The 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards dazzled the gaming world on February 15, 2024, as the industry’s finest converged at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by the esteemed Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), this event celebrates the pinnacle of gaming excellence, recognizing the industry innovators who push the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
Among the night’s standout titles, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 emerged as a true champion, securing six wins, including the coveted ‘Action Game of the Year’, solidifying its status as a beloved franchise in the gaming landscape.
Insomniac Games, the masterminds behind the web-slinging adventure, swept the ceremony with wins for Technical Achievement, Audio Design, Best Character, Achievement in Animation, and Original Music Composition.
Larian Studios left a lasting impression with Baldur’s Gate 3, securing five awards including the prestigious ‘Game of the Year’ award. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom earned the title ‘Adventure Game of the Year’, adding another jewel to the crown of one of gaming’s most iconic series.
The ceremony offered a special tribute to the Japanese music composer and pianist Koji Kondo, who has served as Nintendo’s sound director since 1984. Renowned for his illustrious career, Kondo contributed to iconic titles like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox, earning him a well-deserved spot in the AIAS Hall of Fame. His compositions, including the nostalgic Super Mario Bros. Overworld theme, are celebrated as some of the most memorable in video game history.
“Koji Kondo’s musical work is timeless and impactful, spanning multiple generations of fans across the world,” said Meggan Scavio, President of the AIAS. “For over 39 years, he has delighted all of us in the industry with sounds and songs that are recognized by so many fans and became a pop culture phenomenon. We are honoured to be able to induct Kondo-san into the Hall of Fame.”
See the complete list of winners from the 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards below.
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Alan Wake 2
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Miles Morales
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Baldur’s Gate 3
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Action Game of the Year
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Adventure Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Family Game of the Year
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Fighting Game of the Year
Street Fighter 6
Racing Game of the Year
Forza Motorsport
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Baldur’s Gate 3
Sports Game of the Year
MLB® The Show™ 23
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Dune: Spice Wars
Online Game of the Year
Diablo IV
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Asgard’s Wrath 2
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
COCOON
Mobile Game of the Year
WHAT THE CAR?
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Baldur’s Gate 3
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Baldur’s Gate 3
Game of the Year
Baldur’s Gate 3
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), founded by Andrew S. Zucker in 1991, is a non-profit organization comprising video game industry professionals, committed to advancing and recognizing the interactive arts. AIAS annually convenes the Design Innovate Communicate Entertain (D.I.C.E.) summit in Las Vegas, uniting global leaders in design, development, and business, and presents the esteemed D.I.C.E. Awards to honour industry trailblazers.
The D.I.C.E. Summit brings together game makers to discuss and showcase game-changing ideas, technologies, and collaborations that have shaped the past and present and how we will continue to drive the future of interactive entertainment. This year’s conference theme is “Game Changers”, which explores how human creativity, innovation, and cutting-edge technological advancements drive immersive and engaging experiences, pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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