Hosted by comedian Pete Holmes, the 19th annual D.I.C.E. Awards (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) will take place on Thursday, February 18 at the conclusion of the 2016 D.I.C.E. Summit.
During the ceremony, Satoru Iwata will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Hideo Kojima will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
With winners chosen by members of the Academy, the nominees for the 19th annual D.I.C.E. Awards see The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Rise of the Tomb Raider leading with eight nominations, followed by Ori and the Blind Forest with six, and Fallout 4 with five.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
Game of the Year
- Bloodborne
- Fallout 4
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
- Fallout 4
- Life is Strange
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Undertale
Adventure Game of the Year
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Life is Strange
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
Action Game of the Year
- Destiny: The Taken King
- Helldivers
- Just Cause 3
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Splatoon
Mobile Game of the Year
- DomiNations
- Fallout Shelter
- Lara Croft GO
- Pac-Man 256
- The Room Three
D.I.C.E. Sprite Award
- Her Story
- Galak-Z
- Kerbal Space Program
- Rocket League
- Undertale
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Order: 1886
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
- Lara Croft GO
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Order: 1886
- Star Wars Battlefront
Outstanding Achievement in Character
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – Evie Frye
- Her Story – Hannah Smith
- Life is Strange – Maxine
- Rise of the Tomb Raider – Lara Croft
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Geralt of Rivia
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Starcraft II: Legacy Of The Void
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
- Destiny: The Taken King
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Star Wars Battlefront
- The Order: 1886
Outstanding Achievement in Story
- Fallout 4
- Her Story
- Tales from the Borderlands
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Outstanding Technical Achievement
- Just Cause 3
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Star Wars Battlefront
- The Order: 1886
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Family Game of the Year
- Guitar Hero Live
- LEGO Dimensions
- Rock Band 4
- Super Mario Maker
- Tearaway Unfolded
Fighting Game of the Year
- Mortal Kombat X
- Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
- Rising Thunder
Racing Game of the Year
- Forza Motorsport 6
- Need for Speed
- Project CARS
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
- Bloodborne
- Fallout 4
- Pillars of Eternity
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Undertale
Sports Game of the Year
- FIFA 2016
- Madden NFL 2016
- MLB 15 The Show
- NBA 2K16
- Rocket League
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
- Cities: Skylines
- Fallout Shelter
- Grey Goo
- Heroes of the Storm
- Kerbal Space Program
Handheld Game of the Year
- Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space
- Helldivers
- Pokemon: Super Mystery Dungeon
- Yo-Kai Watch
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
- Destiny: The Taken King
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
- Rocket League
- Splatoon
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
- Fallout 4
- Her Story
- Lara Croft GO
- Massive Chalice
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
AIAS President Martin Rae said:
Looking at the nominees for the 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, I am especially impressed by the broad range of titles catering to gamers’ increasingly sophisticated and diverse tastes. It is always gratifying to watch our industry and its many artists and craftsmen grow and continue to challenge and thrill audiences. February 18 will be another memorable celebration of the best in interactive entertainment bolstered by the playful humor of host Pete Holmes.
Who do you think will take home Game of the Year this time around? Last year, Dragon Age Inquisition won GOTY.
