BAFTA Unveils 2025 Games Awards Longlist, Excludes DLC from Top Prize

BAFTA Showcases Top Games for 2025 Awards

58 Titles Selected from 247 Entries

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its longlist for the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards, featuring 58 exceptional games across various genres competing for nominations in 17 categories. These titles, chosen from 247 entries, were released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024, as evaluated by BAFTA members.

Final nominees for each category will be revealed on March 4, 2025, with the winners celebrated at the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards ceremony on April 8, 2025.

The Best Game category remains a highlight, and here are the 10 standout titles in contention for this prestigious award:

　⚫︎　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 claimed the Best Game title, securing six awards from ten nominations at the ceremony.

While some titles didn’t make the Best Game list, 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

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring DLC Miss Best Game Eligibility

Some notable 2024 titles, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2, are absent from the Best Game category despite appearing on the full longlist. This stems from their classification as remakes, remasters, or DLCs. According to BAFTA’s official Games Awards Rules and Guidelines, “Remasters of games released outside the eligibility period are not eligible. Full remakes and substantial new content are ineligible for Best Game or British Game but may qualify for craft categories if they show significant originality.”

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Silent Hill 2 remain in contention for categories like Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. However, Elden Ring’s acclaimed DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is notably absent from BAFTA’s longlist for undisclosed reasons, though it is expected to feature in other year-end awards, such as The Game Awards.

The complete BAFTA longlist and category details are available on its official website.