Games 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' and 'Ghost of Yōtei' Get Most Award Spots

The DICE Awards have announced their nominees for 2026. The games 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' and 'Ghost of Yōtei' are leading with eight chances to win awards. These awards celebrate the best video games.
By Newsroom | Video Games, Awards |

The 29th annual D.I.C.E. Awards are set to honor achievements in interactive entertainment, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerging as a prominent contender. The nominations, revealed in early January 2026, place Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei at the forefront, each securing eight nominations across various categories. This significant recognition underscores the innovative artistry and technical prowess evident in these titles. The event promises to showcase the breadth of creativity within the video game industry, highlighting both established franchises and groundbreaking new works.

Background of the DICE Awards

The D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS). These awards recognize excellence in video game development. The 29th iteration of the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in 2026, with the venue confirmed as the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This event serves as a key platform for acknowledging the industry's most impactful contributions in areas such as game design, direction, art, animation, music, audio, story, and technical achievement. The nominations reflect a wide spectrum of games, from large-scale productions to independent creations, across numerous genres.

Key Nominees and Categories

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei stand out with eight nominations each. These nominations span prestigious categories including Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, and Outstanding Achievement in Story.

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  • Game of the Year Nominees: The contenders for the top honor include Arc Raiders, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, and Ghost of Yōtei.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Both Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II received nominations in this category.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, and The Midnight Walk are recognized for their animated achievements.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and The Midnight Walk are among the nominees.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Character: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Esquie and Maelle), Dispatch (Courtney/Invisigal and Robert Robertson III/Mecha Man), and Ghost of Yōtei (Atsu) are nominated.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Mario Kart World, and Sword of the Sea are recognized.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a nominee.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Story: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and South of Midnight are contenders.

  • Outstanding Technical Achievement: Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, and DOOM: The Dark Ages are nominated.

Several other categories highlight diverse achievements:

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DICE Awards 2026 Winners: The Full List - 1

  • Action Game of the Year: DOOM: The Dark Ages

  • Adventure Game of the Year: Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong

  • Family Game of the Year: MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

  • Fighting Game of the Year: Capcom Fighting Collection 2, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

  • Racing Game of the Year: EA SPORTS F1 25, Mario Kart World

  • Role-Playing Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds, The Outer Worlds 2

  • Sports Game of the Year: EA SPORTS FC 26, MLB The Show 25

  • Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Europa Universalis V, The King is Watching

  • Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Marvel’s Deadpool VR, Star Wars: Beyond Victory – A Mixed Reality Playset

  • Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked, Marvel’s Deadpool VR, The Midnight Walk, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow

  • Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yōtei, Dispatch, Arc Raiders, and Blue Prince are among the highly nominated games.

  • Mobile Game of the Year: Persona 5: The Phantom X, Umamusume: Pretty Derby, What The Clash?

Previous Year's Victors

At the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Astro Bot from Team ASOBI was a significant winner, securing five awards including Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Technical Achievement, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design. Solo developer LocalThunk also achieved notable success with three awards for Balatro, including Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game, and Mobile Game of the Year.

The sheer number of nominations for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 suggests a strong reception from the AIAS peer panel and board. Its prevalence across both major categories like Game of the Year and technical or artistic fields indicates a comprehensive development effort. The repeated presence of titles such as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach across multiple creative and technical categories hints at its ambition and scope. Similarly, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II's nominations in both Game Direction and Game Design point to its impact in core gameplay and narrative execution.

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The distribution of nominations also reflects an industry that continues to innovate in immersive technologies, as seen with the multiple nods in Immersive Reality categories. Furthermore, the acknowledgment of independent developers alongside major studios underscores the AIAS's commitment to recognizing a broad spectrum of talent and creativity within the interactive arts. The clustering of nominations for certain games, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei, suggests a consensus among evaluators regarding their exceptional quality and impact during the eligibility period.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The 29th D.I.C.E. Awards nominations highlight Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a leading candidate for multiple accolades, sharing the spotlight with other highly recognized titles like Ghost of Yōtei. The breadth of categories in which these games are nominated underscores their multifaceted achievements in design, narrative, artistry, and technical execution. As the industry anticipates the awards ceremony, these nominations serve as a clear indicator of the games that have most significantly shaped the interactive entertainment landscape in the past year. The AIAS continues its tradition of celebrating the diverse talents and groundbreaking innovations that define the medium.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the DICE Awards?
The DICE Awards are prizes given each year to the best video games. They are given by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
Q: Which games got the most nominations?
The games 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' and 'Ghost of Yōtei' got the most nominations. Each game has eight chances to win.
Q: When and where will the awards be?
The awards will be in 2026 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Q: What kind of awards are given?
Awards are given for things like best game, best art, best story, and best technical work.