News - D.I.C.E. Awards 2025: Clair Obscur & Ghost Of Yōtei Dominate Nominations

The highly anticipated nominees for the 29th annual D.I.C.E. Awards have been revealed by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Among an impressive lineup of gaming achievements, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost Of Yōtei lead the nomination list, both securing eight nods each. The prestigious awards ceremony is set to be broadcast live from the Aria Resort in Las Vegas, scheduled for 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 12. This year, 64 games have been recognized for their contributions to the video game industry throughout 2025. Following the leading contenders with eight nominations, games like Arc Raiders and Dispatch have earned six nods, Blue Prince boasts five, and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach trails with four. Returning to the hosting spotlight, Kinda Funny co-founder Greg Miller and media personality Stella Chung, formerly of IGN, will steer the evening's event. They unveiled the nominees on the recent episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, with additional details provided by AIAS in subsequent press communications. AIAS president, Meggan Scavio, expressed gratitude and pride in a statement: "We owe our thanks to our dedicated peer panelists. Their discerning judgment and insight have been invaluable in selecting this year's standout titles. Congratulations to all finalists for their creativity, artistry, and technical prowess. We eagerly await the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, where we will celebrate these outstanding accomplishments." The D.I.C.E. Awards are notably distinctive in the gaming industry for their unique judging panel, comprised exclusively of game developers, diverging from other accolades like The Game Awards where media representatives form the panel. The awards highlight excellence without featuring game reveals or premieres typical of other industry events. Among the categories and nominees, notable mentions include: 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, Dispatch, Ghost Of Yōtei, The Midnight Walk. Outstanding Achievement in Character: Key characters from Clair Obscur and Dispatch lead nominations. Outstanding Achievement in Original Music: Clair Obscur and Ghost Of Yōtei feature heavily. Games like Hades II and Blue Prince also feature across various categories, hinting at a competitive awards show. The full list of nominations spans multiple genres, showcasing the year's diverse gaming landscape. As the gaming community eagerly awaits the outcomes, the question looms: which title will earn the coveted Game of the Year award? Share your thoughts and predictions with us as we count down to February 12.