The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has officially dropped the nomination list for its 29th annual D.I.C.E. Awards, spotlighting the industry’s best achievements from 2025. This year’s race sees two titles dominating the scoreboard: the atmospheric RPG *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* and the highly anticipated samurai epic *Ghost Of Yōtei*, each securing a massive eight nominations. These two frontrunners are vying for the coveted Game of the Year award alongside other strong contenders.
Overall, 64 games made the cut, reflecting the breadth of quality releases last year. Following closely behind the leaders are *Arc Raiders* and *Dispatch*, which each secured six nominations. Meanwhile, the intriguing *Blue Prince* earned five nods, and Hideo Kojima’s *Death Stranding 2: On The Beach* picked up four major nominations, including several for technical and artistic achievement.
The D.I.C.E. Awards are distinct because winners are voted on entirely by fellow game developers, creating a peer-reviewed celebration of craft. Fans can catch the ceremony streamed live from the Aria Resort in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 12, starting at 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET. Providing commentary and celebrating the winners will be returning co-hosts Greg Miller of Kinda Funny and media personality Stella Chung. AIAS President Meggan Scavio congratulated all the finalists, emphasizing that the selected games stood out for their exceptional creativity, artistry, and technical mastery.