At the 28th annual DICE Awards held on Thursday, Astro Bot stole the spotlight, snagging five awards, including the coveted Game of the Year title. This event, part of the DICE conference in Las Vegas, often mirrors the outcomes of the Game Awards. Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also made waves as the evening’s big successes.
One of the hottest topics leading up to this year’s DICE Awards was the performance of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, especially since it couldn’t compete in the Game Awards due to missing the release deadline. The verdict? Quite impressive! MachineGames’ fresh spin on the legendary archaeologist’s adventures netted several top honors, including Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, and Outstanding Achievement in Character for the iconic Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. These wins hinted that Great Circle might have been a strong contender at the Game Awards had it launched a tad earlier.
Astro Bot’s haul didn’t stop at Game of the Year; it also picked up accolades for animation, technical achievement, game design, and Family Game of the Year. Sharing the spotlight, Helldivers 2, another Sony powerhouse, captured four awards — for music, audio design, Action Game of the Year, and Online Game of the Year. In total, Sony dominated the night by securing nine out of twenty-three awards.
In the indie game corner, Balatro captivated the audience, scooping up three awards: Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year, Mobile Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game. Meanwhile, Animal Well was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.
Unlike the Game Awards, which rely on votes from both game critics and the public, the DICE Awards are granted by the industry-centric Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, akin to the Oscar-giving motion picture Academy. Interestingly enough, DICE often aligns with the Game Awards, agreeing on Game of the Year in eight out of the last eleven instances.
Looking ahead in the gaming award calendar—which interestingly kicks off with the most prestigious and works backward—we have the Game Developers Choice Awards slated for March 19, followed by the BAFTA Games Awards on April 8.
And here’s the complete list of this year’s DICE winners: [List not provided]
