The 29th annual DICE Awards are locked in for 12 February 2026, and the full list of nominees has now been revealed. As expected, a handful of standout releases are leading the race heading into the developer-led awards show.
At the top of the nominations list are two clear frontrunners, each earning eight nods across multiple categories.
The most-nominated games this year are:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 8 nominations
- Ghost of Yotei – 8 nominations
Not far behind are two more strong contenders, both of which also landed spots in the Game of the Year category.
Close runners-up include:
- ARC Raiders – 6 nominations
- Dispatch – 6 nominations
All four of these titles are competing for DICE’s biggest honour, highlighting how closely matched this year’s top games really are.
Unlike many other awards shows, the DICE Awards are voted on by developers themselves. Organised by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the winners are chosen by more than 30,000 industry professionals, making this one of the most craft-focused celebrations in gaming.
That difference shows up clearly in the Game of the Year lineup. Some high-profile releases didn’t make the final cut, despite strong buzz elsewhere.
Notable omissions and lower counts include:
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – 1 nomination
- Hades II – 3 nominations
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – 3 nominations
- Donkey Kong Bananza – 2 nominations
Elsewhere, several games made a strong impression across multiple categories, even if they didn’t dominate the headlines.
Other notable nominees:
- Blue Prince – 5 nominations, including Game of the Year
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – 4 nominations
Looking back at last year’s DICE Awards, Astro Bot was the big winner, taking home five awards, including Game of the Year. Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also picked up multiple wins, showing how unpredictable the ceremony can be.
With a mix of big-budget releases and smaller creative standouts, this year’s DICE Awards are a strong reflection of what developers valued most in 2025. The final results should make for an interesting night.
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