DICE Awards 2026 Nominees Are Revealed

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has confirmed the nominees for the 29th annual DICE Awards that are scheduled for February 12.

Just like it was in plenty of different awards ceremonies, the biggest number of nominations has, probably, the best game of 2025—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. But Sandfall Interactive's title isn’t alone, as Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yotei has the most nominations as well. The full list of categories and nominees you can check below:

- Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotei, 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 Yotei, The Midnight Walk;

- Outstanding Achievement in Character: Esquie (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Maelle (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Courtney/Invisigal (Dispatch), Robert Robertson III/Mecha Man (Dispatch), Atsu (Ghost of Yotei);

- Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei, Herdling, Mario Kart World, Sword of the Sea;

- Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: ARC Raiders, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotei, 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 Yotei, Hollon Knight: Silksong;

- Family 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: Persona 5: 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 Yotei, Hades II, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II;

- Game of the Year: ARC Raiders, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, Ghost of Yotei;

Unlike The Game Awards 2025, the gamers aren’t able to vote for the nominees, as this option is available only for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences members.

DICE Awards 2026 is scheduled for February 12.