The buzz for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards is growing as the list of nominees has been officially announced. Organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), this highly anticipated event shines the spotlight on standout games from all corners of the gaming universe.
This year, three games have emerged as frontrunners, each snagging an impressive six nominations. Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames’ "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" is in the lead spot, sharing the limelight with PlayStation’s "Astro Bot" and "Helldivers 2." Notably, all three are also in contention for the coveted Game of the Year award.
Just a step behind, "Balatro" from Localthunk and Playstack, alongside "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2" by Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory, have captured five nominations each. Both Xbox and PlayStation have showcased strong entries across their various titles, each earning 15 nominations.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET. Fans can look forward to a lively event hosted once again by Kinda Funny Games’ Greg Miller and Stella Chung, a familiar face in media circles.
Here’s a breakdown of the nominations in each category:
Game of the Year:
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Helldivers 2
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction:
- 1000xRESIST
- ANIMAL WELL
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Riven
- Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design:
- ANIMAL WELL
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Helldivers 2
- UFO 50
Online Game of the Year:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
- Helldivers 2
- Marvel Rivals
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Mobile Game of the Year:
- Balatro
- Halls of Torment
- Monument Valley 3
- Paper Trail
- Wuthering Waves
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game:
- ANIMAL WELL
- Balatro
- Grunn
- INDIKA
- Mouthwashing
Immersive Reality Game of the Year:
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Escaping Wonderland
- Skydance’s BEHEMOTH
- UNDERDOGS
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement:
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Escaping Wonderland
- Skydance’s BEHEMOTH
- UNDERDOGS
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year:
- Balatro
- Caves of Qud
- Frostpunk 2
- Tactical Breach Wizards
- Satisfactory
Sports Game of the Year:
- EA SPORTS College Football 25
- EA SPORTS FC 25
- MLB The Show 24
- NBA 2K25
Role-playing Game of the Year:
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Racing Game of the Year:
- F1 24
- MotoGP 24
- NIGHT-RUNNERS PROLOGUE
Fighting Game of the Year:
- Blazing Strike
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
- Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
- Tekken 8
- UNDERDOGS
Family Game of the Year:
- Astro Bot
- Cat Quest 3
- Little Kitty, Big City
- The Plucky Squire
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
Adventure Game of the Year:
- 1000xRESIST
- ANIMAL WELL
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Action Game of the Year:
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Stellar Blade
Outstanding Technical Achievement:
- Astro Bot
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Outstanding Achievement in Story:
- 1000xRESIST
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Still Wakes the Deep
- Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design:
- Frostpunk 2
- Helldivers 2
- Monument Valley 3
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Still Wakes the Deep
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition:
- Astro Bot
- Helldivers 2
- Monument Valley 3
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Star Wars Outlaws
Outstanding Achievement in Character:
- 1000xRESIST – Watcher
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Yuffie Kisaragi
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones
- INDIKA – Indika
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Senua
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction:
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- The Plucky Squire
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Outstanding Achievement in Animation:
- Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Neva
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Stay tuned for the exciting reveal of who the winners will be and see which game developers will take home the prestigious awards!
