The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today recognized the most exceptional video games of the year during the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, held at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The ceremony honored studios and creators whose work pushed the boundaries of interactive storytelling, technical innovation, and player experience throughout 2025.
Selected by the Academy’s global membership of more than 30,000 industry professionals, this year’s winners reflected a broad spectrum of creative achievement across 23 award categories spanning design, art, animation, audio, story, and technology.
Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most celebrated title of the evening, earning five awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Role-Playing Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, and the night’s top honor, Game of the Year.
Sucker Punch Productions also received significant recognition for Ghost of Yōtei, taking home awards for Outstanding Achievement in Character, Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, and Adventure Game of the Year, highlighting its artistic vision and narrative depth.
Kojima Productions was recognized for its technical mastery with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, earning awards for Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design and Outstanding Technical Achievement.
Additional standout winners included Hades II, which claimed Action Game of the Year, Blue Prince, which earned both Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, and Arc Raiders, named Online Game of the Year.
“The games recognized at this year’s D.I.C.E. Awards showcase the extraordinary range of talent and creativity that define our industry” said Meggan Scavio, President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “It’s inspiring to see how these developers continue to elevate interactive entertainment through innovation, storytelling, and meaningful player experiences.”
In addition to honoring the year’s top games, the Academy also recognized an influential leader in the interactive entertainment industry. Evan Wells, former president and co-founder of Naughty Dog, was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades-long contributions to game development and leadership. Throughout his career, Wells has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and culturally impactful franchises, while championing creative excellence, mentorship, and the evolution of storytelling in games.
The ceremony brought together developers and industry professionals from around the world for an evening dedicated to celebrating creativity, collaboration, and innovation in interactive entertainment.
Attended by game creators and industry leaders, the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards took place on February 12, 2026, at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The event was livestreamed by media partner IGN and hosted by returning co-hosts Greg Miller of Kinda Funny and Stella Chung, uniting the global games community in celebration.
The complete list of winners from the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards are available below.
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
South of Midnight
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Ghost of Yōtei – Atsu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Ghost of Yōtei
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Action Game of the Year
Hades II
Adventure Game of the Year
Ghost of Yōtei
Family Game of the Year
LEGO® Party!
Fighting Game of the Year
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Racing Game of the Year
Mario Kart World
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sports Game of the Year
Rematch
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
The Alters
Online Game of the Year
Arc Raiders
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Hotel Infinity
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Ghost Town
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Blue Prince
Mobile Game of the Year
Persona5: The Phantom X
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Blue Prince
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33