At the DICE Awards 2026, Clair Obscur was honored with the Game of the Year title

Image credit: Sandfall Interactive

The DICE Awards celebrated its 29th edition by awarding "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" the top honor of Game of the Year. The title from Sandfall Interactive amassed five accolades in total, also securing wins for Role-Playing Game of the Year and recognizing its excellence in Art Direction, Story, and Game Direction.

Another standout was "Ghost of Yōtei" by Sucker Punch Productions, claiming four awards, notably for Adventure Game of the Year and in the categories of Art Direction and Character, honoring Erika Ishii for her portrayal of Atsu.

"Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" by Kojima Productions earned two honors for its Audio Design and Technical Achievement. Meanwhile, the indie game "Blue Prince" received praise for Independent Game and Game Design achievement.

"Arc Raiders" triumphed as the Online Game of the Year, with "Hades 2" earning the title of Action Game of the Year. Evan Wells, former co-president of Naughty Dog, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences amid the event.

According to AIAS president Meggan Scavio, the selection of winners at the DICE Awards highlighted the vast talent and innovation the gaming industry is known for. She remarked on the remarkable creativity and storytelling that enhance player experiences.

The awards event took place during the 2026 DICE Summit, also featuring a tribute to Vince Zampella, co-founder of Respawn and a key figure in the "Call of Duty" franchise.

The complete list of winners includes:

Game of the year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Action game of the year: Hades 2 (Supergiant Games)
Adventure game of the year: Ghost of Yōtei (Suckerpunch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Family game of the year: Lego Party (SMG Studio/Fictions)
Fighting game of the year: Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse/Atari)
Racing game of the year: Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
Role-playing game of the year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sports game of the year: Rematch (Sloclap/Kepler Interactive)
Strategy/simulation game of the year: The Alters (11 Bit Studios)
Online game of the year: Arc Raiders (Embark Studios/Nexon)
Immersive reality game of the year: Ghost Town (Fireproof Studios)
Mobile game of the year: Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio/Sega)
Outstanding achievement in animation: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games)
Outstanding achievement in art direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding achievement in character: Atsu (Ghost of Yōtei, Erika Ishii)
Outstanding achievement in original music composition: Ghost of Yōtei
Outstanding achievement in audio design: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Outstanding achievement in story: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Outstanding technical achievement: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Outstanding achievement for an independent game: Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
Outstanding achievement in game design: Blue Prince
Outstanding achievement in game direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Immersive reality technical achievement: Hotel Infinity (Studio Chyr)