2025 DICE Awards Leading Nominees are Astro Bot, Indiana Jones, and Helldivers 2

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced the nominees for the 28th Annual DICE Awards, with Astro Bot, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Helldivers 2 leading the charge. 

Helldivers 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, as well as Astro Bot, each secured six nominations, solidifying their place among the most acclaimed releases of 2024. Indie games also made a significant impact this year, with Balatro receiving five nominations.

The D.I.C.E. Awards (formerly the Interactive Achievement Awards) is an annual awards show in the video game industry and commonly referred to as the video game equivalent of the Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars.

The awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 13 at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. The DICE Awards, organized during the annual DICE Summit, celebrate excellence in game design, storytelling, technical achievement, and other categories, with winners determined by votes from over 33,000 industry professionals. That is why the DICE Awards stand out as a peer-reviewed accolade. Panels of different experts, including designers, programmers, and artists, determine the finalists, ensuring recognition by industry professionals. This approach has established the awards as one of the most respected honors in the gaming industry.

“The DICE Awards are a moment for us to celebrate the artistry and innovation that define our medium,” said AIAS President Meggan Scavio. “This year’s nominees are a testament to the incredible talent driving our industry forward.”

The Game of the Year nominees

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

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

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

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 Character

• Watcher (1000xResist, Nhi Do)
• Yuffie Kisaragi (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Suzie Yeung and Yumi Kakazu)
• Dr. Henry ‘Indiana’ Jones (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Troy Baker)
• Indika (Indika, Isabella Inchbald)
• Senua (Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Melina Juergens)

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

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

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

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

Outstanding Achievement in Story

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

Outstanding Technical Achievement

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

Action Game of the Year

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

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

Family Game of the Year

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

Fighting Game of the Year

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

Racing Game of the Year

• F1 24
• MotoGP 24
• Night Runners Prologue

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

Sports Game of the Year

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

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

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

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Escaping Wonderland
• Skydance’s Behemoth
• Underdogs

Mobile Game of the Year

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

Online Game of the Year

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Skydance’s Behemoth
• Starship Home
• Underdogs

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Grunn
• Indika
• Mouthwashing

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Animal Well
• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Helldivers 2
• UFO 50

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• 1000xResist
• Animal Well
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Riven
• Thank Goodness You’re Here