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

The list of contenders for this year’s 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards has been announced, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting event. The awards, organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), are set to spotlight standout games from across the gaming world.

Sharing the spotlight with the most nominations are Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames’ adventure, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, alongside PlayStation’s innovative Astro Bot and the action-packed Helldivers 2. Each of these fronts the pack with six nominations, and they’ve all been thrown into the hat for the coveted Game of the Year award.

Trailing closely with five nods each are Localthunk and Playstack’s intriguing Balatro and the much-anticipated Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 from Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory. Both Xbox and PlayStation are tying with an impressive tally of 15 nominations each across various teams and titles.

Mark your calendars! The big night is scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET. Holding the reins once again are Kinda Funny Games’ Greg Miller and the ever-engaging media personality Stella Chung, who are all set to announce the winners during the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony.

Now, let’s take a look at the full list of nominations:

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

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• 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

Keep an eye on this space for more updates and see which of your favorite titles will take home the glory in February. Each nomination showcases the exceptional talent and creativity pulsating through the gaming industry today.