It’s the start of the new year, meaning that the most prestigious game awards show that actually means something will highlight the best of 2023.

We’re talking about the 27th Annual DICE Awards, which nominates 56 games for their excellence and feats of gaming/design/production/technological prowess. Here’s a quick bullet points lowdown:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has 9 nominations including Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 has 7 nominations, including Game of The Year.
• Alan Wake 2 has 8 nominations, including Game of The Year.
• Cocoon with 6 nominations, including Game of the Year.

All these awards fever is making me want to play Alan Wake 2 and Cocoon, two games I didn’t get to fully play back in 2023 because it’s a really packed year for product. Anyway, the full list of 27th DICE Awards Finalists are below:

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Final Fantasy 16
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Alan Wake 2
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Starfield

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• Alan Wake 2 – Saga Anderson
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – Astarion
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – Karlach
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Miles Morales
• Thirsty Suitors – Jala

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Alan Wake 2
• Diablo IV
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Planet of Lana
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Alan Wake 2
• Cocoon
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Dave the Diver
• Thirsty Suitors
• Venba

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Hogwarts Legacy
• The Finals
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Action Game of the Year

• Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon
• Dead Space
• Hi-Fi RUSH
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Remnant II

Adventure Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Family Game of the Year

• Disney Illusion Island
• Fae Farm
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Midnight Girl
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Fighting Game of the Year

• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6

Racing Game of the Year

• F-Zero 99
• Forza Motorsport
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged
• Lego 2K Drive

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy 16
• Starfield

Sports Game of the Year

• EA Sports FC 24
• MLB The Show 23
• WWE 2K23

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Against the Storm
• Cobalt Core
• Dune: Spice Wars
• The Last Spell
• Wartales

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Vertigo 2
• We Are One

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice
• Vertigo 2

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• Cocoon
• Dredge
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Thirsty Suitors
• Venba

Mobile Game of the Year

• Gubbins
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Honkai: Star Rail
• Terra Nil
• What the Car?

Online Game of the Year

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Diablo IV
• Omega Strikers
• Street Fighter 6
• The Finals

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cocoon
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cocoon
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom