BAFTA Excludes DLC from GotY Nominations

BAFTA has recently announced the longlist of games considered for nominations in the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards. Dive in to see if your top picks have made the cut!

BAFTA Unveils List of Noteworthy Games for 2025

58 Standout Games from 247 Titles

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has meticulously selected 58 exceptional games from a pool of 247 titles for the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards. These games, spanning various genres, were released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024. The final nominees for each of the 17 categories will be revealed on March 4, 2025, with the winners being celebrated at the awards ceremony on April 8, 2025.

The coveted Best Game category features a longlist of 10 remarkable titles that are in the running for this prestigious accolade:

• 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

Last year, Baldur’s Gate 3 clinched the Best Game title and dominated the awards, securing six wins out of ten nominations.

Even though some titles didn't make it to the Best Game category, they remain contenders in 16 other categories, 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

FF7 Rebirth and Shadow of the Erdtree Not Eligible for BAFTA's Best Game

Astute gamers will notice that certain high-profile games from 2024, such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2, are absent from the Best Game category. This is because these titles fall into the categories of remakes, remasters, or DLCs. According to the BAFTA Games Awards Rules and Guidelines, "Remasters of games released outside of the eligibility period are not eligible for consideration. Full remakes, and substantial pieces of new content, are not eligible in Best Game or British Game but may be eligible in craft categories where they can demonstrate significant originality."

While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Silent Hill 2 are featured in the full longlist, competing in categories such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement, Elden Ring's acclaimed DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is notably missing from BAFTA's list. The reasons for this exclusion remain unclear, though Shadow of the Erdtree is expected to be recognized in other year-end game awards like The Game Awards.

For a comprehensive view of BAFTA's full game longlist and the categories they are competing in, visit the official BAFTA website.