Tonight's host comedian Phil Wang says presenting the awards is an "excuse to play a lot of games for my job".

Among tonight's nominees he says he's been able to play include Astro Bot, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Balatro.

Asked by the BBC's Marc Cieslak what he has enjoyed the most playing this year, Wang says he "really loved Astro Bot" which he saw as a real "step forward in platforming".

"It just made me so happy," he says.

Meanwhile, the comedian says he found Balatro - which is also up for the top prize tonight - "so addictive".

"I had to delete it to make sure I didn't spend any more time on it."

Image source, Ninja Theory

You might be surprised to hear that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has bagged more Bafta nominations than last year’s heavyweight, Baldur’s Gate 3 – 11 to its 10.

The action-adventure sequel from Ninja Theory, published by Xbox Game Studios, picks up where 2017’s Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice left off.

Set in Viking-era Iceland, it plunges headfirst into Norse mythology and culture.It’s not up for best game, but it’s a serious contender in the British game category.

Still, eyes are on the performer in a leading role slot – and for good reason.

Melina Juergens already scooped best performance at The Game Awards, and she won best performer at the Baftas for the original Hellblade back in 2018.

What’s even more impressive? She’d never acted before stepping into the role.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat, reporting from the Baftas

Image source, Inkle

A small fictional town in the north of England; a stunning vista of the Scottish Highlands; and an oil rig in the North Sea. All locations for some of the games nominated this year, giving more parts of the UK the spotlight.

There are plenty of examples of games travelling to London for one of their levels. Racing games have taken us past Big Ben, while Mass Effect 3 set its big final battle in a futuristic (and pretty much demolished) version of the capital.

This year though, virtual recreations of different parts of the country are there to explore for players from all around the world.

Some think it could help people overseas learn more about the diversity of the UK, in the same way big TV shows like Peaky Blinders has done for Birmingham.

It also means more variety in the accents you’ll hear in these games, and a hope it could mean more opportunities for homegrown acting talent.

Newsbeat recently visited Cumbria, the site of the UK’s worst nuclear disaster, and setting for the upcoming action game Atomfall to find out what people living there make of having a game set in their back garden.

Tinshui Yeung
Reporting from the Baftas

Image source, PA Media

On the red carpet, we’ve just caught up with Jane Millichip, CEO of Bafta.

With gaming increasingly crossing paths with TV and film, Millichip pointed out a trend she’s keeping an eye on.

She says what’s really interesting is how gaming is evolving as a narrative form. We’re now seeing some properly complex storytelling in games, so “rather than seeing film and TV people go into the games world, you get to see all the games people in film and TV”.

Image source, Coal Supper

“Dead reyt", "faff" and "keep gu'in" are words you don’t often see in video games, but Thank Goodness You’re Here, set in the fictional northern English town of Barnsworth, changes just that.

In the game, players pilot a tiny, silent character through a series of surreal odd-jobs given to them by local residents.

In the process they get to know the strange town’s more colourful characters and really leave their mark on their surroundings.

The hit adventure game - which features more than just a hint of comedy - has Yorkshire roots too, having been developed by local outfit Coal Supper.

• Read our interview with the game’s creators

While the stars are chatting to our reporters on the red carpet, we want to hear from you!

Which game has been your pick of the last year?

And this may be the same or entirely different - which game have you sunk the most hours into?

You can get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803, external
• Email: bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external

Tinshui Yeung
Reporting from the Baftas

Kingdom Hearts. Final Fantasy. Legend of Mana. Xenoblade. Mario & Luigi. Parasite Eve.

How many more titles do you need to realise just how vital Yoko Shimomura is?

The 57-year-old composer has picked up the Bafta fellowship this year – the academy’s highest honour, given to those who’ve made an exceptional contribution to film, games or TV.

And yes, she absolutely deserves it.

Shimomura started out at Capcom in 1988, writing music for the likes of Street Fighter II. But it was her move to Square (now Square Enix) that really launched her into the limelight.

If you want a crash course in her brilliance, start with two standout albums: Drammatica (2008) and memória! (2014).

Drammatica, in particular, is a fully orchestrated gem – with sweeping pieces like the title theme from Legend of Mana, the fiery Tango Apassionata (Heroes of Mana) and the brooding 13th Anthology (Kingdom Hearts).

For many of us, Shimomura’s music is the soundtrack of our childhood.

Image source, Sony

There are six games up for the biggest award tonight - best game. As we lead up to the awards ceremony, we'll be taking a look at each one.

Astro Bot is the game to beat this year, having swept up several best game awards already this season. The 3D platformer from Asabi Studios is an ode to PlayStation’s history and promise of industry-leading innovation.

The fourth-wall breaking premise sees a PlayStation 5 (PS5) spaceship crash on a desert planet, scattering hundreds of astro bots, the console’s mascot, into various platformer worlds. Captain Astro is tasked with rescuing them using abilities unique to each world, with high-reward VIP bots dressed in costumes of the console’s most beloved characters hidden on each level.

The game has earned universal praise from critics and is up for seven other awards tonight.

Laura Cress
BBC World Service, reporting from the award venue

Image source, Getty Images

As we gear up for another star-studded ceremony, there’s just enough time for a quick look back on the award’s 20th anniversary last year.

Industry layoffs and the threat of AI loomed large in many acceptance speeches - subjects likely to make a reprise this time around too.

Carrying on its wildly successful run was role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 which scooped five wins, including the coveted best game. While Sony's Spiderman could only nab one award for best performer in a leading role, Nintendo fared better, with prizes for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

The indies had their moment too. Dave the Diver beat out big name rivals to pick up the award for game design, leaving game director Jaeho Hwang to exclaim: "Thank you so much for giving us this, it means a lot to us - we just beat Zelda!"

Tinshui Yeung
Reporting from the Baftas

Here we are at Queen Elizabeth Hall, the venue for today’s Bafta Games Awards, on London's South Bank.

The red carpet’s rolled out, and we’re ready to spot stars and creators as they arrive.

We’ve also got BBC gaming expert Andrew Rogers with us – spotted earlier in a suit and bow tie, looking the part.

Our team’s busy setting up cameras to bring you all the glitz, glamour and gaming action as it happens.

Stay with us.