Super Mario 3D Land, Magnetic Billiards, Quarrel, Dead Space and Peggle in the running for a BAFTA

Turning 2011's handheld-centric nominations on their head, smartphone titles are the dominant force in this year's mobile and handheld category at the BAFTA Video Games Awards.

Leading the line are iOS hit Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint from Zee-3, Quarrel from Dundee-based studio Denki, PopCap's ever-popular Peggle, the iOS version of Dead Space from EA and The Nightjar by Somethin' Else.

Sounding out the competition

Indeed, The Nightjar is actually up for two accolades, also finding its way into the cross-platform short-list for audio achievement.

In terms of the mobile and handheld award, these releases will need to beat out Nintendo's Super Mario 3D Land on 3DS to triumph.

For some, however, simply being nominated is something of a shock.

"Regular readers will remember me having a big old moan about the way the BAFTAs for video games are organised late last year, which was followed up by my being invited to meet some of the BAFTA organisers in January," said Zee-3 founder Ste Pickford on the studio's blog, in reference to the studio's previous complaints about the awards.

"It's still a genuine surprise that our little game made it through to the long list, and now to the nomination stage, rubbing shoulders with games by Nintendo and Electronic Arts."

Following ZeptoLab

Quarrel's nomination follows the game's triumph at the Scottish BAFTAs, with the game beating out Cobra Mobile's iBomber Defense and Cohort Studios' PSP Minis release Me Monstar: Hear Me Roar! to take home the title of best game.

2011 saw Chillingo and ZeptoLab's Cut the Rope named as best handheld game, topping the likes of God of War: Ghost of Sparta on PSP and Professor Layton and the Lost Future on DS.

The winner of the 2012 award will be announced on 16 March.