The D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. It is given in honor of "the single game, without regard to system or delivery mechanism, voted by the membership of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences that best utilizes the chosen medium to entertain users".[1] All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category.[2]
| D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |
| First awarded | 1998 |
| Currently held by | Baldur's Gate 3 |
| Website | www |
The most recent winner of the award is Baldur's Gate 3, developed and published by Larian Studios.
History
editCategory name changes
editThe 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony was held on May 28, 1998, with the licensed adaptation of GoldenEye 007, developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, receiving the first award. The award was originally known as Interactive Title of the Year for the 1998 ceremony.[3] It would be renamed Game of the Year at the following year's awards ceremony. For a brief period between 2006 and 2009, the award was presented as Overall Game of the Year.[4][5][6][7]
Indie Games
editThe first indie that was nominated for Game of the Year was Angry Birds HD. Journey would be the first indie game winner. The only other two indie games that had won were Untitled Goose Game and Hades. On a yearly basis since 2016, there had been at least one indie game nominee for Game of the Year:
- 2016: Ori and the Blind Forest
- 2017: Inside
- 2018: Cuphead
- 2019: Into the Breach, Return of the Obra Dinn
- 2020: Disco Elysium, Outer Wilds, Untitled Goose Game
- 2021: Hades
- 2022: Inscryption
- 2023: Stray, Vampire Survivors
- 2024: Cocoon
2019, 2020 and 2023 were the only years that had more than one indie game nominee, with 2020 being the first year of an indie game majority of the nominees.
Genres
editThe most frequently nominated and winning genres for Game of the Year had been action, adventure, and role-playing games. No strategy game had ever won the award, but thirteen had been nominated: Age of Empires, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Sacrifice, Sid Meier's Civilization III, Command & Conquer: Generals, Rise of Nations, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Hearthstone, Into the Breach, and Inscryption. The Sims was the only simulation game to win the top award, with six others also being nominated: MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes, Black & White, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Four rhythm games had been nominated: PaRappa the Rapper, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, and Rock Band. The only fighting games that had been nominated were Soulcalibur, Tekken Tag Tournament, and WWF No Mercy. The awards ceremony in 2001 had six sports game nominees: FIFA 2001, Links 2001, Madden NFL 2001, SSX, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Virtua Tennis; SSX 3 and Wii Sports were the only sports games nominated after 2001. Only three expansion packs had ever been nominated (all during the awards ceremony in 2001): Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark, and RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes. The only compilation pack that received a nomination for Game of the Year was The Orange Box (which included Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, as well as previously released titles of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One).
Platforms
editNearly every Game of the Year nominee had either been released for a home video game console or for personal computer. Pokémon Yellow, Nintendogs, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds were the only nominees that were released for handheld game consoles. There had been five nominees that were released for mobile devices at the time of their nomination: Angry Birds HD, The Walking Dead, Hearthstone, Pokémon Go, and Vampire Survivors. Journey, Borderlands 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Inside, and Into the Breach would eventually be released for mobile devices, but they were not at the time of their nomination.
Other Game of the Year Awards
editUsually the winner for Game of the Year would also win the award for their respective genre/platform category; the only exceptions had been The Sims, Battlefield 1942, Untitled Goose Game, and It Takes Two. Of the four exceptions, Battlefield 1942 and Untitled Goose Game did not receive any nominations for their respective genre-related category (although the former did win the award for Online Gameplay of the Year, while the latter won for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game). There had been six winners for Family Game of the Year that were also nominated for Game of the Year: Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Rock Band, LittleBigPlanet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, with LittleBigPlanet being the only winner for Game of the Year. Angry Birds HD and Journey were the only winners for Casual Game of the Year that were also nominated for Game of the Year, the latter of which won both awards.
List of Winners and nominees
edit1990s
edit| Indicates the winner |
2000s
edit2010s
edit2020s
editMultiple nominations and wins
editNintendo has developed the most Game of the Year nominees with fourteen. Nintendo is also tied with Infinity Ward, Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, BioWare, and Bethesda Game Studios for each developing two Game of the Year winners, being the most of any developer. Developer Insomniac Games has the most nominations without a win.
Sony has published the most Game of the Year nominees and winners. Sony has twice had back-to-back wins for Game of the Year; the first for LittleBigPlanet in 2009 and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in 2010, and the second time for Journey in 2013 and The Last of Us in 2014. The only other publisher with back-to-back wins is Nintendo with GoldenEye 007 in 1998, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1999. Rockstar Games has published the most Game of the Year nominees without having a single winner.
| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo | 14 | 2 |
| BioWare | 5 | 2 |
| Naughty Dog | 5 | 2 |
| Bethesda Game Studios | 4 | 2 |
| Infinity Ward | 4 | 2 |
| Santa Monica Studio | 4 | 2 |
| Rare | 4 | 1 |
| Valve | 4 | 1 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 3 | 1 |
| Bungie | 3 | 1 |
| DICE | 2 | 1 |
| Epic Games | 2 | 1 |
| FromSoftware | 2 | 1 |
| Insomniac Games | 6 | 0 |
| Ubisoft Montreal | 5 | 0 |
| Rockstar North | 4 | 0 |
| SquareSoft/Square Enix | 4 | 0 |
| EA Canada | 3 | 0 |
| Ensemble Studios | 3 | 0 |
| Firaxis Games | 3 | 0 |
| Harmonix | 3 | 0 |
| Remedy Entertainment | 3 | 0 |
| Guerrilla Games | 2 | 0 |
| 2K Boston/Irrational Games | 2 | 0 |
| LucasArts | 2 | 0 |
| Japan Studio | 2 | 0 |
| Kojima Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Monolith Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Namco | 2 | 0 |
| Rocksteady Studios | 2 | 0 |
| Sega AM2/AM3 | 2 | 0 |
| Westwood Pacific/EA Pacific | 2 | 0 |
| Publisher | Nominations | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Interactive Entertainment | 28 | 6 |
| Electronic Arts | 18 | 5 |
| Nintendo | 20 | 3 |
| Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios | 13 | 3 |
| Activision | 8 | 2 |
| Bethesda Softworks | 5 | 2 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 3 | 2 |
| Namco/Bandai Namco Entertainment | 4 | 1 |
| Vivendi Universal Games | 2 | 1 |
| Rockstar Games | 7 | 0 |
| Ubisoft | 6 | 0 |
| 2K Games | 5 | 0 |
| Sega | 4 | 0 |
| SquareSoft/Square Enix | 4 | 0 |
| Annapurna Interactive | 3 | 0 |
| LucasArts | 3 | 0 |
| Valve | 3 | 0 |
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 3 | 0 |
| Acclaim Entertainment | 2 | 0 |
| Interplay Entertainment | 2 | 0 |
| Konami | 2 | 0 |
| RedOctane | 2 | 0 |
Franchises
editThe most nominated franchise is The Legend of Zelda, with eight nominations. Call of Duty, The Legend of Zelda, and God of War are the only franchises to have won Game of the Year twice. The Grand Theft Auto franchise has garnered the most nominations without winning a single award in this category. Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first and only remake that has been nominated, let alone a remake of a previous nominee.
| Franchise | Nominations | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda | 8 | 2 |
| Call of Duty | 5 | 2 |
| God of War | 4 | 2 |
| Half-Life[d] | 3 | 1 |
| Uncharted | 3 | 1 |
| Baldur's Gate | 2 | 1 |
| Battlefield | 2 | 1 |
| Dragon Age | 2 | 1 |
| Fallout | 2 | 1 |
| Halo | 2 | 1 |
| The Elder Scrolls | 2 | 1 |
| The Last of Us | 2 | 1 |
| Grand Theft Auto | 4 | 0 |
| Age of Empires | 3 | 0 |
| Final Fantasy | 3 | 0 |
| Ratchet & Clank | 3 | 0 |
| Animal Crossing | 2 | 0 |
| Assassin's Creed | 2 | 0 |
| Banjo-Kazooie | 2 | 0 |
| Batman: Arkham | 2 | 0 |
| BioShock | 2 | 0 |
| Command & Conquer | 2 | 0 |
| Far Cry | 2 | 0 |
| Guitar Hero | 2 | 0 |
| Horizon | 2 | 0 |
| Marvel's Spider-Man | 2 | 0 |
| Metal Gear | 2 | 0 |
| Pokémon | 2 | 0 |
| Portal[e] | 2 | 0 |
| Red Dead | 2 | 0 |
| Sid Meier | 2 | 0 |
| SSX | 2 | 0 |
| Star Wars | 2 | 0 |
| Super Mario | 2 | 0 |
| Warcraft | 2 | 0 |
Notes
edit- ^ Awarded as Interactive Title of the Year
- ^ Finalists included all nominees for Console Game of the Year and Computer Game of the Year.
- ^ a b c d Awarded as Overall Game of the Year
- ^ includes Half-Life 2: Episode Two as part of The Orange Box.
- ^ includes the original Portal as part of The Orange Box.
References
edit- ^ a b "2014 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards Voting Rules & Procedures". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "1998 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b "2006 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b "2007 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b "2008 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b "2009 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "The Award - Updates". Interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 15, 1998. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "The Award - Winners". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 15, 1998. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "And the Winner is..." GameSpot. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "And the Winners Are..." GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Interactive Achievement Awards - Finalists". interactive.org. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Interactive Achievement Awards - Recipients". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 9, 1999. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Third Interactive Achievement Awards - Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on October 11, 2000. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Game of the year 2001". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 5 December 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Finalists For Interactive Achievement Awards Revealed". Game Developer. Informa. 21 February 2001. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Finalists For The 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on August 11, 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "2001 Academy Awards for Games". IGN. February 7, 2002. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ^ Varianini, Giancarlo (March 4, 2002). "Fifth annual AIAS awards announced". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ^ "6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Colayco, Bob. "2002 AIAS award winners announced". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Announces Finalists for the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (PDF). interactive.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Announces Winners for the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (PDF). interactive.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "AIAS Announces Finalists for Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". GameZone. GameZone. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "7th Annual Interactive Achievement Award Winners Announced". Writers Write. Writers Write, Inc. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Finalists". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 2005-03-02. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Feldman, Curt (February 2, 2005). "Half-Life 2 named Game of the Year D.I.C.E. Awards". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Thorsen, Tor (January 17, 2006). "God of War leads AIAS Award finalists". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "DICE 2006: Interactive Achievement Awards". IGN. 10 February 2006. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Surette, Tim (February 12, 2007). "D.I.C.E. 07: Gears grabs gold". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Thorsen, Tor (February 8, 2008). "COD4, Orange Box, BioShock, Rock Band D.I.C.E. up Interactive Achievement Awards". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (February 23, 2009). "LittleBigPlanet cleans up at the AIAS awards". Eurogamer. Gamer Network Limited. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2010 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Mattas, Jeff (January 21, 2010). "2009 Interactive Achievement Award Finalists Announced". Shacknews. Shacknews LTD. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Brice, Kath (February 19, 2010). "Uncharted 2 victorious at 13th AIAS Awards". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network Limited. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "2011 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Mass Effect 2 Takes 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards' Game of the Year". IGN. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (January 20, 2011). "Red Dead Redemption, Enslaved, God of War lead IAA nominees". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2012 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ Bertz, Matt (February 9, 2012). "Skyrim Dominates The 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Uncharted 3 Leads Nominees For 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". GameRant. gamerant.com. January 13, 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2013 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ Haley, Sebastian (February 7, 2013). "Journey dominates the 2013 D.I.C.E. Awards (full winner list)". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Taormina, Anthony (February 6, 2014). "'The Last of Us' Dominates 2014 D.I.C.E. Awards". GameRant. gamerant.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2015 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ O'Brien, Lucy (6 February 2015). "Dragon Age: Inquisition Wins Game of the Year at DICE Awards 2015". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "2016 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Pereira, Chris (February 19, 2016). "The 2016 DICE Award Winners [UPDATED]". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2017 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Albert, Weston (February 24, 2017). "Overwatch Wins Game of the Year at DICE Awards 2017". GameRant. gamerant.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2018 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Iyer, Karthik (February 23, 2018). "DICE Awards 2018: Here Are All the Games That Won". Beebom. Beebom Media Private Limited. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2019 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ Shanley, Patrick (February 13, 2019). "D.I.C.E. Awards: Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2020 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Shanley, Patrick (April 22, 2021). "2020 DICE Awards: 'Untitled Goose Game' Takes Top Honor". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "2021 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Skrebels, Joe (22 April 2021). "D.I.C.E. Awards 2021: All the Winners". IGN. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "2022 Awards Category Details". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Bankhurst, Adam (25 February 2022). "DICE Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Kim, Matt (12 January 2023). "26th Annual DICE Awards Game of the Year Nominees Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ Bankhurst, Adam (24 February 2023). "DICE Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Congratulations to the 27th Annual #DICEAwards Finalist". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "2024 Awards Category Details Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Bankhurst, Adam (15 February 2024). "DICE Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Winners of 2023's Best Video Games at 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 15 February 2024.