The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) provided its nomination list 25th Annual Dice Awards. Winners will be announced on February 24 at the 25th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, livestreamed by official media partner IGN.
59 games released in 2021 were nominated, with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart receiving 9 nominations, followed by Deathloop with 8 nominations. Inscryption and It Takes Two received six nominations each, and Returnal received five. Kena: Soul Bridge and Resident Evil Village each have four nods.
Game of the Year nominees are Deathloop, Inscryption, It Takes Two, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal.
Below you will find the full list of nominees.
25th Annual DICE Awards Nominees
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
- Call of Duty: Vanguard
- infinite loop
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
- Call of Duty: Vanguard
- infinite loop
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Character
- Dead Loop – Colt Vine
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Kena
- Life is Strange: True Colors – Alex Chen
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Rivet
- Resident Evil Village – Mrs. Dimitrescu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
- infinite loop
- need two
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Psychologist 2
- return the goods
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
- Forza Horizon 5
- Halo Infinite
- need two
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- return the goods
Outstanding Story Achievement
- before your eyes
- encryption
- MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- Psychologist 2
- forgotten city
Outstanding Technical Achievement
- Battlefield 2042
- Forza Horizon 5
- Monkacci
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- return the goods
Action Game of the Year
- infinite loop
- Halo Infinite
- Metroid Fear
- return the goods
- rise
Adventure Game of the Year
- death gate
- need two
- MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- Psychologist 2
- Resident Evil Village
family game of the year
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home
- Cozy Grove
- Mario Party Fest
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- Warioware: Together
Fighting Game of the Year
- Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
- Hemorrhage: Lumina type
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Racing Game of the Year
- F1 2021
- Forza Horizon 5
- hot wheel release
Role Playing Game of the Year
- Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
- Pathfinder: Righteous Wrath
- Shin Megami Tensei V
- story of rise
- Wilderness Myth
Sports Game of the Year
- EA Sports FIFA 22
- Mario Golf: Super Sprint
- NBA 2k22
- Republic of Knights
- climb 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
- Age of Empires IV
- Underdark
- griftland
- encryption
- cycle hero
Immersive Reality Technology Achievements
- Lonely Echo II
- puzzling place
- Resident Evil 4 VR
- song in smoke
- Yuki
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
- demo
- i want you to die 2
- Lonely Echo II
- Resident Evil 4 VR
- song in smoke
Outstanding Achievement in Indie Games
- death gate
- encryption
- cycle hero
- sable
- out of the box
Mobile Game of the Year
- behind the frame
- Fantasia
- League of Legends: Wild Rift
- Monkacci
- Pokémon United
Online Game of the Year
- return 4 blood
- Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
- Halo Infinite
- knockout city
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
- infinite loop
- encryption
- need two
- cycle hero
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
Outstanding Achievement in Game Directing
- infinite loop
- encryption
- need two
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- clever escape
Game of the Year
- infinite loop
- encryption
- need two
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift
- return the goods