The 25th Annual D.I.C.E Awards 2022 saw plenty of beloved games in its nominee pool for 23 categories, but It Takes Two took home the ultimate title for Game of the Year. Since 1996, the D.I.C.E Awards, arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS), have recognized games, individuals and development teams that have made significant contributions to the entertainment software industry. 

It Takes Two won the top prize for Game of the Year, as well as Outstanding Achievement in Game Design. With 9 nominations total, Ratchet & Clank: Drift Apart took home Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Technical Achievement and Family Game of the Year. Halo Infinite, Lone Echo II, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and Returnal all also won more than one award. 

In addition to the 23 award categories, the show honored the 2022 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee and the Lifetime Achievement Award. NetherRealm Studios’ Ed Boon was honored as the 2022 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee for what president of the AIAS, Megan Scavio says about “Ed’s dedication and perseverance to the craft and art of games has left an incredible legacy for fans and game developers alike.”

Microsoft’s Phil Spencer was granted the Lifetime Achievement Award for changing the landscape of gaming for all. This has only been given out 7 times in the past and “Phil Spencer has demonstrated both passion and leadership throughout his entire career at Microsoft. He’s responsible for countless impactful and pivotal initiatives that have reverberated throughout the entire gaming industry,” said Scavio. 

IGN served as the show’s official media partner, as well as previous IGN affiliates Jessica Chobot (Discovery’s ExpeditionX) and Greg Miller (Kinda Funny) co-hosted for the sixth year in a row.

Below are the nominees as well as the winners of this year’s awards. 

Game of the Year

• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two – WINNER
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Deathloop
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – WINNER
• Resident Evil Village

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Deathloop
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – WINNER
• Resident Evil Village

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• Deathloop – Colt Vahn
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Kena
• Life is Strange: True Colors – Alex Chen
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Rivet
• Resident Evil Village – Lady Dimitrescu – WINNER

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Deathloop
• It Takes Two
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits
• Psychonauts 2
• Returnal – WINNER

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Forza Horizon 5
• Halo Infinite
• It Takes Two
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal – WINNER

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Before Your Eyes
• Inscryption
• Guardians of the Galaxy – WINNER
• Psychonauts 2
• The Forgotten City

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Battlefield 2042
• Forza Horizon 5
• Moncage
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – WINNER
• Returnal

Action Game of the Year

• Deathloop
• Halo Infinite – WINNER
• Metroid Dread
• Returnal
• The Ascent

Adventure Game of the Year

• Death’s Door
• It Takes Two
• Guardians of the Galaxy – WINNER
• Psychonauts 2
• Resident Evil Village

Family Game of the Year

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise
• Cozy Grove
• Mario Party Superstars
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – WINNER
• Warioware: Get it Together

Fighting Game of the Year

• Guilty Gear Strive – WINNER
• Melty Blood: Type Lumina
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

Racing Game of the Year

• F1 2021
• Forza Horizon 5 – WINNER
• Hot Wheels Unleashed

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker – WINNER
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
• Shin Megami Tensei V
• Tales of Arise
• Wildermyth

Sports Game of the Year

• FIFA 22
• Mario Golf: Super Rush – WINNER
• NBA 2k22
• Riders Republic
• The Climb 2

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Age of Empires IV – WINNER
• Gloomhaven
• Griftlands
• Inscryption
• Loop Hero

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Lone Echo II – WINNER
• Puzzling Places
• Resident Evil 4 VR
• Song in the Smoke
• Yuki

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Demeo
• I Expect You To Die 2
• Lone Echo II – WINNER
• Resident Evil 4 VR
• Song in the Smoke

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• Death’s Door
• Inscryption
• Loop Hero
• Sable
• Unpacking – WINNER

Mobile Game of the Year

• Behind the Frame
• Fantasian
• League of Legends: Wild Rift
• Moncage
• Pokémon Unite – WINNER

Online Game of the Year

• Back 4 Blood
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
• Halo Infinite – WINNER
• Knockout City

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two – WINNER
• Loop Hero
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Deathloop – WINNER
• Inscryption
• It Takes Two
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• The Artful Escape