BAFTA Makes the Bold Move of Not Including DLC For Its GotY Nominees

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its extensive longlist for the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards. Discover if your favorite game made the cut!

58 Games from 247 Entries

BAFTA's 2025 Games Awards longlist features 58 games across 17 categories, selected from 247 submitted titles. These games were released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024.

Final nominations will be announced on March 4, 2025, with the awards ceremony taking place on April 8, 2025.

Best Game Contenders

Ten titles are vying for the coveted "Best Game" award:

• ANIMAL WELL
• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Thank Goodness You’re Here!
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

In 2024, Baldur's Gate 3 secured this prestigious award, winning six awards out of ten nominations.

Other Award Categories

While some games didn't make the "Best Game" shortlist, they remain eligible for 16 other categories:

• Animation
• Artistic Achievement
• Audio Achievement
• British Game
• Debut Game
• Evolving Game
• Family
• Game Beyond Entertainment
• Game Design
• Multiplayer
• Music
• Narrative
• New Intellectual Property
• Technical Achievement
• Performer in a Leading Role
• Performer in a Supporting Role

Notable Exclusions from "Best Game"

Several prominent 2024 releases, while on the overall longlist, are absent from the "Best Game" category. This includes Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2. BAFTA's rules exclude remasters, remakes, and DLC released outside the eligibility period from the "Best Game" and "British Game" categories. However, these titles may still compete in other categories such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. The absence of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is noteworthy and unexplained by BAFTA, though it is expected to feature in other year-end award shows.

BAFTA's complete longlist is available on their official website.