Chillingo's Cut the Rope the first iPhone game to scoop a BAFTA

Beating out the likes of God of War: Ghost of Sparta on PSP and Sonic Colours on DS, iPhone hit Cut the Rope has been named as BAFTA's top handheld title at the 2011 Video Game Awards in London.

The game, published by Chillingo and developed by ZeptoLab, is the first iPhone release to pick up a BAFTA in the award ceremony's history.

Perhaps even more significantly, it was the only iOS release nominated in the category, also topping Lego Harry Potter, Professor Layton and the Lost Future and Super Scribblenauts in the process.

"Cut the Rope has been nothing short of a phenomenon on the iOS platform and we're delighted it's been recognised by the British Academy," said Chillingo co-GM Chris Byatte.

The publisher claims sales across iPhone and iPad currently stand at 6 million, with other recent accolades including best handheld game at the GDC Awards in San Francisco and Pocket Gamer's best iPhone casual/puzzle game and most innovative release on the platform.

"It is hugely flattering to win for such a prestigious award," added Zeptolab CTO Efim Voinov. "The whole team is ecstatic."