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 a total of 247 submissions. These games were released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024.

The final nominees will be announced on March 4, 2025, with the awards ceremony taking place on April 8, 2025.

Best Game Contenders

The highly anticipated "Best Game" category boasts a diverse selection of ten titles:

• 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 Baldur's Gate 3's six-award sweep at the 2024 BAFTAs, this year's contenders are vying for similar recognition.

Other Award Categories

While some titles missed the "Best Game" shortlist, they remain eligible for sixteen 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: Remakes, Remasters, and DLC

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 aligns with BAFTA's rules, which exclude remasters of games released outside the eligibility period, full remakes, and substantial new content 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 its appearance in other year-end awards is anticipated.

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