The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced the nominees for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and the list reveals Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are leading the charge with six nominations each.
The 2025 D.I.C.E. Awards will take place on Thursday, February 13 at 11pm ET/8pm PT at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas and there will be 60 games from 2024 competing for awards in 23 categories. Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will all be up for the top honor of Game of the Year.
While we already revealed which games earned the most nominations, we’d also like to share Balatro and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II came in second with five nominations each, and 1000xResist, Animal Well, and Batman: Arkham Shadow came in third with four nominations each.
You can check out the full list of D.I.C.E. Awards 2025 nominees below, and you can also see how they compare to our IGN Awards from 2024 and how these nominees and winners are picked.
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Astro BotCall of Duty: Black Ops 6FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTHNevaWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Black Myth: WukongIndiana Jones and the Great CircleLEGO Horizon AdventuresThe Plucky SquireSenua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Outstanding Achievement in Character
1000xRESIST – WatcherFINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH – Yuffie KisaragiIndiana Jones and the Great Circle – Dr. Henry “Indiana” JonesINDIKA – IndikaSenua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Senua
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Astro BotHelldivers 2Monument Valley 3Senua’s Saga: Hellblade IIStar Wars Outlaws
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Frostpunk 2Helldivers 2Monument Valley 3Senua’s Saga: Hellblade IIStill Wakes the Deep
Outstanding Achievement in Story
1000xRESISTIndiana Jones and the Great CircleMetaphor: ReFantazioStill Wakes the DeepThank Goodness You’re Here!
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Astro BotBatman: Arkham ShadowIndiana Jones and the Great CircleSenua’s Saga: Hellblade IIWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Action Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham ShadowBlack Myth: WukongCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Helldivers 2Stellar Blade
Adventure Game of the Year
1000xRESISTANIMAL WELLIndiana Jones and the Great CircleThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Family Game of the Year
Astro BotCat Quest IIILittle Kitty, Big CityThe Plucky SquireSuper Mario Party Jamboree
Fighting Game of the Year
Blazing StrikeDRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZEROMortal Kombat 1: Khaos ReignsTEKKEN 8UNDERDOGS
Racing Game of the Year
F1® 24MotoGP™24NIGHT-RUNNERS™ PROLOGUE
Role-Playing Game of the Year
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTHDragon Age: The VeilguardELDEN RING: Shadow of the ErdtreeLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthMetaphor: ReFantazio
Sports Game of the Year
EA SPORTS College Football 25EA SPORTS FC 25MLB The Show 24NBA 2K25
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
BalatroCaves of QudFrostpunk 2Tactical Breach WizardsSatisfactory
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Alien: Rogue IncursionBatman: Arkham ShadowSkydance’s BEHEMOTHStarship HomeUNDERDOGS
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Alien: Rogue IncursionBatman: Arkham ShadowEscaping WonderlandSkydance’s BEHEMOTHUNDERDOGS
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
ANIMAL WELLBalatroGrunnINDIKAMouthwashing
Mobile Game of the Year
BalatroHalls of TormentMonument Valley 3Paper TrailWuthering Waves
Online Game of the Year
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Diablo IV: Vessel of HatredHelldivers 2Marvel RivalsWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
ANIMAL WELLAstro BotBalatroHelldivers 2UFO 50
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
1000xRESISTANIMAL WELLLorelei and the Laser EyesRivenThank Goodness You’re Here!
Game of the Year
Astro BotBalatroBlack Myth: WukongHelldivers 2Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
IGN is proud to be the official media partner of the D.I.C.E. Awards and we will be exclusively streaming the ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Greg Miller and Stella Chung.
If you want to know more about how these nominees were picked and how the winners are chosen, the AIAS has shared the following;
“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, the AIAS wore, “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. A list of all the peer panelists can be found here.”
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Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
