By Sagar V. Mankar  |
| Image – interactive |
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences handed out trophies at the 27th Annual DICE Awards on February 16, 2024.
The star-studded event honored the past year’s best video games across multiple categories.
So which titles came out on top?
Baldur’s Gate 3 Dominates RPG Categories
Larian Studios’ highly anticipated Baldur’s Gate 3 lived up to expectations, winning Game of the Year along with Best Role-Playing Game.
The epic fantasy also earned accolades for its storytelling, direction, and design.
As a testament to the rich characters, it picked up Outstanding Achievement in Character for two of the companions: the brooding vampire Astarion and fierce warrior Karlach.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Excels in Technical Achievements
Insomniac Games swung in with the most DICE Awards wins at seven.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 delivered an emotional story that resonated with players, as evidenced by Miles Morales winning for Outstanding Character.
It also swept the technical categories like Animation, Original Music, and Audio Design.
This polished sequel clearly built successfully on its record-breaking predecessor.
Strong Showings for Alan Wake 2, The Legend of Zelda, and More
Remedy Entertainment plunged players back into the disturbing world of Alan Wake with a stylish sequel that picked up the Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction.
Nintendo transported gamers to the skies above Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, earning Adventure Game of the Year.
EA Sports FC 24 scored the Sports Game award, while Diablo IV claimed Online Game of the Year.
Indie Darlings Recognized
The dark horse winner for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game was the meditative adventure COCOON by Geography of Robots.
This unique title also received nominations for direction and design.
Other indie hits like atmospheric diving game DAVE THE DIVER and cooking visual novel Thirsty Suitors earned nods in multiple categories.
Virtual Reality Still Going Strong
Lastly, immersive VR games continue thriving. Asgard’s Wrath 2 dominated the Immersive Reality categories, with Horizon Call of the Mountain also winning for Technical Achievement.
This technology has come a long way and keeps getting better!
All the category winners and nominees at the 2024 DICE Awards:
Game of the Year
- Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, COCOON
Action Game of the Year
- Winner: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Dead Space, Hi-Fi RUSH, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, Remnant II
Adventure Game of the Year
- Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, COCOON, DAVE THE DIVER, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
RPG of the Year
- Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Nominees: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Diablo IV, Final Fantasy XVI, Starfield
Family Game of the Year
- Winner: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Nominees: Disney Illusion Island, Fae Farm, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Midnight Girl
Fighting Game of the Year
- Winner: Street Fighter 6
- Nominees: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Mortal Kombat 1, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, Pocket Bravery
Racing Game of the Year
- Winner: Forza Motorsport
- Nominees: F-ZERO 99, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged, LEGO 2K Drive
Sports Game of the Year
- Winner: EA SPORTS FC 24
- Nominees: MLB The ShowTM 23, WWE 2K23
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
- Winner: Dune: Spice Wars
- Nominees: Against the Storm, Cobalt Core, The Last Spell, Wartales
Online Game of the Year
- Winner: Diablo IV
- Nominees: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Omega Strikers, Street Fighter 6, THE FINALS
Mobile Game of the Year
- Winner: WHAT THE CAR?
- Nominees: Gubbins, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Honkai: Star Rail, Terra Nil
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
- Winner: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Final Fantasy XVI, Hi-Fi RUSH, Mortal Kombat 1, Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
- Winner: Alan Wake 2
- Nominees: Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Starfield
Outstanding Achievement in Character
- Winner: Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2, Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, Jala in Thirsty Suitors
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
- Winner: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, Diablo IV, Planet of Lana, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
- Winner: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, COCOON, Hi-Fi RUSH, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Outstanding Achievement in Story
- Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, DAVE THE DIVER, Thirsty Suitors, Venba
Outstanding Technical Achievement
- Winner: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Nominees: Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, THE FINALS
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
- Winner: Horizon: Call of the Mountain
- Nominees: Asgard’s Wrath 2, Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, Vertigo 2, We Are One
The 2024 DICE Awards highlighted an impressive lineup of groundbreaking titles across the industry. These winners represent the pinnacle of gaming achievement and innovation.
With such strong contenders this year, I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store!
What was your favorite game that took home a trophy?
Let me know in the comments!