At the 28th annual DICE Awards held in Las Vegas, Astro Bot emerged as the biggest star of the night, snagging five awards, including the prestigious Game of the Year. This event, hosted at the DICE conference, usually mirrors the choices made at the Game Awards. Other notable winners included Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
A lot of buzz surrounded Indiana Jones and the Great Circle this year, particularly since it missed the cut-off for the Game Awards. Turns out, it didn’t disappoint! MachineGames’ thrilling rendition of the iconic adventurer’s escapades earned accolades for Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, and even nabbed an award for Outstanding Achievement in Character, thanks to the charismatic portrayal of Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. This performance nod is the DICE Awards’ version of a best actor award, which only further hints at the success it might have had at the Game Awards if not for the timing hiccup.
Astro Bot didn’t stop at Game of the Year; it also captured awards across categories such as animation, technical achievement, game design, and even Family Game of the Year. Meanwhile, its fellow PlayStation powerhouse, Helldivers 2, racked up four awards itself, including those for music, audio design, Action Game of the Year, and Online Game of the Year. In total, Sony made a massive sweep, walking away with nine out of the 23 accolades awarded that evening.
Balatro stood out in the indie scene, surprising no one by securing three honors: Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year, Mobile Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game. In the midst of all this, Animal Well took home the trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.
Unlike the Game Awards, which rely on votes from both critics and the general public, the DICE Awards are decided by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, a body akin to the film industry’s Oscars. Despite their differing selection processes, the DICE Awards often echo the Game Awards’ major decisions; they’ve picked the same Game of the Year in eight of the past eleven occasions.
As we continue through this unconventional awards season—where top honors are dished out at the start—the next notable event on the horizon is the Game Developers Choice Awards, slated for March 19, followed by the BAFTA Games Awards on April 8.
Here’s a rundown of the full list of DICE winners:
