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

The moment we’ve been waiting for has arrived: the list of contenders for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards has been unveiled. Hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), this event celebrates the very best from across the gaming world.

Leading the pack with a remarkable six nominations each are Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames’ "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," along with PlayStation’s "Astro Bot" and "Helldivers 2." All three of these heavy-hitters are eyeing the coveted Game of the Year title. Close on their heels, "Balatro" from Localthunk and Playstack, and "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2" from Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory each secured an impressive five nominations. Both Xbox and PlayStation snagged a total of 15 nominations across different titles from their respective stables.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 13, 2025, when winners will be celebrated at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET during the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony. Just like in recent years, the event will be hosted by Greg Miller from Kinda Funny Games, alongside media personality Stella Chung.

Let’s dive deeper into the nominees:

Game of the Year features top contenders such as "Astro Bot," "Balatro," "Black Myth: Wukong," "Helldivers 2," and "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle."

The Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction award sees titles like "1000xRESIST," "ANIMAL WELL," "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes," "Riven," and "Thank Goodness You’re Here!" vying for recognition.

In the realm of Game Design, brilliant entries "ANIMAL WELL," "Astro Bot," "Balatro," "Helldivers 2," and "UFO 50" stand out.

When it comes to Online Game of the Year, we have giants like "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6," "Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred," "Helldivers 2," "Marvel Rivals," and "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2."

As for the mobile arena, the contenders for Mobile Game of the Year include "Balatro," "Halls of Torment," "Monument Valley 3," "Paper Trail," and "Wuthering Waves."

The Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game category celebrates innovative works like "ANIMAL WELL," "Balatro," "Grunn," "INDIKA," and "Mouthwashing."

In the immersive experience zone, titles like "Alien: Rogue Incursion," "Batman: Arkham Shadow," "Escaping Wonderland," "Skydance’s BEHEMOTH," and "UNDERDOGS" are up for Immersive Reality Game of the Year and Technical Achievement.

For the strategists and simulators, Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year finalists include "Balatro," "Caves of Qud," "Frostpunk 2," "Tactical Breach Wizards," and "Satisfactory."

In the sports genre, we find Sports Game of the Year nominees like "EA SPORTS College Football 25," "EA SPORTS FC 25," "MLB The Show 24," and "NBA 2K25."

Epic tales unfold in the Role-playing Game of the Year segment with "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth," "Dragon Age: The Veilguard," "Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree," "Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth," and "Metaphor: ReFantazio."

The race is on in the Racing Game of the Year category with titles such as "F1 24," "MotoGP 24," and "NIGHT-RUNNERS PROLOGUE."

Brawlers will compete in the Fighting Game of the Year with options like "Blazing Strike," "Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero," "Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns," "Tekken 8," and "UNDERDOGS."

For family fun, Family Game of the Year includes charming titles like "Astro Bot," "Cat Quest 3," "Little Kitty, Big City," "The Plucky Squire," and "Super Mario Party Jamboree."

In the adventurous realm, Adventure Game of the Year nominees include "1000xRESIST," "ANIMAL WELL," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom," and "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown."

Those seeking action will find Action Game of the Year contenders such as "Batman: Arkham Shadow," "Black Myth: Wukong," "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6," "Helldivers 2," and "Stellar Blade."

The technical prowess of games isn’t ignored with Outstanding Technical Achievement nominees like "Astro Bot," "Batman: Arkham Shadow," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II," and "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2."

Rich narratives are celebrated with Outstanding Achievement in Story where titles like "1000xRESIST," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," "Metaphor: ReFantazio," "Still Wakes the Deep," and "Thank Goodness You’re Here!" find their place.

Soundscapes find their due in Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design with nominees like "Frostpunk 2," "Helldivers 2," "Monument Valley 3," "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2," and "Still Wakes the Deep."

Music sets mood and emotion, recognized in Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, featuring "Astro Bot," "Helldivers 2," "Monument Valley 3," "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2," and "Star Wars Outlaws."

Characters that captured hearts and minds are honored under Outstanding Achievement in Character, including "1000xRESIST – Watcher," "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Yuffie Kisaragi," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Dr. Henry ‘Indiana’ Jones," "INDIKA – Indika," and "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Senua."

The visual artistry of these games is embraced in Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, with titles like "Black Myth: Wukong," "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," "LEGO Horizon Adventures," "The Plucky Squire," and "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2" leading the charge.

Animation breathes life into imagination, recognized through Outstanding Achievement in Animation, where contenders include "Astro Bot," "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6," "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth," "Neva," and "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2."

Stay tuned for more insights and analyses as we eagerly await the big night!