BAFTA Games Awards 2026 Longlists Revealed: Full Breakdown & Nominations Preview (2026)

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of gaming excellence! The BAFTA Games Awards 2026 is about to heat up with the unveiling of its long-awaited nominations. But here's where it gets controversial: what makes a game truly exceptional? And who gets to decide?

On Tuesday, London witnessed the reveal of the longlists for the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards, a celebration of creative brilliance in the video game industry. With over 1,700 BAFTA members casting their votes across 17 categories, a total of 64 games have been selected to compete for the prestigious honors. Founded in 2004, the BAFTA Games Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the talent and dedication of those who bring these immersive worlds to life.

Tara Saunders, the chair of BAFTA's Games committee, emphasized the significance of these longlists: "They offer a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship that went into this year's games. It's a chance to acknowledge the incredible range of work recognized by our BAFTA games members, industry professionals who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of the gaming industry."

This year, BAFTA members considered an impressive 255 games, all released between November 2024 and November 2025. The voting process will commence in February 2026, with BAFTA members casting their ballots for the Best Game and British Game categories. Specialist BAFTA juries will then determine the winners for the remaining categories.

And now, let's dive into the longlists! From animation to narrative, multiplayer to technical achievement, these categories cover a vast array of gaming experiences.

ANIMATION:
- Assassin's Creed Shadows
- Battlefield 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Dispatch
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Dispatch
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- South of Midnight
- Sword of the Sea

GAME BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT:
- and Roger
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Consume Me
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- despelote
- Monument Valley 3
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- SILENT HILL f
- The Alters

GAME DESIGN:
- BALL x PIT
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Split Fiction
- The Alters

MULTIPLAYER:
- ARC Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Borderlands 4
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Dune: Awakening
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN
- LEGO Party!
- Mario Kart World
- PEAK
- Split Fiction

MUSIC:
- ARC Raiders
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Dispatch
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

NARRATIVE:
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Dispatch
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Split Fiction
- The Alters

NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
- Absolum
- ARC Raiders
- Atomfall
- BALL x PIT
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Dispatch
- PEAK
- South of Midnight
- Split Fiction
- The Alters

PERFORMER IN A LEADING ROLE:
- Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson in Dispatch
- Alex Jordan as Jan Dolski in The Alters
- Ben Starr as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei
- Jennifer English as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Judy Alice Lee as Melinoë in Hades II
- Kaja Chan as Mio in Split Fiction
- Laura Bailey as Invisigal in Dispatch
- Suzie Yeung as Hinako Shimizu in SILENT HILL f
- Tom McKay as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Troy Baker as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
- Alix Wilton Regan as Lea Florence Monad in Lies of P: Overture
- Amelia Tyler as Hecate in Hades II
- Andy Serkis as Renoir in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Charlie Cox as Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- David Menkin as Hans in Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest
- Jane Perry as Lia Cain in Dead Take
- Jeffrey Wright as Chase in Dispatch
- Kirsty Rider as Lune in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Rich Keeble as Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Troy Baker as Higgs in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT:
- ARC Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Split Fiction

The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Games Awards on April 17, so mark your calendars and get ready for an evening of celebration and recognition!

And this is the part most people miss: the true magic of these awards lies not just in the winners, but in the incredible diversity and creativity on display. So, what do you think? Which games do you think will take home the top honors? And more importantly, what makes a game truly exceptional in your eyes? Let's spark a discussion in the comments and share our thoughts on the art and science of gaming!

BAFTA Games Awards 2026 Longlists Revealed: Full Breakdown & Nominations Preview (2026)

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