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 in contention 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:

Ten titles are vying for the coveted "Best Game" 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

Following Baldur's Gate 3's six-award sweep at the 2024 ceremony, this year's competition promises to be equally exciting.

Other Award Categories:

While some games didn't make the Best Game cut, they remain eligible for other awards: 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 Absences from the Best Game Category:

A significant aspect of this year's awards is the exclusion of several high-profile releases from the Best Game category. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2 are notably absent. BAFTA's guidelines explicitly 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 their artistic and technical merits. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Silent Hill 2, for example, are on the longlist for awards such as Music, Narrative, and Technical Achievement. The absence of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC remains unexplained by BAFTA, although it is expected to feature in other year-end awards.

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