Astro Bot stole the spotlight at the 28th annual DICE Awards on Thursday, scooping up five awards, including the prestigious Game of the Year. This celebrated event, held at the DICE conference in Las Vegas, is a significant moment in the gaming industry, often echoing the results of the Game Awards. Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also emerged as major winners during the event.
This year’s DICE Awards had everyone buzzing about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, particularly because it missed the cutoff for the Game Awards. The anticipation paid off as it snagged Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, and Outstanding Achievement in Character for Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. This acknowledgment suggests that had it been released a tad earlier, it would have given tough competition at the Game Awards as well.
Astro Bot didn’t just stop at Game of the Year; it also picked up accolades for animation, technical achievement, game design, and Family Game of the Year. Meanwhile, its fellow PlayStation title, Helldivers 2, bagged four awards in music, audio design, Action Game of the Year, and Online Game of the Year. This remarkable performance signified a triumphant evening for Sony, which walked away with nine of the 23 awards.
Balatro claimed its place as the standout indie game, walking away with three accomplishments: Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year, Mobile Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game. Animal Well garnered recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.
While the Game Awards see voting by game critics and the public, the DICE Awards, orchestrated by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences—akin to the Oscars’ motion picture academy—are decided by industry peers. Interestingly, their Game of the Year picks have aligned with the Game Awards eight times over the past decade.
As the gaming awards season, which intriguingly starts with the most prestigious accolades, continues, the next major stop is the Game Developers Choice Awards on March 19, followed by the BAFTA Games Awards on April 8.
Here’s the complete rundown of the DICE winners: [Inserts list of winners]
