Supergiant's 'Hades' triumphs at BAFTA Games Awards

Amir Rao speaks as he receives 'Game Design' award for the game 'Hades' during 2021 BAFTA Games Awards in London, Britain March 25, 2021. Courtesy of ©BAFTA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. This image is intended for editorial usage for the purpose of publicising BAFTA, the person or service pictured and provided BAFTA and the copyright holder in the caption are credited. Any use of this image including but not limited to use on the Internet, other online or mobile communication services or for any future service not yet invented will require a separate prior agreement in writing from BAFTA. For any other purpose whatsoever including advertising and commercial usage prior written approval will be required from BAFTA, the copyright holder and in some cases the person or persons depicted in the image. IMAGE MUST BE USED IN ITS ENTIRETY - NO CROPPING OR OTHER MODIFICATIONS. NO NEW USAGE USE AFTER 2300 GMT ON APRIL 1, 2021 REFILE - CORRECTING PRONOUN

Greek mythology-inspired "Hades" took out the top honours at the BAFTA Games Awards on Thursday, scooping five prizes including a win for best game of 2020, as pandemic lockdowns brought new fans to the sector.

Developed by San Francisco-based Supergiant Games, "Hades" lets players take on the role Hades' son Zagreus as he tries to escape the Underworld.

Logan Cunningham speaks as he receives 'Performer in a Supporting Role' award for the game 'Hades' during 2021 BAFTA Games Awards in London, Britain March 25, 2021. Courtesy of ?BAFTA/Handout via REUTERS

In a ceremony streamed live, the title also picked up awards for game design, artistic achievement, narrative and performer supporting role for voice actor Logan Cunningham at the British Academy Games Awards.

EE game of the year, the sole award voted for by the public, went to "The Last of Us Part II", which had led nominations with a record 13 nods.

With Britain under national lockdown to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many people turned to games for entertainment as well as virtual social interaction, organisers said.

Jen Zee speaks as she receives 'Artistic Achievement' award for the game 'Hades' during 2021 BAFTA Games Awards in London, Britain March 25, 2021. Courtesy of ©BAFTA/Handout via REUTERS

"2020 ... saw people seeking out forms of entertainment in ways that we haven't seen before," Jo Twist, Chief Executive of trade body Ukie, told Reuters. "Games offered a real opportunity for people to socially connect."

The UK video games market rose some 30% last year to a record 7 billion pounds ($9.61 billion), according to Ukie, which represents the UK games and interactive entertainment sector.

Software revenue rose 18% to 4.55 billion pounds while game hardware jumped nearly 61% to 2.26 billion pounds as gamers bought new consoles, accessories and upgraded their PC game components, Ukie said.

Neil Druckmann speaks as the game 'The Last of Us Part 2' receives EE Game of the Year award during 2021 BAFTA Games Awards in London, Britain March 25, 2021. Courtesy of ?BAFTA/Handout via REUTERS

"The Last of Us Part II", set in a post-apocalyptic United States filled with fungus-infected zombies, also won awards for animation and performer in a leading role for voice actress Laura Bailey.

Platform game "Sackboy: A Big Adventure" won the British game award.

"2020 has been ... a landmark year for gaming ... We've launched a whole new generation of consoles. We've had video games come out that we've been waiting for years and years. We've had reboots of really beloved franchises," ceremony host Elle Osili-Wood told Reuters.

($1 = 0.7282 pounds)

(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Additional reporting by Emmanouil Papavasileiou; editing by Richard Pullin)