2020 has ended, but we’re not finished celebrating the year’s games. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has announced the nominees for this year’s 24th annual D.I.C.E. Awards, and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II leads the way with 11 total nods, including Game of the Year.
In total, 57 different games received nominations in 2020, but it was The Last of Us Part II that led all others with 11 nominations. In addition to Game of the Year, The Last of Us Part II was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Character (for Abby and Ellie), Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Outstanding Technical Achievement, Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.
Another Sony exclusive, Ghost of Tsushima, follows behind with 10 nominations. Games that received five nominations include Half Life: Alyx, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
The nominees for overall Game of the Year include The Last of Us Part II, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hades, and Ghost of Tsushima.
The DICE Awards are not connected to the Battlefield and Star Wars developer DICE, as the D.I.C.E. from the game awards stands for Design, Innovate, Communicate, and Entertain.
The winners will be announced during the DICE Awards ceremony on April 8. Due to COVID-19, the awards ceremony will take place virtually this year; it’s normally held in-person in Las Vegas.
The Last of Us Part 2 was also named one of GameSpot’s Best Games of 2020. GameSpot’s Game of the Year was Half-Life: Alyx.
You can see the full rundown of nominees below.
Game of the Year
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- The Last of Us Part II
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- The Last of Us Part II
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Spiritfarer
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- The Last of Us Part II
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Outstanding Achievement in Character
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Eivor Varinsdottir)
- Hades (Zagreus)
- The Last of Us Part II (Abby)
- The Last of Us Part II (Ellie)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
- Carrion
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Little Orpheus
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- The Pathless
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
- Dreams
- Ghost of Tsushima
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Outstanding Achievement in Story
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- The Last of Us Part II
Outstanding Technical Achievement
- Dreams
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Mario Kart Live
- The Last of Us Part II
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
Action Game of the Year
- Doom Eternal
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Nioh 2
Adventure Game of the Year
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Family Game of the Year
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Astro’s Playroom
- Dreams
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Fighting Game of the Year
- EA Sports UFC 4
- Granblue Fantasy Versus
- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
- Them’s Fightin’ Herds
Racing Game of the Year
- DIRT 5
- F1 2020
- Mario Kart Live
Role-Playing Game of the Year
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Persona 5 Royal
- Wasteland 3
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Sports Game of the Year
- FIFA 21
- MLB The Show 20
- NBA 2K21
- PGA TOUR 2K21
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
- Crusader Kings III
- Desperadoes III
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Monster Train
- Per Aspera
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Mario Kart Live
- Museum of Other Realities
- Paper Beast
- Tempest
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
- Down the Rabbit Hole
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Paper Beast
- The Room VR: A Dark Matter
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
- Coffee Talk
- Hades
- If Found…
- Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- Noita
Mobile Game of the Year
- HoloVista
- Legends of Runeterra
- Little Orpheus
- Song of Bloom
- South of the Circle
Online Game of the Year
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Tetris Effect: Connected
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- The Last of Us Part II
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- The Last of Us Part II