BAFTA Snubs DLC for GotY Honors

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced its extensive longlist of games vying for recognition in the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards. Check out the list to see if your favorite game made the cut!

58 Games from 247 Submissions

BAFTA's longlist comprises 58 exceptional games across diverse genres, competing for awards across 17 categories. This selection was meticulously 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 revealed on March 4, 2025, with the awards ceremony itself taking place on April 8, 2025.

The highly anticipated "Best Game" award will be contested by the following 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

In 2024, Baldur’s Gate 3 secured this coveted award, along with five others, from a total of ten nominations.

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

Several prominent 2024 releases, while featured 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 exclusion stems from BAFTA's eligibility rules, which state that remasters released outside the eligibility period, full remakes, and substantial new content are ineligible for the "Best Game" and "British Game" awards but may qualify for other categories showcasing originality.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Silent Hill 2 are still contenders in categories such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. Interestingly, Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is entirely absent from the BAFTA list, though its inclusion in other year-end awards, like The Game Awards, is anticipated.

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