The champions’ ballad continues
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took home four more awards last night during the 21st annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Nintendo’s open-air adventure was the big winner overall, claiming the coveted Game of the Year title along with Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, and Adventure Game of the Year. This game must have quite the trophy room.
The next-most-awarded game is a bit more unexpected. Cuphead won three awards — one for Art Direction, Animation, and Original Music Composition. I find that surprising not because it’s undeserved — I adore Cuphead! — but because Horizon Zero Dawn had more nominations than anything else.
Here’s the full rundown:
Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Lone Echo/Echo Arena
- Publisher: Oculus Studios
- Developer: Ready At Dawn
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Lone Echo/Echo Arena
- Publisher: Oculus Studios
- Developer: Ready At Dawn
Mobile Game of the Year
Fire Emblem Heroes
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS and Nintendo
Handheld Game of the Year
Metroid: Samus Returns
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: MercurySteam and Nintendo
D.I.C.E. Sprite Award
Snipperclips
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: SFB Games
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Publisher: Bluehole
- Developer: PUBG Corporation
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
- Developer: Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Paris
Sports Game of the Year
FIFA 18
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: Electronic Arts
Role-Playing Game of the Year
NieR: Automata
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: PlatinumGames
Racing Game of the Year
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Fighting Game of the Year
Injustice 2
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Family Game of the Year
Snipperclips
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: SFB Games
Adventure Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Action Game of the Year
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Publisher: Bluehole
- Developer: PUBG Corporation
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Super Mario Odyssey
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Cuphead
- Publisher: StudioMDHR
- Developer: StudioMDHR
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Senua
- Publisher: Ninja Theory
- Developer: Ninja Theory
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Cuphead
- Publisher: StudioMDHR
- Developer: StudioMDHR
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Cuphead
- Publisher: StudioMDHR
- Developer: StudioMDHR
For a look at what the winners were up against, head over here to see all the nominees.
Also, shout-out to localization manager Nate “Nintendo Guy” Bihldorff for giving all those speeches.
