BAFTA Revamps GotY Nominees with DLC Exclusion

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 exceptional games spanning various genres, competing across 17 categories. This selection was chosen from 247 games submitted by BAFTA members, all released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024.

The finalists for each category will be announced on March 4, 2025, with the awards ceremony taking place on April 8, 2025.

The highly anticipated "Best Game" category boasts the following ten contenders:

• 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 achieved this prestigious honor, winning six awards from ten nominations.

While some titles missed the "Best Game" nomination, they remain eligible for other awards:

• 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, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2, are absent from the "Best Game" category. This is due to BAFTA's eligibility rules, which exclude remasters, remakes, and DLC released outside the eligibility period. While not eligible for "Best Game," these titles are still in contention for other awards, such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. The absence of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is noteworthy and unexplained, though its appearance in other year-end awards is anticipated.

The complete BAFTA Games Awards longlist and category details are available on the official BAFTA website.