DICE Awards 2026: Complete Winners List Led by Clair Obscur's Five-Award Haul
- Sagar Mankar
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the big winner at the 29th Annual DICE Awards held by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in Las Vegas, taking home 5 awards, including the coveted Game of the Year.
The Sandfall Interactive title has been enjoying remarkable success since its April 2025 release. The game has sold an impressive 5 million copies and later set records at The Game Awards for most award wins.
The achievement was so significant that the French government honored the entire development team with Knight status, recognizing their contribution to the gaming industry.
At the DICE Awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earned 8 nominations and took home awards for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Role-Playing Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, along with the coveted Game of the Year title.
Ghost of Yotei also had a strong showing at the awards, collecting 3 trophies, including Outstanding Achievement in Character for Atsu and Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition. Meanwhile, Arc Raiders claimed the Online Game of the Year award.
The ceremony also served as a moment to celebrate industry veterans. Evan Wells, former president and co-founder of Naughty Dog, was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.
DICE Summit paid tribute to Vince Zampella, who tragically passed away in December 2025 in a car accident. As the co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise and co-founder of both Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, he made a lasting impact on the gaming industry. Notable figures like Hideo Kojima, Phil Spencer, and Todd Howard shared touching memories and tributes.
The competition was fierce this year, with 65 games nominated across 23 categories. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yotei led the pack with 8 nominations each.
Here's the complete list of winners across all categories:
Animation and Visual Categories
Outstanding Achievement in Animation: South of Midnight
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding Achievement in Character: Ghost of Yōtei (Atsu)
Audio Categories
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Ghost of Yōtei
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Technical and Design Categories
Outstanding Technical Achievement: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Blue Prince
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Genre Awards
Action Game of the Year: Hades II
Adventure Game of the Year: Ghost of Yōtei
Family Game of the Year: LEGO Party!
Fighting Game of the Year: Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Racing Game of the Year: Mario Kart World
Role-Playing Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sports Game of the Year: Rematch
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: The Alters
Online Game of the Year: Arc Raiders
Special Categories
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement: Hotel Infinity
Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Ghost Town
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: Blue Prince
Mobile Game of the Year: Persona5: The Phantom X
Outstanding Achievement in Story: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Top Honor
Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Academy President Meggan Scavio reflected on the quality of this year's winners, stating:
"The games recognized at this year's D.I.C.E. Awards showcase the extraordinary range of talent and creativity that define our industry. It's inspiring to see how these developers continue to elevate interactive entertainment through innovation, storytelling, and meaningful player experiences."