The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This recognizes "the individual or small group of individuals who are responsible for directing and driving an interactive game and its team through a combination of skills that include vision, management execution, and game design to create a cohesive experience. This award recognizes the role of the creative director and game director - in guiding all elements of a title and shaping the final outcome of a game". 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 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive.
Game Direction and Game of the Year
Since the award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction was first offered at the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, most of the finalists for Game Direction were also finalists for Game of the Year. In addition, most award winners for Game Direction had also won Game of the Year. The winners for Game Direction that did not win Game of the Year were:
Red Dead Redemption Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Inside Control Deathloop Animal Well
The only winners for Game of the Year that were not finalists for Game Direction were:
Dragon Age: Inquisition Overwatch Astro Bot
2025 was the only year when none of the games nominated for Game Direction were finalists for Game of the Year.
Winners and nominees + Table keyIndicates the winner 2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2008 (12th) LittleBigPlanetMedia MoleculeSony Computer EntertainmentFallout 3Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksGears of War 2Epic GamesMicrosoft Game StudiosLeft 4 DeadValve SouthValveMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsKojima ProductionsKonami2009 (13th) Uncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBatman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentBrütal LegendDouble Fine ProductionsElectronic ArtsFlowerThatgamecompanySony Computer Entertainment
2010s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2010 (14th) Red Dead RedemptionRockstar San DiegoRockstar GamesAssassin's Creed: BrotherhoodUbisoft MontrealUbisoftEnslaved: Odyssey to the WestNinja TheoryNamco Bandai GamesLimboPlaydeadPlaydeadMass Effect 2BioWareElectronic Arts2011 (15th) The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksBatman: Arkham CityRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentL.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar GamesPortal 2ValveValveUncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2012 (16th) JourneyThatgamecompanySony Computer EntertainmentDishonoredArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksFar Cry 3Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftThe Unfinished SwanGiant Sparrow, Santa Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentThe Walking DeadTelltale GamesTelltale Games2013 (17th) The Last of UsNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentBrothers: A Tale of Two SonsStarbreeze Studios505 GamesGrand Theft Auto VRockstar NorthRockstar GamesPapers, PleaseLucas Pope3909TearawayMedia MoleculeSony Computer Entertainment2014 (18th) Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentLumino CityState of Play GamesState of Play GamesMonument ValleyustwoustwoNever Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)Upper One GamesE-Line MediaThe Vanishing of Ethan CarterThe AstronautsThe Astronauts2015 (19th) Fallout 4Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksLife Is StrangeDon't Nod Square Enix EuropeRise of the Tomb RaiderCrystal DynamicsUndertaleToby FoxToby FoxThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt RedCD Projekt2016 (20th) InsidePlaydeadPlaydead1979 Revolution: Black FridayiNK StoriesiNK StoriesBattlefield 1DICEElectronic ArtsThe Last GuardianJapan StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentUncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty Dog2017 (21st) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildNintendo EPDNintendoGorogoaJason Roberts, Buried SignalAnnapurna InteractiveHorizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentUncharted: The Lost LegacyNaughty DogWhat Remains of Edith FinchGiant SparrowAnnapurna Interactive2018 (22nd) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentFlorenceMountainsAnnapurna InteractiveMarvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentRed Dead Redemption 2Rockstar GamesRockstar GamesReturn of the Obra DinnLucas Pope39092019 (23rd) ControlRemedy Entertainment505 GamesA Short HikeAdam Robinson-YuAdam Robinson-YuDisco ElysiumZA/UMZA/UMOuter WildsMobius DigitalAnnapurna InteractiveUntitled Goose GameHouse HousePanic Inc.
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) HadesSupergiant GamesSupergiant GamesGhost of TsushimaSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentHalf-Life: AlyxValveValveKentucky Route ZeroCardboard ComputerAnnapurna InteractiveThe Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment2021 (25th) DeathloopArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksInscryptionDaniel Mullins GamesDevolver DigitalIt Takes TwoHazelight StudiosElectronic ArtsRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentThe Artful EscapeBeethoven & DinosaurAnnapurna Interactive2022 (26th) Elden RingFromSoftwareBandai Namco EntertainmentGod of War RagnarökSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentHorizon Forbidden WestGuerrilla GamesImmortalityHalf Mermaid ProductionsHalf Mermaid ProductionsTunicIsometricorps GamesFinji2023 (27th) Baldur's Gate 3Larian StudiosLarian StudiosCocoon Geometric Interactive Annapurna InteractiveMarvel's Spider-Man 2 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive EntertainmentSuper Mario Bros. WonderNintendo EPDNintendoThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom2024 (28th) Animal WellShared MemoryBigmode1000xResistSunset VisitorFellow Traveller GamesLorelei and the Laser Eyes Simogo Annapurna InteractiveRivenCyan WorldsCyan WorldsThank Goodness You're Here!Coal SupperPanic Inc.2025 (29th) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Sandfall InteractiveKepler InteractiveBlue Prince Dogubomb Raw FuryGhost of Yōtei Sucker Punch Productions Sony Interactive EntertainmentHades II Supergiant Games Supergiant GamesKingdom Come: Deliverance IIWarhorse StudiosDeep Silver
Multiple nominations and wins Developers and publishers Sony has published the most nominees and the most winners, and is the only publisher with back-to-back wins. Sony's developer Naughty Dog has developed the most nominees, and is tied with Bethesda Game Studios for developing the most winners. Ubisoft Montreal and Insomniac Games are tied for developing the most nominees without a winner, while Annapurna Interactive has published the most nominees without a winner.
+ Developer Nominations WinsNaughty Dog 6 2Bethesda Game Studios 3 2Nintendo EPD 3 1Santa Monica Studio 3 1Arkane Studios 2 1Media Molecule 2 1Playdead 2 1Supergiant Games 2 1Thatgamecompany 2 1Insomniac Games 3 0Ubisoft Montreal 3 0Giant Sparrow 2 0Guerrilla Games 2 0Lucas Pope 2 0Rocksteady Studios 2 0Sucker Punch Productions 2 0Valve 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsSony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 21 5Bethesda Softworks 5 3Rockstar Games 4 1Nintendo 3 1Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 3 1505 Games 2 1Bandai Namco Entertainment 2 1Supergiant Games 2 1Annapurna Interactive 8 0Electronic Arts 4 0Ubisoft 3 0Valve 3 03909 2 0Panic Inc. 2 0Square Enix Europe 2 0
Franchises Only twelve franchises have been nominated more than once, with none being repeat winners. Uncharted has been the most nominated franchise in this category. + Franchise Nominations WinsUncharted 4 1Fallout 2 1God of War 2 1Hades 2 1The Last of Us 2 1The Legend of Zelda 2 1Red Dead 2 1Assassin's Creed 2 0Batman: Arkham 2 0 Ghost 2 0Horizon 2 0Marvel's Spider-Man 2 0
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