The nominations for the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards have been announced, and it’s clear who the frontrunner is. Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory’s "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2" leads the charge with twelve nominations.
However, despite its impressive nomination tally, "Hellblade 2" didn’t make the cut for Best Game. The coveted category is being contested by a dynamic mix of titles: "Astro Bot," "Balatro," "Black Myth: Wukong," "Helldivers 2," "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom," and "Thank Goodness You’re Here!"
Other standout contenders include "Astro Bot" by PlayStation Studios and Team Asobi, which secured eight nominations. Game Science’s "Black Myth: Wukong" is also notable with seven nods.
"Astro Bot" is on a meteoric rise, having already snagged Game of the Year at both the 28th D.I.C.E. Awards and the 2024 Game Awards.
It’s important to highlight that the awards eligibility cutoff was November 15, 2024. This means some titles, such as Bethesda Softworks MachineGames’ "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," didn’t qualify this time around, but they’ll be in the running next year.
Among other Xbox triumphs, Blizzard Entertainment’s "Diablo 4" and "World of Warcraft," as well as Rare’s "Sea of Thieves," received attention for Best Evolving Game.
Below is the detailed list of categories along with the games competing for glory:
Animation:
Astro Bot
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Artistic Achievement:
Astro Bot
Black Myth Wukong
Harold Halibut
Neva
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Still Wakes the Deep
Audio Achievement:
Animal Well
Astro Bot
Helldivers 2
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Star Wars Outlaws
Still Wakes the Deep
Best Game:
Astro Bot
Balatro
Black Myth: Wukong
Helldivers 2
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
British Game:
A Highland Song
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Paper Trail
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Still Wakes the Deep
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Debut Game:
Animal Well
Balatro
Pacific Drive
The Plucky Squire
Tales of Kenzaru: ZAU
Thank Goodness You’re Here
Evolving Game:
Diablo 4
Final Fantasy 14 Online
No Man’s Sky
Sea of Thieves
Vampire Survivors
World of Warcraft
Family:
Astro Bot
Cat Quest III
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Little Kitty, Big City
The Plucky Squire
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Games Beyond Entertainment:
Botany Manor
Kind Words 2
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Tales of Kenzaru: ZAU
Tetris Forever
Vampire Therapist
Game Design:
Animal Well
Astro Bot
Balatro
Helldivers 2
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Tactical Breach Wizards
Multiplayer:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Helldivers 2
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Tekken 8
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Music:
Astro Bot
Black Myth: Wukong
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Helldivers 2
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Star Wars Outlaws
Narrative:
Black Myth: Wukong
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Still Wakes the Deep
New Intellectual Property:
Animal Well
Balatro
Black Myth: Wukong
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Still Wakes the Deep
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Performer in a Leading Role:
Alec Newman – Still Wakes the Deep
Humberly González – Star Wars Outlaws
Isabella Inchbald – INDIK
Luke Roberts – Silent Hill 2
Melina Juergens – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Y’lan Noel – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Performer in a Supporting Role:
Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Aldís Amah Hamilton – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Jon Blyth – Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Karen Dunbar – Still Wakes the Deep
Matt Berry – Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Michael Abubakar
Technical Achievement:
Astro Bot
Black Myth: Wukong
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Tiny Glade
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
As we anticipate which games and creators will shine at the awards, this lineup underscores an exciting year in gaming, with a diverse array of stories and experiences vying for top honors.
