DICE Awards SHOCKER! Underdog Game Steals the Show - What Will Happen Next?!

The race for interactive glory is on! The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has just dropped the list of nominees for the 29th annual D.I.C.E. Awards, and two titles are leading the pack: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost Of Yōtei. Both snagged a whopping eight nominations each, signaling what could be a very exciting awards ceremony.

DICE Awards SHOCKER! Underdog Game Steals the Show...

Out of the thousands of games released in 2025, these 64 nominees really stood out for their innovative gameplay, stunning visuals, and immersive storytelling. The awards, as always, are a big deal – a true mark of respect from within the industry, decided by the game developers themselves. That's a key distinction, and arguably more valuable than accolades from mainstream media outlets.

Hot on the heels of the frontrunners are Arc Raiders and Dispatch, each securing six nominations. Blue Prince follows with five, and even the highly anticipated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach managed a respectable four nods. It’ll be interesting to see if Hideo Kojima can pull off a win, even with fewer nominations.

Mark your calendars! The D.I.C.E. Awards will be livestreamed on Thursday, February 12th, from the glitzy Aria Resort in Las Vegas. Tune in at 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET to catch all the action. The always-entertaining duo of Greg Miller (Kinda Funny) and Stella Chung (formerly of IGN) are returning as co-hosts. They actually broke the news of the nominations on Kinda Funny Games Daily, before the official press release hit – a smart move to get the hype train rolling.

AIAS President Meggan Scavio emphasized the importance of the peer panel in the judging process. "Your dedication and expertise in our judging process, and your work in selecting the best games of 2025, is truly appreciated," she said in the press release. "Each of these games has impressed us through its creativity, artistry, and technical achievement." I think that's a great point - that the AIAS is a celebration of the art of making games, plain and simple.

Unlike some other awards shows that are all about the hype and future releases (looking at you, Geoff Keighley!), D.I.C.E. focuses on recognizing and celebrating the games that *actually* exist and have made an impact. It's a refreshing change, and it allows the focus to remain squarely on the hard work and talent of the developers. It's going to be a great show, and I'm personally excited to see who takes home the top prizes!