Xbox Secures 15 Nominations at the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards

The nominations for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards have been officially unveiled, generating significant excitement across the gaming community. This prestigious event, organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), celebrates excellence in video games, and this year features a diverse lineup of nominees drawn from multiple corners of the industry.

Topping the nominations are Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames’ "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," PlayStation’s "Astro Bot," and "Helldivers 2," each securing six nominations. Impressively, all three titles are also in the running for the coveted Game of the Year award.

Not far behind in the nomination tally are "Balatro" from Localthunk and Playstack, alongside "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2" from Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory, each garnering five nominations. Both Xbox and PlayStation have strong representation this year, with each of their teams accumulating 15 nominations across various games.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 13, 2025, as this is when the winners will be announced at the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony. The event kicks off at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET. For the past few years, Greg Miller from Kinda Funny Games and media personality Stella Chung have delivered engaging hosting experiences, and they are set to host this year’s event once again, promising an entertaining evening.

Here’s a look at some of the major categories and their nominees:

Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Helldivers 2
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• 1000xRESIST
• ANIMAL WELL
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Riven
• Thank Goodness You’re Here!

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• ANIMAL WELL
• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Helldivers 2
• UFO 50

Online Game of the Year

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Mobile Game of the Year

• Balatro
• Halls of Torment
• Monument Valley 3
• Paper Trail
• Wuthering Waves

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• ANIMAL WELL
• Balatro
• Grunn
• INDIKA
• Mouthwashing

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Escaping Wonderland
• Skydance’s BEHEMOTH
• UNDERDOGS

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Balatro
• Caves of Qud
• Frostpunk 2
• Tactical Breach Wizards
• Satisfactory

Sports Game of the Year

• EA SPORTS College Football 25
• EA SPORTS FC 25
• MLB The Show 24
• NBA 2K25

Role-playing Game of the Year

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Racing Game of the Year

• F1 24
• MotoGP 24
• NIGHT-RUNNERS: PROLOGUE

Fighting Game of the Year

• Blazing Strike
• Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
• Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
• Tekken 8
• UNDERDOGS

Family Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Cat Quest 3
• Little Kitty, Big City
• The Plucky Squire
• Super Mario Party Jamboree

Adventure Game of the Year

• 1000xRESIST
• ANIMAL WELL
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Action Game of the Year

• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Stellar Blade

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Astro Bot
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• 1000xRESIST
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Still Wakes the Deep
• Thank Goodness You’re Here!

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Frostpunk 2
• Helldivers 2
• Monument Valley 3
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
• Still Wakes the Deep

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Astro Bot
• Helldivers 2
• Monument Valley 3
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
• Star Wars Outlaws

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• 1000xRESIST – Watcher
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Yuffie Kisaragi
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones
• INDIKA – Indika
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Senua

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• LEGO Horizon Adventures
• The Plucky Squire
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Astro Bot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Neva
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach this exciting celebration of gaming excellence. Don’t miss out on the latest in gaming news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox fans!