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The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced its nominees for the 25th annual DICE Awards–the video game industry’s equivalent of The Oscars–which are currently slated for February 24 in Las Vegas.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart leads all games in nominations with nine, followed by Deathloop with eight and Inscryption and It Takes Two with six each. Each of those games, along with Returnal, make up the nominees for Game of the Year for this year’s ceremony. The full list of nominees is below.
“From all of us at the Academy, we want to thank our peer panelists who continue to dedicate their energy, expertise, and time in evaluating and selecting 2021’s best games,” Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, said in the official release. “And to all our finalists, congratulations! You continue to amaze us with how you push the boundaries of creativity, technical innovation, and storytelling.”
Last year’s DICE Awards ceremony was held digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Last of Us Part II entered the night with 11 nominations–more than any other game–but Hades from Supergiant Games was the big winner, taking home five of the eight awards it was nominated for including Game of the Year.
Nominees for the DICE Awards are selected by members of the AIAS’s peer panels, made up of “the game industry’s most experienced and talented experts in their chosen fields.” Voting on the nominees will begin today, and the winners will be announced on the final day of the 2022 DICE Summit live from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
25th Annual DICE Awards Nominees
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Call of Duty: VanguardDeathloopKena: Bridge of SpiritsRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartResident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Call of Duty: VanguardDeathloopKena: Bridge of SpiritsRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartResident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Deathloop – Colt VahnKena: Bridge of Spirits – KenaLife is Strange: True Colors – Alex ChenRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart – RivetResident Evil Village – Lady Dimitrescu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
DeathloopIt Takes TwoKena: Bridge of SpiritsPsychonauts 2Returnal
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Forza Horizon 5Halo InfiniteIt Takes TwoRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartReturnal
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Before Your EyesInscryptionMarvel’s Guardians of the GalaxyPsychonauts 2The Forgotten City
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Battlefield 2042Forza Horizon 5MoncageRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartReturnal
Action Game of the Year
DeathloopHalo InfiniteMetroid DreadReturnalThe Ascent
Adventure Game of the Year
Death’s DoorIt Takes TwoMarvel’s Guardians of the GalaxyPsychonauts 2Resident Evil Village
Family Game of the Year
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home ParadiseCozy GroveMario Party SuperstarsRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartWarioware: Get it Together
Fighting Game of the Year
Guilty Gear StriveMelty Blood: Type LuminaNickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Racing Game of the Year
F1 2021Forza Horizon 5Hot Wheels Unleashed
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Final Fantasy XIV: EndwalkerPathfinder: Wrath of the RighteousShin Megami Tensei VTales of AriseWildermyth
Sports Game of the Year
EA Sports FIFA 22Mario Golf: Super RushNBA 2K22Riders RepublicThe Climb 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Age of Empires IVGloomhavenGriftlandsInscryptionLoop Hero
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Lone Echo IIPuzzling PlacesResident Evil 4 VRSong in the SmokeYuki
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
DemeoI Expect You To Die 2Lone Echo IIResident Evil 4 VRSong in the Smoke
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Death’s DoorInscryptionLoop HeroSableUnpacking
Mobile Game of the Year
Behind the FrameFantasianLeague of Legends: Wild RiftMoncagePokémon Unite
Online Game of the Year
Back 4 BloodCall of Duty: VanguardFinal Fantasy XIV: EndwalkerHalo InfiniteKnockout City
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
DeathloopInscryptionIt Takes TwoLoop HeroRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
DeathloopInscryptionIt Takes TwoRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartThe Artful Escape
Game of the Year
DeathloopInscryptionIt Takes TwoRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartReturnal
