For the first time, BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) published the longlisted nominees for the 2024 Games Awards. Baldur’s Gate 3 currently leads the 60 games being considered for various categories.
2023 has been a great year for video games, with truly outstanding titles from both the big publishers and the indie scene. Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios’ Dungeons & Dragons CRPG masterpiece, has dominated the major awards-giving bodies winning multiple categories, including Game of the Year. But games like Alan Wake 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Resident Evil 4 are also among the noteworthy standouts.
And while BG3 conquered The Golden Joystick and The Game Awards, will it do the same at the prestigious BAFTA Games Awards?
The longlist of nominees for the BAFTA Games Awards 2024 was published on the official website and shared on the organization’s social media.
Top 10 – Best Game
Alan Wake 2
Baldur's Gate 3
COCOON
DAVE THE DIVER
DREDGE
Hogwarts Legacy
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Super Mario Bros. WonderFULL LIST 👇https://t.co/Uyh5mumjiu#BAFTAGamesAwards pic.twitter.com/h1lZxTVPtE
— BAFTA Games (@BAFTAGames) December 14, 2023
According to Jane Millchip, BAFTA CEO, a total of 257 games were included for consideration by the members. All of these games were released during the period of December 10, 2022 to November 24, 2023. From this initial consideration of 257, the roster of nominees has been narrowed down to 60.
The remaining 60 will then be voted on by BAFTA members sometime in January next year for the Best Game and British Game categories. The other 15 categories will be up to the BAFTA juries to decide which games will be formally nominated. The results of this round of finalizing the nominees will be released on March 7, 2024.
The current longlisted video game titles should come as no surprise, especially for video game fans. Baldur’s Gate 3 is leading (being longlisted 15 times). Meanwhile, the other games vying for the top (and the number of times they are longlisted) are:
- Alan Wake 2 (14 times)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (10 times)
- Hogwarts Legacy (9 times)
- Final Fantasy 16 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (both listed 8 times)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (7 times)
- COCOON, Dave the Diver, Hi-Fi Rush, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder (all listed 6 times)
After the March 7, 2024 announcement of the final list of nominees, the winners will be determined by another round of votes from BAFTA members and juries. The results will then be formally presented on April 11, 2024 during the annual BAFTA Games Awards event.
It should be noted that BAFTA 2023 had Vampire Survivors pull a surprise victory in the Best Game category over the GOTY Elden Ring. Other strong contenders from the 19th BAFTA Games Awards were God of War Ragnarök, Tunic, and Horizon Forbidden West. Thus, Baldur’s Gate 3’s prior dominance at video game award bodies does not make it a sure bet for the 2024 BAFTA Games Awards.
Who do you think will win the BAFTA Game Awards 2024? Will Hogwarts Legacy and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 finally receive the recognition that these games’ fans say they deserve? Or will Baldur’s Gate 3 and Larian Studios continue its winning streak?
