Want to see who’s up for a D.I.C.E award on Thursday?

Having initially launched in 1996, the D.I.C.E Awards have aimed to recognise games for their advancement of the industry, as well as the talented teams behind their construction.

Well we’ve got the list of finalists, so let’s see who’s in the running!

Outstanding Achievement in Animation:

OK, this one has a few interesting titles in the running, including Modern Warfare, Days Gone, Death Stranding and Devil May Cry 5.

Interestingly enough, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is also potentially in the running, showing that art style and execution can compete with high-end graphics if utilised correctly.

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

We’ve got a few favourites in this category, with the likes of Control, Death Stranding and Resident Evil 2 all having done some pretty awe-inspiring things with their art direction. Sony’s Concrete Genie and Modern Warfare are also runners for the award.

Outstanding Achievement in Character

A great selection here, including Sam Porter Bridges and Cliff Unger from Death Stranding, Jesse Faden from Control, Greeze from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and, in a surreal twist, The Goose from Untitled Goose Game.

It’s interesting to see, as the characterisation in The Goose was well-done, but can it stand up to the incredible performances from some of these characters and voice actors?

My money is on Cliff Unger for this one

Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition

I was surprised not to see Death Stranding within this category, but instead we’ve got the likes of Arise: A Simple Story, Control, Erica, Golem and Mortal Kombat 11.

Some odd choices and a difficult result to predict, but my guess would be Arise or Mortal Kombat for this one

Outstanding Achievmenet in Audio Design

Modern Warfare, Death Stranding and Mortal Kombat stand alongside Resident Evil 2 and Sayonara Wild Hearts for this one.

It’s great to see Sayonara Wild Hearts getting some recognition here and we’ll have to see who comes out on top on the night.

Outstanding Achievement in Story

This one will most probably go to Disco Elysium, but there’s still competition, with Control, The Outer Wilds, The Outer Worlds and Telling Lies all vying for the award.

Outstanding Technical Achievement

Modern Warfare, Concrete Genie, Control, Death Stranding and Metro Exodus are all in the running, but I think Control did some fantastic things with it’s environment, potentially giving it the edge in regard to the technical aspects here.

Action Game of the Year

It’s anyone’s game here with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Gears 5, Devil May Cry 5, Control and Modern Warfare all up for the award.

Personally, I’m leaning towards Sekiro here, but I think Gears and Control also have a good chance to win.

Adventure Game of the Year

Death Stranding, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Resident Evil 2, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening are all in the running, but I can see Resident Evil 2 or Fallen Order potentially taking the lead for this one.

Family Game of the Year

I’m not fully versed with all of these titles, but A Short Hike, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Ring Fit Adventure, Super Mario Maker 2 and Yoshi’s Crafted World are all in with a chance for this one.

Personally, I’m thinking it’s going to go to Super Mario Maker 2 or Dragon Quest Builders 2, but I’m unsure.

Fighting Game of the Year

Mortal Kombattttttt!

But seriously, we’re looking at Dead or Alive 6, Jump Force, Mortal Kombat 11 and Samurai Showdown, so it looks like Mortal Kombat 11 will take this one.

Racing Game of the Year

DiRT Rally 2.0, F1 2019 and Trials Rising, as well as the more comical Mario Kart Tour and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled are all up for this one.

Personally, I’m assuming this is going to head to DiRT Rally 2.0, but I’m unsure.

Role-Playing Game of the Year

Pokemon Sword and Shield, Kingdom Hearts III, The Outer Worlds, Disco Elysium and Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers are all up for the award and I’d love to see FFXIV get some recognition here, but I can see it potentially going to Disco Elysium again.

Sports Game of the Year

I don’t really know anything about these, so I’m not going to suggest a winner, but we’ve got FIFA 20, Madden NFL 20, MLB The Show 19, NBA 2k20 and NHL20…

…That’s A LOT of numbers when you see them in quick succession.

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

So Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Anno 1800, Oxygen Not Included, Slay the Spire and Total War: Three Kingdoms are all in with a chance here.

I could see it going to Fire Emblem, but it’s a difficult one to call.

Immersive Reality Technical Advancement

This one is really a mystery to me, but it’s between Asguard’s Wrath, Blood and Truth, Pistol Whip, Stormland and Westworld Awakening.

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

Again, I’m pretty unsure as to what to call here, but we’re looking at either Asguard’s Wrath, Blood and Truth, Pistol Whip, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets or Trover Saves the Universe.

Outstanding Achievement of an Independent Game

I think the clear winner here is either Disco Elysium or Untitled Goose Game, only due to the sheer success of both titles.

The other nominees include A Short Hike, Sayonara Wild Hearts and What The Golf.

Portable Game of the Year

Again, due to sheer success, I think this is going to go to Call of Duty: Mobile, but there’s some really worthy titles here, including GRINDSTONE, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Sky: Children of the Light and What The Golf.

Online Game of the Year

Modern Warfare, Apex Legends, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, TETRIS 99 and Wargroove are all nominees here, but it’s a bit of an odd mixture with quite a few fan favorites not included.

I can see Modern Warfare or Apex potentially taking this one.

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

Baba is You, Disco Elysium, The Older Wilds, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Slay the Spire are all up for this one.

I’d love to see it go to The Outer Wilds, but I can see Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Disco Elysium grabbing this one too.

Outstanding Achievment in Game Direction

A Short Hike, Control, Disco Elysium, The Outer Wilds and Untitled Goose Game are all in with a fair chance for this one.

It’s going to be a close one!

Game of the Year

It’s the big one, folks!

The nominees include Control, Death Stranding, Disco Elysium, The Outer Wilds and Untitled Goose Game.

I’m potentially leaning more towards Death Stranding for this, but I can see it heading Disco Elysium’s way too

I’d be surprised if it went elsewhere, but then again, it’s always up in the air with these events.

So, with all of these nominees potentially up for awards and so many different categories on offer, are you happy with the projects I’ve made, or do you think differently?

Do you think a different title should have been nominated?