Game of the Year Crowned! Clair Obscur Shocks D.I.C.E Awards

The 29th annual D.I.C.E Awards, organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, concluded on February 12 and delivered one of the most decisive victories the ceremony has seen in years. Standing above an already competitive lineup of 2025 releases, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home Game of the Year along with four additional awards from a total of seven nominations.

Unlike popularity-driven award shows, the D.I.C.E Awards are voted on by over 30,000 professionals actively working in the game industry, including designers, programmers, artists, writers, and audio specialists. That peer-driven recognition makes Clair Obscur’s sweeping success particularly meaningful, as it reflects admiration from creators who understand the craft at its deepest level.

In total, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secured five major awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Role-Playing Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, and the coveted Game of the Year. The wins underline how the game managed to excel across narrative design, visual identity, direction, and overall experience rather than dominating in only a single discipline.

Other standout titles also had strong showings. Sucker Punch Productions earned three awards for Ghost of Yōtei, particularly in music, character, and adventure categories, while Kojima Productions saw Death Stranding 2: On the Beach recognized for its technical and audio achievements. On the indie front, Hades II claimed Action Game of the Year, while Blue Prince earned accolades for both independent achievement and game design.

Beyond individual games, the ceremony also honored industry leadership. Evan Wells, former co-president of Naughty Dog, was inducted into the D.I.C.E Hall of Fame. The award was presented by longtime collaborator Neil Druckmann, recognizing Wells’ lasting influence on globally acclaimed franchises such as Uncharted and The Last of Us and his role in shaping one of the most respected studios in modern gaming.

Taken as a whole, the 29th D.I.C.E Awards felt like a celebration of creative ambition and craftsmanship. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s decisive victory signals not just commercial or critical success, but a moment where bold artistic direction and thoughtful RPG design aligned perfectly with industry respect. For many players and developers alike, its Game of the Year win feels less like a surprise and more like a confirmation of something already clear.

The full results can be read as follows:

29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards

References:
interactive.org (winners)interactive.org (hall of fame)