Image: Push Square

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may be Push Square’s 2023 Game of the Year (as well as our community’s number one, too), but it failed to scoop up any trophies during last month’s Game Awards. However, Geoff Keighley’s glitzy show isn’t the only awards ceremony. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences hosts the DICE Awards early each year, celebrating the best and brightest from the previous 12 months. Nominees for this more industry-leaning ceremony have been announced, and Insomniac’s sequel is included in the most categories of any game.

It’s up for nine awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Art Direction, and Music Composition, as well as Game of the Year. Alan Wake 2 is hot on its heels with eight nominations, and Baldur’s Gate 3 has seven. Other titles up for multiple categories include Cocoon, Hi-Fi Rush, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The awards ceremony itself will take place on 15th February. Here’s the full rundown of nominees:

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

Final Fantasy XVI
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Mortal Kombat 1
Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

Alan Wake 2
Hogwarts Legacy
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Starfield

Outstanding Achievement in Character

Alan Wake 2 – Saga Anderson
Baldur’s Gate 3 – Astarion
Baldur’s Gate 3 – Karlach
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Miles Morales
Thirsty Suitors – Jala

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

Alan Wake 2
Diablo IV
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Planet of Lana
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

Alan Wake 2
Cocoon
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Story

Alan Wake 2
Baldur’s Gate 3
Dave the Diver
Thirsty Suitors
Venba

Outstanding Technical Achievement

Alan Wake 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Hogwarts Legacy
The Finals
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Action Game of the Year

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Dead Space
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Remnant II

Adventure Game of the Year

Alan Wake 2
Cocoon
Dave the Diver
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Family Game of the Year

Disney Illusion Island
Fae Farm
Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Midnight Girl
Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Fighting Game of the Year

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
Mortal Kombat 1
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
Pocket Bravery
Street Fighter 6

Racing Game of the Year

F-Zero 99
Forza Motorsport
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged
LEGO 2K Drive

Role-Playing Game of the Year

Baldur’s Gate 3
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Diablo IV
Final Fantasy XVI
Starfield

Sports Game of the Year

EA Sports FC 24
MLB The Show™ 23
WWE 2K23

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

Against the Storm
Cobalt Core
Dune: Spice Wars
The Last Spell
Wartales

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

Asgard’s Wrath 2
Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
Vertigo 2
We Are One

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

Asgard’s Wrath 2
Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice
Vertigo 2

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

Cocoon
Dredge
El Paso, Elsewhere
Thirsty Suitors
Venba

Mobile Game of the Year

Gubbins
Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Honkai: Star Rail
Terra Nil
What the Car?

Online Game of the Year

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Diablo IV
Omega Strikers
Street Fighter 6
The Finals

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

Baldur’s Gate 3
Cocoon
Dave the Diver
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

Baldur’s Gate 3
Cocoon
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Game of the Year

Alan Wake 2
Baldur’s Gate 3
Cocoon
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

What do you think of all the nominees in the 2024 DICE Awards? Discuss in the comments section below.

[source interactive.org, via ign.com]

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