2021 (18th) | Resident Evil Village | Resident Evil Village | Capcom | Capcom |
| 2022 (19th) | Tunic | Tunic | Finji | Finji |
| 2022 (19th) | Elden Ring | Elden Ring | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco |
| 2022 (19th) | God of War Ragnarök | Raf Grassetti, Dan McKim, Eric Valdes | Santa Monica | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2022 (19th) | Immortality | Doug Potts, Stephanie Reese, Kerry Hennessy | Half Mermaid Productions | Half Mermaid Productions |
| 2022 (19th) | Pentiment | Hannah Kennedy, Soojin Paek | Obsidian | Xbox Game Studios |
| 2022 (19th) | A Plague Tale: Requiem | A Plague Tale: Requiem | Asobo | Focus |

* Note: The games that don't have recipients on the table had Development Team credited on the awards page.

## Multiple nominations and wins

### Developers

| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
| - | - | - |
| Ubisoft Montreal | 7 | 0 |
| Naughty Dog | 6 | 0 |
| Santa Monica Studio | 5 | 1 |
| Media Molecule | 4 | 2 |
| Capcom | 3 | 0 |
| Insomniac Games | 3 | 0 |
| Japan Studio | 3 | 0 |
| Quantic Dream | 3 | 0 |
| Rocksteady Studios | 3 | 0 |
| Bethesda Game Studios | 2 | 0 |
| CD Projekt RED | 2 | 0 |
| Criterion Games | 2 | 0 |
| Guerrilla Games | 2 | 0 |
| Infinity Ward | 2 | 0 |
| Kojima Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Ninja Theory | 2 | 1 |
| Playdead | 2 | 1 |
| Simogo | 2 | 1 |
| Thatgamecompany | 2 | 2 |
| The Chinese Room | 2 | 0 |
| Valve | 2 | 0 |

### Publishers

| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
| - | - | - |
| Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment | 33 | 6 |
| Ubisoft | 9 | 1 |
| Electronic Arts | 7 | 0 |
| Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios | 7 | 0 |
| Activision | 4 | 0 |
| Capcom | 4 | 1 |
| 2k Games | 3 | 0 |
| Annapurna Interactive | 3 | 1 |
| Bandai Namco Games | 3 | 0 |
| Bethesda Softworks | 3 | 0 |
| Warner Bros Interactive | 3 | 0 |
| 505 Games | 2 | 0 |
| CD Projekt | 2 | 0 |
| Eidos Interactive | 2 | 0 |
| Konami | 2 | 0 |
| Valve | 2 | 0 |
