On the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in Las Vegas tonight Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home a powerful five of the awards across 23 categories, including Game of the Yr.
The Sandfall Interactive game has been a critical hit and a stand out at award shows because it was released in April 2025, and the event team was even given the status of Knight under the French Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of its work.
Ghost of Yotei took home three awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Character, while Arc Raiders won Online Game of the Yr. Naughty Dog’s Evan Wells, former president and co-founder on the studio, was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.
“The games recognized at this 12 months’s D.I.C.E. Awards showcase the extraordinary range of talent and creativity that outline our industry,” said Meggan Scavio, President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
“It’s inspiring to see how these developers proceed to raise interactive entertainment through innovation, storytelling, and meaningful player experiences.”
This 12 months the DICE Summit also marked the passing of Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, co-founder of Infinity Ward, and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, who passed in December 2025. Hideo Kojima, Phil Spencer, Todd Howard and others from across the industry spoke about how his work had impacted each the world of video games, and them as people.
DICE Awards 2026 Winners
- Outstanding Achievement in Animation – South of Midnight
- Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Outstanding Achievement in Character – Ghost of Yōtei – Atsu
- Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition – Ghost of Yōtei
- Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Outstanding Achievement in Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Outstanding Technical Achievement – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Motion Game of the Yr – Hades II
- Adventure Game of the Yr – Ghost of Yōtei
- Family Game of the Yr – LEGO® Party!
- Fighting Game of the Yr – Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
- Racing Game of the Yr – Mario Kart World
- Role-Playing Game of the Yr – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Sports Game of the Yr – Rematch
- Strategy/Simulation Game of the Yr – The Alters
- Online Game of the Yr – Arc Raiders
- Immersive Reality Technical Achievement – Hotel Infinity
- Immersive Reality Game of the Yr – Ghost Town
- Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game – Blue Prince
- Mobile Game of the Yr – Persona5: The Phantom X
- Outstanding Achievement in Game Design – Blue Prince
- Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Game of the Yr – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She’s been knowledgeable nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine within the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.