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

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

58 Games from 247 Entries

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

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

The coveted "Best Game" award contenders are:

⚫︎ 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

Following 2024's success, where Baldur's Gate 3 secured six awards from ten nominations, anticipation for this year's winner is high.

Other categories include: 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, and Performer in a Supporting Role.

Notable Exclusions from "Best Game"

Interestingly, 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. This is due to BAFTA's eligibility rules, which exclude remasters, remakes released outside the eligibility period, and DLCs from the "Best Game" and "British Game" categories. However, these titles may still compete in other categories like Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement.

The absence of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is particularly noteworthy. While the reasons aren't explicitly stated, its inclusion in other year-end awards, such as The Game Awards, is anticipated.

The complete BAFTA Games Awards longlist is available on the official BAFTA website.