The 29th DICE Awards nominees celebrate 2025’s creative peaks with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei dominating at eight nominations each. Arc Raiders and Dispatch follow closely with six nods while Blue Prince and Death Stranding 2 earn strong contention. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences reveals finalists Thursday February 12 from Las Vegas’ Aria Resort.
Game of the Year Finalists
Five titles compete for gaming’s highest peer honor:
- Arc Raiders (6 nominations)
- Blue Prince (5 nominations)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (8 nominations)
- Dispatch (6 nominations)
- Ghost of Yōtei (8 nominations)
Clair Obscur’s turn-based RPG mastery battles Ghost of Yōtei’s open-world samurai epic. Arc Raiders’ extraction shooter and Dispatch’s superhero simulator round out diverse contenders showcasing 2025’s creative range.
Outstanding Achievement Categories
Character Excellence
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Esquie
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Maelle
- Dispatch – Courtney/Invisigal
- Dispatch – Robert Robertson III/Mecha Man
- Ghost Of Yōtei – Atsu
Original Music Composition
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Ghost Of Yōtei
- Herdling
- Mario Kart World
- Sword of the Sea
Audio Design Mastery
Arc Raiders, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost Of Yōtei, Lumines Arise, and Split Fiction compete for sound excellence. Kojima Productions and Nintendo tracks lead diverse field spanning shooters, racers, and rhythm games.
Storytelling Achievement
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Consume Me
- despelote
- South of Midnight
- The Drifter
Genre Category Leaders
| Category | Top Nominees |
|---|---|
| Action Game | Absolute, Arc Raiders, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Hades II, Ninja Gaiden 4 |
| Adventure Game | Blue Prince, Dispatch, Donkey Kong Bananza, Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Game Direction | Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II |
| Independent Game | Baby Steps, Blue Prince, Consume Me, despelote, Dispatch |
| Online Game | Arc Raiders, Battlefield 6, Mario Kart World, Marvel Rivals, Split Fiction |
Event Details and Viewing
Greg Miller and Stella Chung host Thursday February 12 at 8pm PT/11pm ET livestreamed through IGN from Aria Resort Las Vegas. AIAS peer jury selected nominees from 64 total 2025 releases across 40+ categories celebrating technical and artistic excellence.
64 games nominated total spanning AAA blockbusters through indie darlings. Hollow Knight: Silksong finally contends after years anticipation while DOOM: The Dark Ages represents id Software’s latest masterpiece.
Notable Snubs and Surprises
Mario Kart World secures music nod despite modest GOTY absence. Hades II continues critical dominance post-2024 contention. Ninja Gaiden 4 represents Team Ninja’s revival while despelote emerges as indie storytelling contender.
FAQs
When are DICE Awards 2026?
Thursday February 12, 2026 at 8pm PT/11pm ET. Livestreamed through IGN from Las Vegas Aria Resort.
Who leads nominations?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei tie at 8 nominations each. Arc Raiders and Dispatch follow with 6 apiece.
Game of the Year nominees?
Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, Ghost of Yōtei compete for top honor.
Who hosts the ceremony?
Greg Miller (Kinda Funny) and Stella Chung (IGN) return as co-hosts for peer awards show.
How many games nominated total?
64 games from 2025 releases across 40+ categories spanning technical and creative excellence.
Any major surprises?
Hollow Knight: Silksong finally contends. despelote emerges as indie story contender. Mario Kart World music nod.
Where to watch live?
IGN exclusive livestream Thursday February 12 starting 8pm PT. Full nominee list available on AIAS website.
Gaming’s Peer Recognition Night
DICE Awards represent industry’s highest peer honor celebrating 2025’s creative achievements. Clair Obscur and Ghost of Yōtei lead diverse field spanning turn-based RPGs, samurai adventures, extraction shooters, and superhero sims showcasing gaming’s artistic range.
February 12 delivers definitive 2025 retrospective before 2026 showcases begin. Mark calendars – Academy votes determine true industry excellence beyond marketing hype.