The longlist for the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards is here and Nintendo's own The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is in the running for the top prize.
58 games have made it onto the BAFTA longlist this year, with each of the 17 categories currently home to 10 potential nominees. These games now make it through to the next round of voting, before the more streamlined nominee lists are revealed on 4th March.
But back to Zelda! The princess' latest adventure joins the likes of Astro Bot, Metaphor: Refantazio, Black Myth: Wukong and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on the longlist for Best Game, but other Switch eShop delights like Animal Well, Balatro and Thank Goodness You're Here! have also made it to this initial stage — which we love to see.
The full longlist for the 2025 awards was shared on the BAFTA website and we have gathered together the 'Best Game' initial nominees below:
- 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
Damn, we love a bit of Zelda, but that's some tough competition! Outside this category, Echoes of Wisdom also pops up in the running for both the 'Game Design' and 'Family' (obviously) awards, with Super Mario Party Jamboree landing a spot on the longlist in the 'Multiplayer' category.
All these games will be whittled down to the official nominees in March, before the victors are crowned at the awards ceremony on 8th April 2025.
What do you make of this year's longlist? Do you think Zelda stands a chance? Let us know in the comments.
[source bafta.org]
Comments 32
I like the BAFTA awards, they are like a more serious version of The Game Awards. Thou, it's suprising to see Call of Duty nominated .-.
Overall pretty good list and personally happy to see several of the games included in it - pleasantly surprised to see Thank Goodness You’re Here among them, too!
@fenlix Apparently it was actually pretty good this year (at least I've heard.)
I mean, I liked EOW, but it's like a 6/10 at best. It just kind of plays it really safe and doesn't feel like it is nearly as creative or fun as it should be. I honestly feel like if it wasn't for the Zelda in the title, it wouldn't be anywhere near this list. (Which isn't something I would say about most other Zelda games.)
@Bigmanfan I don't know, it has a low user score in Metacritic and a 55% on Steam.
Metaphor or Black Myth is gonna take it.
Echoes of wisdom is a decent game, but it’s nothing special. It definitely shouldn’t be winning any “best of” awards.
I haven’t played it, but Astro Bot looks like loads of fun. I certainly think it’s a game I’d really like.
@fenlix Dang, didn't realize steam score was that low. Yikes. Think it's mostly due to them adding stupid stuff post launch from reading a handful. Truly an iconic Activision moment lol.
I’ve played most of these games. Zelda was a good time, but it didn’t feel like Game of the Year to me. Neither did Astro Bot, FF7R, etc. It bugged me a while, since I didn’t know what I would personally vote for. Then I played Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. That’s my vote. What a wonderful game.
@Bigmanfan Agree 100%. EoW is the worst Zelda since Phantom Hourglass imo. It’s decent, but nothing more.
I've got to say that EoW is one the most disappointing games I've played on Switch, with many issues that just drag the experience down. Sometimes Nintendo goes a bit too far in trying to change up a successful formula for the sake of it and this is one of those times.
I think this year in general I've played a lot of good games but nothing that has really stood out above the rest
Good on the devs of Thank Goodness You're Here! for having their debut game even considered for best game. If I were them, I'd be extremely proud of that, even if it doesn't make it to the final list of nominees.
EoW was more like Legend of Meh-lda.
Eow has no chance, it’s still nice to see it up there. Just so long as Call of Duty doesn’t get any critical praise, I’ll be happy with this.
Echoes of Wisdom is a fun little game, but not a classic.
I have come to terms, that the only way to play great Zeldas, is by playing the old ones.
Wow, it’s like EOW really is Meh-gend of Zelda according to this thread XD.
In any case, EOW still ended up being a pretty solid 9/10 experience for me even if it wasn’t on the scale or level of BOTW / TOTK. I don’t know about it being GOTY material though.
I was just happy they found a nice middle ground with the old skool formula and open air gameplay with a new leading protagonist, I couldn’t ask for more. Just keep on keeping it fresh please Nintendo.
I love and prefer top down zelda's but EoW has been hard for me to enjoy and play, I'd like to hold off final judgement until the end of the game, since I'm not terribly far in, but it's pretty hard to defend sometimes because when Zelda "turns into" Link, those are the best parts to me, I feel like swinging a sword and getting to actively be part of combat is the best part of Zelda.
Most of the time I'm throwing the fire oozes so I'm at least doing something. The real time strategy is interesting but when these enemies I can normally cut through like butter are always an EVENT it becomes pretty sluggish.
Echoes was good, but not game of the year. It didn't quite hit the sweet spot for me like past entries LTTP, LBW and ZMC.
I enjoyed Echoes for what it was but I don't think it's Bafta material unlike BOTW and TOTK. This being said good luck to them.
Oof, that's some stiff comp right there. Not impossible for Zelda, but damn there's bangers on that list.
Astro Bot is my 2024 winner without question. Fabulous experience from beginning to end.
Much better list than the Lame Awards
Pro-tip for people struggling to get into EoW: don't summon a guy and wait. In combat, spam the summon button as if it's an attack button. Much faster and more intuitive way to deal with mob(lin)s. I recommend using the Club Moblin for this.
Also, take a nap in the middle of a boss fight. Very cheeky; very rewarding.
Also use Bind a lot and even consider the automatons if you have that much time on your hands. Oh and don't rely on 1 big summon that hits hard all the time, 2-3 medium summons or 6 small ones can be fun too. Mix it up.
Here's a fun video of someone beating the time trial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw9uNnvmr3g&lc=UgzaXWF4PI0qsqPIkUV4AaABAg&ab_channel=imLeJayRo
I wish @NintendoLife would solicit and publish player highlight videos from Echoes combat to open more people up to the game.
Another day, another nomination list where Shiren the Wanderer is snubbed.
Echoes of Wisdom is a definite good 2nd place winner though.
Of those 10 nominations, Zelda is the only one I have played. That said, Zelda is easily my personal GotY.
@Zaruboggan Agree on all points. Well-timed echo spamming, crazy dodging, and napping in the middle of boss fights makes combat fun and hilarious.
@Jhena Well... lately I tried to play again the "greatest of them all": Ocarina of time, sadly I found it unplayable, I loved it 25 years ago, but it aged poorly.
A Link to the Past on the other hand, is still as great as always, for me, the real greatest Zelda Game.
And yes, EoW, was nice... not GREAT, but nice.
That’s a pretty lame lineup overall. Not bad games per sé, but not many exceptionally good ones either.
I guess Metaphor should take the prize.
Edit: I know I’m taking a huge risk by not being 100% positive about echoes. I hope I’m not hurting anyone’s personal feelings this time around!
No Emio...
At least the Golden Joystick awards nominated that for narrative.
It's one of the best Nintendo games ever imo
Wow I needed to check back and NintendoLife actually gave Echoes of Wisdom a 9/10
That’s insane and quite hilarious 😂
How can you consider this game near perfect?
And people spend their hard earned money based on those scores.
Oops there I go again, sorry everyone!
@Zequio
I replayed it a few months ago too. A Link to the Past really is a great game. Just the right amount of challenge with lots of soul. Now that you mention it, I should replay Ocarina of Time, to see if it still holds up for me. I know that Majora's Mask does hold up.
fenlix wrote:
Downside for me is they heavily favour British-made games.
"Support our own!" seems to be the general idea.
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