Right behind Ratchet & Clank and its nine nominations is Deathloop with eight (Deathloop led nominations at last year’s Game Awards). Ratchet & Clank was also revealed this week to be one of the PlayStation 5’s most downloaded games in North America in 2021. Inscryption and It Takes Two tied for third with six nominations each (It Takes Two won game of the year at the Game Awards). Returnal got five nominations, while Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Resident Evil Village tied for fifth with four each.
Hades took away game of the year at last year’s DICE awards along with five other categories. Other games that won multiple categories last year include The Last of Us II, Ghost of Tsushima, and Half-Life: Alyx. Here is the full list of nominees: Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Call of Duty: Vanguard Deathloop Kena: Bridge of Spirits Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Call of Duty: Vanguard Deathloop Kena: Bridge of Spirits Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Deathloop - Colt Vahn Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Kena Life is Strange: True Colors - Alex Chen Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Rivet Resident Evil Village - Lady Dimitrescu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Deathloop It Takes Two Kena: Bridge of Spirits Psychonauts 2 Returnal
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Forza Horizon 5 Halo Infinite It Takes Two Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Returnal
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Before Your Eyes Inscryption MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy Psychonauts 2 The Forgotten City
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Battlefield™ 2042 Forza Horizon 5 Moncage Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Returnal
Action Game of the Year
Deathloop Halo Infinite Metroid Dread Returnal The Ascent
Adventure Game of the Year
Death’s Door It Takes Two MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy Psychonauts 2 Resident Evil Village
Family Game of the Year
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise Cozy Grove Mario Party Superstars Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Warioware: Get it Together
Fighting Game of the Year
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Melty Blood: Type Lumina Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Racing Game of the Year
F1 2021 Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Unleashed
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Shin Megami Tensei V Tales of Arise Wildermyth
Sports Game of the Year
EA SPORTS FIFA 22 Mario Golf: Super Rush NBA 2k22 Riders Republic The Climb 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Age of Empires IV Gloomhaven Griftlands Inscryption Loop Hero
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Lone Echo II Puzzling Places Resident Evil 4 VR Song in the Smoke YUKI
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Demeo I Expect You To Die 2 Lone Echo II Resident Evil 4 VR Song in the Smoke
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Death’s Door Inscryption Loop Hero Sable Unpacking
Mobile Game of the Year
Behind the Frame Fantasian League of Legends: Wild Rift Moncage Pokémon UNITE
Online Game of the Year
Back 4 Blood Call of Duty: Vanguard Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Halo Infinite Knockout City
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Deathloop Inscryption It Takes Two Loop Hero Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Deathloop Inscryption It Takes Two Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart The Artful Escape
Game of the Year
Deathloop Inscryption It Takes Two Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Returnal
As always, AIAS media partner IGN will stream the awards at the 25th annual DICE summit on February 24.
