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. A total of 58 games, selected from 247 submissions, are competing across 17 categories. These titles were released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024.

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

Best Game Contenders:

The highly anticipated "Best Game" category features 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

Following last year's success of Baldur's Gate 3 (which won six awards from ten nominations), this year's contenders are vying for this prestigious accolade.

Other Award Categories:

While some games didn't make the "Best Game" cut, 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, and Performer in a Supporting Role.

Notable Exclusions from "Best Game":

This year's "Best Game" shortlist notably excludes several high-profile releases. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2 are absent due to BAFTA's eligibility rules. The guidelines state that remasters released outside the eligibility period, along with full remakes and substantial DLC, are ineligible for the "Best Game" and "British Game" awards. However, these titles may still compete in other categories recognizing technical or artistic merit. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Silent Hill 2 are contenders in categories such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, however, is absent from the BAFTA longlist entirely, though it is expected to feature in other year-end awards.

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