Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima, Supergiant’s Hades, and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II dominated the conversation among players in 2020, and all five were in competition for the big prize at this year’s DICE Awards.
The Last of Us Part II lead the way with 11 nominations, but it was Hades that won “Game of the Year” during last night’s ceremony. The well-reviewed roguelike also claimed four other trophies, including “Action Game of the Year,” “Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game,” “Outstanding Achievement in Game Design,” and “Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.”
Though Hades was the big winner, each of the games nominated for “Game of the Year” won something at this year’s DICE Awards.
Ghost of Tsushima sliced its way to victory in four categories, including “Adventure Game of the Year,” “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition,” “Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design,” and “Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction.”
The Last of Us Part II picked up a pair of trophies, including “Outstanding Achievement in Story” and “Outstanding Achievement in Animation.”
And finally, Animal Crossing: New Horizons (“Family Game of the Year”) and Final Fantasy VII Remake (“Role-Playing Game of the Year”) each won a single prize.
A complete list of all winners and nominees from the 2020-2021 DICE Awards can be found after the break, along with a video replay of the ceremony, which was hosted by IGN.
Game of the Year
- WINNER: Hades
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ghost of Tsushima
- The Last of Us Part II
Mobile Game of the Year
- WINNER: Legends of Runeterra
- HoloVista
- Little Orpheus
- Song of Bloom
- South of the Circle
Online Game of the Year
- WINNER: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Tetris Effect: Connected
Action Game of the Year
- WINNER: Hades
- Doom Eternal
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Nioh 2
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Adventure Game of the Year
- WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
- Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
- Kentucky Route Zero
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Family Game of the Year
- WINNER: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Astro’s Playroom
- Dreams
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Fighting Game of the Year
- WINNER: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
- Granblue Fantasy Versus
- Them’s Fightin’ Herds
- UFC 4
Racing Game of the Year
- WINNER: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
- Dirt 5
- F1 2020
Role-Playing Game of the Year
- WINNER: Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Persona 5 Royal
- Wasteland 3
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Sports Game of the Year
- WINNER: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
- FIFA 21
- MLB The Show 20
- NBA 2K21
- PGA Tour 2K21
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
- WINNER: Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Crusader Kings III
- Desperados III
- Monster Train
- Per Aspera
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
- WINNER: Hades
- Coffee Talk
- If Found…
- Kentucky Route Zero
- Noita
Outstanding Achievement in Character
- WINNER: Miles Morales – Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Eivor Varinsdottir – Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
- Zagreus – Hades
- Abby – The Last of Us Part II
- Ellie – The Last of Us Part II
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
- WINNER: Hades
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Half-Life: Alyx
- The Last of Us Part II
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
- WINNER: Hades
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Kentucky Route Zero
- The Last of Us Part II
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
- WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
- Carrion
- Little Orpheus
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- The Pathless
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
- WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
- Dreams
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Outstanding Achievement in Story
- WINNER: The Last of Us Part II
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Kentucky Route Zero
Outstanding Technical Achievement
- WINNER: Dreams
- Ghost of Tsushima
- The Last of Us Part II
- Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
- WINNER: The Last of Us Part II
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Spiritfarer
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
- WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
- WINNER: Half-Life: Alyx
- Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
- Museum of Other Realities
- Paper Beast
- Tempest
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
- WINNER: Half-Life: Alyx
- Down the Rabbit Hole
- Paper Beast
- The Room VR: A Dark Matter
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners