The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences revealed the nominees for the 24th Annual DICE Awards earlier today. The DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) first started in 1998 and they award the best of the video game industry. The academy has nominated 57 games from last year. The Last of Us Part II, 2020’s most divisive title, leads with 11 nominations. Ghost of Tsushima follows with 10. Next is Hades with 8. Tied with 5 is Half-Life: Alyx, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Meggan Scavio, President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, put out the following statement alongside the nominees:

The 24th Annual DICE Awards Nominees

Game of the Year:

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • The Last of Us Part II

Outstanding Achievement in Animation:

  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  • Spiritfarer

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction:

  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Outstanding Achievement in Character

  • Eivor Varinsdottir, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  • Zagreus, Hades
  • Abby, The Last of Us Part II
  • Ellie, The Last of Us Part II
  • Miles Morales, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

  • Carrion
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Little Orpheus
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  • The Pathless

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

  • Dreams
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Outstanding Achievement in Story

  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • The Last of Us Part II

Outstanding Technical Achievement

  • Dreams
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator

Action Game of the Year

  • Doom Eternal
  • Hades
  • Half-Life: Alyx
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Nioh 2

Adventure Game of the Year

  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Family Game of the Year

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Astro’s Playroom
  • Dreams
  • Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Fighting Game of the Year

  • EA Sports UFC 4
  • Granblue Fantasy Versus
  • Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
  • Them’s Fightin’ Herds

Racing Game of the Year

  • Dirt 5
  • F1 2020
  • Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Role-Playing Game of the Year

  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Persona 5 Royal
  • Wasteland 3
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Sports Game of the Year

  • EA Sports FIFA 21
  • MLB The Show 20
  • NBA 2K21
  • PGA Tour 2K21
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

  • Crusader Kings III
  • Desperados III
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator
  • Monster Train
  • Per Aspera

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

  • Half-Life: Alyx
  • Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
  • Museum of Other Realities
  • Paper Beast
  • Tempest

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

  • Down the Rabbit Hole
  • Half-Life: Alyx
  • Paper Beast
  • The Room VR: Dark Matter
  • The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

  • Coffee Talk
  • Hades
  • If Found…
  • Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • Noita

Mobile Game of the Year

  • HoloVista
  • Legends of Runeterra
  • Little Orpheus
  • Song of Bloom
  • South of the Circle

Online Game of the Year

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War
  • Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Tetris Effect: Connected

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • Half-Life: Alyx
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • Half-Life: Alyx
  • Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • The Last of Us Part II