Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has announced the names of the finalists for the 29th DICE Awards, selected by a jury made up of industry professionals. Greg Miller and Stella Chung will also return as hosts, and the event will take place on February 12 in Las Vegas.
A total of 65 games from 2025 are nominated, led by titles such as: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei (8), Arc Raiders and Dispatch (6), Blue Prince (5) and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (4). The nominees for Game of the Year are: Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch and Ghost of Yōtei.
Game of the Year
Arc Raiders
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Dispatch
Ghost of Yōtei
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Monster Hunter Wilds
South of Midnight
The Midnight Walk
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Dispatch
Ghost of Yōtei
The Midnight Walk
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Esquie
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Maelle
Dispatch - Courtney/Invisigal
Dispatch - Robert Robertson III/Mecha Man
Ghost of Yōtei - Atsu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ghost of Yōtei
Herdling
Mario Kart World
Sword of the Sea
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Arc Raiders
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Lumines Arise
Split Fiction
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Consume Me
despelote
South of Midnight
The Drifter
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Arc Raiders
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Action Game of the Year
Absolum
Arc Raiders
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Hades II
Ninja Gaiden 4
Adventure Game of the Year
Blue Prince
Dispatch
Donkey Kong Bananza
Ghost of Yōtei
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Family Game of the Year
LEGO® Party!
LEGO® Voyagers
Lumines Arise
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
POPUCOM
Fighting Game of the Year
2XKO
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
WWE 2K25
Racing Game of the Year
EA SPORTS F1® 25
Kirby Air Riders
Mario Kart World
Wheel World
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Monster Hunter Wilds
The Outer Worlds 2
Sports Game of the Year
EA SPORTS FC™ 26
PGA Tour 2k25
MLB® The Show™ 25
NBA 2k26
Rematch
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
The Alters
Drop Duchy
Europa Universalis V
The King is Watching
StarVaders
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Ghost Town
Hotel Infinity
Marvel's Deadpool VR
Star Wars: Beyond Victory - A Mixed Reality Playset
Unloop
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked
Ghost Town
Marvel's Deadpool VR
The Midnight Walk
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Baby Steps
Blue Prince
Consume Me
despelote
Dispatch
Mobile Game of the Year
Persona5: The Phantom X
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
WHAT THE CLASH?
Where Winds Meet
Online Game of the Year
Arc Raiders
Battlefield 6
Mario Kart World
Marvel Rivals
Split Fiction
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Arc Raiders
Blue Prince
Hades II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Öoo
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
