DLC Snub: BAFTA Omits It from 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 Submissions

BAFTA's 2025 longlist comprises 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.

The highly anticipated "Best Game" category features these 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

Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3 in 2024 (winning six out of ten nominations), this year's competition promises to be equally fierce.

While some titles didn't make the "Best Game" shortlist, they remain eligible for other awards, including:

• 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 DLCs 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 particularly noteworthy.

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