The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award is "presented to the title that most effectively combines interactive and non-interactive elements to create a cohesive gameplay experience. Outstanding design is exemplified by balanced system design, cohesive mechanics that relate to overall aesthetic direction, level layout, challenge flow, progression elements, interface design, and social game mechanics. This award recognizes the Lead Designer or Design Director in architecting all elements into a unified design". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as a game designer or producer are qualified to vote for this award.
The award's most recent winner is Blue Prince, developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury.
History It was originally presented as Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design; it was later renamed Outstanding Achievement in Game Design at the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. A separate award category was offered at the 2010 awards ceremony for Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design, presented to the title that makes "the most compelling contribution to the unique opportunities and challenges of portable, mobile and networked game play". This award would not be presented at the ceremonies between 2011 and 2014; however, the category would be offered again in 2015, and had been offered every year since. Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design (1998-1999) Outstanding Achievement in Game Design (2000-2010, 2015-present) Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design (2010)
Game Design and Game of the Year
More than half of the finalists for the Game Design category were also finalists for Game of the Year. However, only ten winners for Game Design ended up winning Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time The Sims Overwatch The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild God of War (2018) Hades It Takes Two Elden Ring Baldur's Gate 3 Astro Bot
The winners for Game Design that were not finalists for Game of the Year were: Grand Theft Auto III World of Goo Baba Is You
The Game of the Year winners that were not finalists for Game Design (excluding winners during years when the Game Design category was not offered) were: Diablo II Call of Duty Gears of War LittleBigPlanet Dragon Age: Inquisition Untitled Goose Game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2001 and 2008 were the only years that all finalists for Game Design were finalists for Game of the Year.
In 2009, the PlayStation Portable release of LittleBigPlanet and Scribblenauts were finalists for Portable Game of the Year in addition to Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design; Scribblenauts would be the winner for both awards.
Two virtual reality games were nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: I Expect You to Die and Half-Life: Alyx.
Winners and nominees 1990s + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)1997/1998 (1st) PaRappa the RapperNanaOn-ShaSony Computer EntertainmentDungeon KeeperBullfrog ProductionsElectronic ArtsFinal Fantasy VIISquareSoftSony Computer EntertainmentGoldenEye 007RareNintendo1998/1999 (2nd) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeNintendo EADNintendoHalf-LifeValveSierra On-LineMetal Gear SolidKonamiKonamiPokémon Red and BlueGame FreakNintendoSid Meier's Alpha CentauriFiraxis GamesElectronic Arts1999/2000 (3rd) The SimsMaxisElectronic ArtsAge of Empires II: The Age of KingsEnsemble StudiosMicrosoft GamesGran Turismo 2Polyphony DigitalSony Computer EntertainmentNoxWestwood StudiosWestwood Studios, Electronic ArtsSyphon FilterEidetic989 Studios
2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2000 (4th) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskNintendo EADNintendoJet Grind RadioSmilebitSegaRayman 2: The Great EscapeUbi PicturesUbisoftShenmueSega AM2SegaTony Hawk's Pro Skater 2NeversoftActivision2001 (5th) Grand Theft Auto IIIDMA DesignRockstar GamesDark Age of CamelotMythic EntertainmentVivendi Universal GamesHalo: Combat EvolvedBungieMicrosoft Game StudiosIcoJapan StudioSony Computer EntertainmentJak & Daxter: The Precursor LegacyNaughty DogPikminNintendo EADNintendo2002 (6th) Animal CrossingNintendo EADNintendoBattlefield 1942DICEElectronic ArtsMetroid PrimeRetro StudiosNintendoNeverwinter NightsBioWareInfogramesWarcraft III: Reign of ChaosBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment2003 (7th) Prince of Persia: The Sands of TimeUbisoft MontrealUbisoftAmplitudeHarmonixSony Computer EntertainmentStar Wars: Knights of the Old RepublicBioWareLucasArtsThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerNintendo EADNintendoTony Hawk's UndergroundNeversoftActivision2004 (8th) Katamari DamacyNamcoNamcoCity of HeroesCryptic StudiosNCSoftFableLionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasRockstar NorthRockstar GamesHalf-Life 2ValveVivendi Universal Games2005 (9th) Guitar HeroHarmonixRedOctaneGod of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentKing KongUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftNintendogsNintendo EADNintendoPsychonautsDouble Fine ProductionsMajesco2006 (10th) Wii SportsNintendo EADNintendoBrain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!Nintendo SPDNintendoCompany of HeroesRelic EntertainmentTHQThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionBethesda Game Studios2K GamesThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessNintendo EADNintendo2007 (11th) PortalValveValveBioShock2K Boston, 2K Australia2K GamesCall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionRock BandHarmonixMTV GamesSuper Mario GalaxyNintendo EADNintendo2008 (12th) World of Goo2D Boy2D Boy, NintendoFable IILionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosFallout 3Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksGears of War 2Epic GamesMicrosoft Game StudiosLeft 4 DeadValve SouthValve2009 (13th) Outstanding Achievement in Game DesignBatman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity WardActivisionMario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryAlphaDreamNintendoPlants vs. ZombiesPopCap GamesPopCap GamesUncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game DesignScribblenauts5th CellWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentHenry Hatsworth in the Puzzling AdventureEA TiburonElectronic ArtsLittleBigPlanetCambridge StudioSony Computer EntertainmentLocoRoco 2Japan StudioPatapon 2
2010s The Outstanding Achievement in Game Design category was not offered at the awards ceremonies from 2011 to 2014. YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2014 (18th) Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentDungeon of the EndlessAmplitude StudiosAmplitude StudiosFar Cry 4Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftHearthstone: Heroes of WarcraftBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentTitanfallRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts2015 (19th) The Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt RedCD ProjektFallout 4Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksHer StorySam BarlowSam BarlowLara Croft GoSquare Enix MontrealSquare Enix EuropeMassive ChaliceDouble Fine ProductionsDouble Fine Productions2016 (20th) OverwatchBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentI Expect You to DieSchell GamesSchell GamesInsidePlaydeadPlaydeadOwlboyD-Pad StudioD-Pad StudioUncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment2017 (21st) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildNintendo EPDNintendoGorogoaJason RobertsAnnapurna InteractiveHorizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentPlayerUnknown's BattlegroundsPUBG CorporationBlueholeSuper Mario OdysseyNintendo EPDNintendo2018 (22nd) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentInto the BreachSubset GamesSubset GamesMarvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentReturn of the Obra DinnLucas Pope3909SubnauticaUnknown Worlds EntertainmentUnknown Worlds Entertainment2019 (23rd) Baba Is YouHempuliHempuliDisco ElysiumZA/UMZA/UMOuter WildsMobius DigitalAnnapurna InteractiveSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceFromSoftwareActivisionSlay the SpireMegaCritHumble Bundle
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) HadesSupergiant GamesSupergiant GamesGhost of TsushimaSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentHalf-Life: AlyxValveValveThe Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesInsomniac Games2021 (25th) It Takes TwoHazelight StudiosElectronic ArtsDeathloopArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksInscryptionDaniel Mullins GamesDevolver DigitalLoop HeroFour QuartersRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment2022 (26th) Elden RingFromSoftwareBandai Namco EntertainmentGod of War RagnarökSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentMarvel SnapSecond DinnerNuverseTunicIsometricorps GamesFinjiVampire Survivorsponcleponcle2023 (27th) Baldur's Gate 3Larian StudiosLarian StudiosCocoonGeometric InteractiveAnnapurna InteractiveDave the DiverMintrocketMintrocketSuper Mario Bros. WonderNintendo EPDNintendoThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom2024 (28th) Astro BotTeam AsobiSony Interactive EntertainmentAnimal Well Shared Memory BigmodeBalatroLocalThunkPlayStackHelldivers 2Arrowhead Game StudiosSony Interactive EntertainmentUFO 50MossmouthMossmouth2025 (29th) Blue PrinceDogubombRaw FuryARC RaidersEmbark StudiosEmbark StudiosHades II Supergiant Games Supergiant GamesKingdom Come: Deliverance IIWarhorse StudiosDeep SilverÖoo Nama TakahashiNama Takahashi
Multiple nominations and wins Developers and publishers Nintendo is the most nominated developer in this category, and the only developer to have won more than once; Nintendo has also published the most winners, with Sony publishing the most nominees. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has published both winners in 2010 for Game Design and Portable Game Design. In addition, Warner Bros. technically has published back-to-back winners, but the 4-year gap has existed in which the award has not been offered between wins.
+ Developer Nominations WinsNintendo EAD/SPD/EPD 14 5Valve 4 1Blizzard Entertainment 3 1Harmonix 3 1Santa Monica Studio 3 1FromSoftware 2 1DMA Design/Rockstar North 2 1Supergiant Games 2 1Ubisoft Montreal 2 1Naughty Dog 4 0Bethesda Game Studios 3 0Japan Studio 3 0Insomniac Games 3 0BioWare 2 0Double Fine Productions 2 0Infinity Ward 2 0Lionhead Studios 2 0Neversoft 2 0Ubi Pictures/Ubisoft Montpellier 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsNintendo 19 6Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 22 3Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 3 3Electronic Arts 8 2Namco/Bandai Namco Entertainment 2 2Ubisoft 4 1Valve 4 1Rockstar Games 2 1Supergiant Games 2 1 Activision 5 0Microsoft Game Studios 5 0Annapurna Interactive 3 0Bethesda Softworks 3 02K Games 2 0Devolver Digital 2 0Sega 2 0Vivendi Universal Games 2 0
Franchises The Legend of Zelda is the most nominated franchise in this category, and is the only franchise to have won more than once. + Franchises Nominations WinsThe Legend of Zelda 6 3God of War 3 1Grand Theft Auto 2 1Hades 2 1 Mario 4 0Half-Life 3 0Marvel 3 0Call of Duty 2 0Fable 2 0Fallout 2 0Marvel's Spider-Man 2 0Tony Hawk's 2 0Uncharted 2 0Warcraft 2 0
Notes
References