Barcelona-based Poti Poti Studio’s debut title, Is this seat taken?, has earned a coveted nomination at one of the gaming world’s most prestigious events. The game is nominated for a British Academy Games Award (BAFTA) in the highly competitive ‘Family’ category, a significant achievement for the Catalan video game studio.
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Released in August 2025, the charming puzzle game challenges players to find the perfect seating arrangement for a cast of characters across various social settings, including a crowded bus, a wedding reception, and a cinema. Available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and mobile devices, the game has captivated players with its blend of observational puzzles and heartfelt storytelling.
A Story with Barcelona at its Heart
Sergi Pérez and Ausiàs Dalmau led the team that developed Is this seat taken?, a distinctly Catalan creation. The main story begins and ends in Barcelona, following the journey of Nat, an aspiring movie star who embarks on a worldwide quest after seeing his doppelgänger on the big screen. This quest for connection and belonging forms the narrative backbone of the game’s seating puzzles.
Celebrating its local roots, Poti Poti Studio developed the game with full Catalan language support from the outset. The studio went a step further, incorporating several dialectal varieties, including Central, Valencian, and Menorcan. This offers a rich linguistic experience alongside other languages such as English, Spanish, and Japanese. This focus on local language mirrors a growing trend in the region; recent reports indicate that one in four video games developed in Catalonia are now available in Catalan.
Facing Off Against Industry Giants
The BAFTA nomination places the independent studio among global gaming titans. As VilaWeb reported, Is this seat taken? will compete against major titles including Donkey Kong Bananza, Lego Party!, Mario Kart World, Powerwash Simulator 2, and Two Point Museum.
The studio shared its excitement on the social media platform X, calling the nomination \”insane\” and adding that they have their \”fingers crossed.\” The 22nd British Academy Games Awards will take place on 17 April 2026, when the winners will be revealed.
\”This is insane! We have our fingers crossed.\”– Poti Poti Studio, via X
A Testament to Catalonia’s Thriving Games Sector
The success of Is this seat taken? is not an isolated incident; rather, it highlights Catalonia’s flourishing video game ecosystem. Data from ACCIÓ, the Catalan government’s agency for business competitiveness, shows the region is home to 262 studios and has become a significant industry hub within Europe.
Strong institutional support bolsters this growth, including government grants for game development and incubators like GameBCN, which nurtures emerging talent. Additionally, cultural landmarks, such as the recently opened Catalan Video Game Museum, further solidify the city’s commitment to the sector.
This international recognition for Poti Poti Studio follows a pattern of global success for Catalan creative projects, including the recent two Oscar nominations for the film ‘sirât’. As the team at Poti Poti Studio awaits the BAFTA results, their nomination alone marks a significant victory for the small studio and a proud moment for Barcelona’s creative industries.
