The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The organization has more than 30,000 members. The mission of the AIAS is to promote and advance the worldwide interactive entertainment community; recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and host an annual awards show, the D.I.C.E. Awards, to enhance awareness of the interactive art form.

The Academy’s 30K+ members, comprised of the interactive publishing and development communities, recognize excellence in 23 different interactive game categories in one of the highest forms of recognition in the industry. Titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s peer panels to determine final nominees. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented experts in their chosen fields. Winners are determined as part of a confidential voting process and will be revealed on the evening of the show.

Winners will be revealed at the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony, the culmination of the week-long industry gathering at the 2026 D.I.C.E. Summit. The ceremony will be livestreamed by official media partner, IGN, on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8:00PM PT from the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. Greg Miller, founder of Kinda Funny Games, and award-winning media personality, Stella Chung, will return as co-hosts. 

64 games released in 2025 are nominated. Topping the list with 8 nominations each are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei, followed by Arc Raiders and Dispatch with 6 nominations each. In addition, Blue Prince earned 5 total nominations with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach close behind with 4 nominations. 

Competing for 2025’s top honor, Game of the Year, are: Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, and Ghost of Yōtei.

“First, thank you to our peer panelists. Your dedication and expertise in our judging process, and your work in selecting the best games of 2025, is truly appreciated,” said Meggan Scavio, President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “And on behalf of all of us at the Academy, I extend my congratulations to all of our finalists. Each of these games has impressed us through its creativity, artistry, and technical achievement, and we look forward to celebrating your accomplishments at the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.”

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
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 Yōtei
The Midnight Walk

Outstanding Achievement in Character

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Esquie
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Maelle
Dispatch - Courtney/Invisigal
Dispatch - Robert Robertson III/Mecha Man
Ghost of Yōtei - Atsu

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ghost of Yōtei
Herdling
Mario Kart World
Sword of the Sea

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

Arc Raiders
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
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 Yōtei
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Family Game of the Year

LEGO® Party!
LEGO® Voyagers
Lumines Arise
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
POPUCOM

Fighting 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

Persona5: 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 Yōtei
Hades II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Game of the Year

Arc Raiders
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Dispatch
Ghost of Yōtei