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| The 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards recognize 64 games released in 2025, with winners announced February 12. |
By Jon Scarr
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has revealed the nominees for the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, spotlighting 64 games released in 2025 and setting the stage for one of the industry’s most peer-focused awards ceremonies.
All nominations were selected by panels made up of game developers and industry professionals, continuing the D.I.C.E. Awards’ long-standing emphasis on recognizing craft through peer evaluation rather than public voting.
Clair Obscur and Ghost of Yōtei Lead the Field
Leading the nominations with eight each are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei. They’re followed by Arc Raiders and Dispatch with six nominations apiece, while Blue Prince earned five. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach rounds out the top group with four nominations.
The nominees for Game of the Year are:
- Arc Raiders
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Dispatch
- Ghost of Yōtei
The lineup reflects a familiar D.I.C.E. Awards mix, with large-scale productions appearing alongside smaller, design-forward projects.
Ceremony Details and Livestream Information
Winners will be announced during the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony on Thursday, February 12 at 8:00 PM PT, held at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas as part of the 2026 D.I.C.E. Summit.
The ceremony will be livestreamed by official media partner IGN. Returning as co-hosts are Greg Miller and Stella Chung.
Unlike The Game Awards, which blends industry voting with a media jury and public input, the D.I.C.E. Awards are decided entirely through confidential peer voting by game developers and industry professionals.
A Peer-Driven Awards Show
All D.I.C.E. Awards voting is conducted through confidential online balloting by AIAS members, representing a broad range of disciplines across game development, including art, animation, design, engineering, performance, and production.
This structure has long defined the awards’ identity, keeping the focus on professional recognition rather than announcements, reveals, or promotional moments.
Voting is currently open for AIAS members, with credentials distributed directly via email.
Category Highlights and Full Nominee List
Beyond Game of the Year, this year’s nominations span a wide range of categories, including Animation, Art Direction, Audio Design, Game Design, Game Direction, Independent Games, Mobile Games, Online Games, and Immersive Reality experiences.
The spread reflects how varied 2025’s release calendar was, with traditional big-budget releases appearing alongside smaller, experimental, and design-driven projects. It’s a snapshot of how broad the industry has become across genres and formats.
You can view the full list of nominees across every category on the official AIAS website here.
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