# D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

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 Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

## 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 were not offered) were:
* Diablo II
* Call of Duty
* Gears of War
* LittleBigPlanet
* Dragon Age: Inquisition
* Untitled Goose Game
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. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design while also nominated for "Portable Game of the Year".
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 key :
* Indicates the winner
| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | PaRappa the Rapper | NanaOn-Sha | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Dungeon Keeper | Bullfrog Productions | Electronic Arts |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Final Fantasy VII | SquareSoft | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | GoldenEye 007 | Rare | Nintendo |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Half-Life | Valve | Sierra On-Line |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Metal Gear Solid | Konami | Konami |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Pokémon Red and Blue | Game Freak | Nintendo |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri | Firaxis Games | Electronic Arts |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | The Sims | Maxis | Electronic Arts |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings | Ensemble Studios | Microsoft Games |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Gran Turismo 2 | Polyphony Digital | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Nox | Westwood Studios | Westwood Studios, Electronic Arts |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Syphon Filter | Eidetic | 989 Studios |

### 2000s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 2000 (4th) | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2000 (4th) | Jet Grind Radio | Smilebit | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | Rayman 2: The Great Escape | Ubi Pictures | Ubisoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | Shenmue | Sega AM2 | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 | Neversoft | Activision | |
| 2001 (5th) | Grand Theft Auto III | DMA Design | Rockstar Games | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2001 (5th) | Dark Age of Camelot | Mythic Entertainment | Vivendi Universal Games | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2001 (5th) | Halo: Combat Evolved | Bungie | Microsoft Game Studios | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2001 (5th) | Ico | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2001 (5th) | Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2001 (5th) | Pikmin | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | [15][16] [17][18] |
| 2002 (6th) | Animal Crossing | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2002 (6th) | Battlefield 1942 | DICE | Electronic Arts | |
| 2002 (6th) | Metroid Prime | Retro Studios | Nintendo | |
| 2002 (6th) | Neverwinter Nights | BioWare | Infogrames | |
| 2002 (6th) | Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment | |
| 2003 (7th) | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2003 (7th) | Amplitude | Harmonix | Sony Computer Entertainment | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2003 (7th) | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | BioWare | LucasArts | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2003 (7th) | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2003 (7th) | Tony Hawk's Underground | Neversoft | Activision | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2004 (8th) | Katamari Damacy | Namco | Namco | |
| 2004 (8th) | City of Heroes | Cryptic Studios | NCSoft | |
| 2004 (8th) | Fable | Lionhead Studios | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2004 (8th) | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Rockstar North | Rockstar Games | |
| 2004 (8th) | Half-Life 2 | Valve | Vivendi Universal Games | |
| 2005 (9th) | Guitar Hero | Harmonix | RedOctane | |
| 2005 (9th) | God of War | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2005 (9th) | King Kong | Ubisoft Montpellier | Ubisoft | |
| 2005 (9th) | Nintendogs | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2005 (9th) | Psychonauts | Double Fine Productions | Majesco Entertainment | |
| 2006 (10th) | Wii Sports | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2006 (10th) | Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! | Nintendo SPD | Nintendo | |
| 2006 (10th) | Company of Heroes | Relic Entertainment | THQ | |
| 2006 (10th) | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Bethesda Game Studios | 2K Games | |
| 2006 (10th) | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2007 (11th) | Portal | Valve | Valve | |
| 2007 (11th) | BioShock | 2K Boston, 2K Australia | 2K Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Infinity Ward | Activision | |
| 2007 (11th) | Rock Band | Harmonix | MTV Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Super Mario Galaxy | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2008 (12th) | World of Goo | 2D Boy | 2D Boy, Nintendo | |
| 2008 (12th) | Fable II | Lionhead Studios | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2008 (12th) | Fallout 3 | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks | |
| 2008 (12th) | Gears of War 2 | Epic Games | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2008 (12th) | Left 4 Dead | Valve South | Valve | |
| 2009 (13th) | Outstanding Achievement in Game Design | Outstanding Achievement in Game Design | Outstanding Achievement in Game Design | |
| 2009 (13th) | Batman: Arkham Asylum | Rocksteady Studios | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Infinity Ward | Activision | |
| 2009 (13th) | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | AlphaDream | Nintendo | |
| 2009 (13th) | Plants vs. Zombies | PopCap Games | PopCap Games | |
| 2009 (13th) | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design | Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design | Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design | |
| 2009 (13th) | Scribblenauts | 5th Cell | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure | EA Tiburon | Electronic Arts | |
| 2009 (13th) | LittleBigPlanet | Cambridge Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | LocoRoco 2 | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Patapon 2 | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |

### 2010s

The Outstanding Achievement in Game Design category was not offered at the awards ceremonies from 2011 to 2014.
| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| 2014 (18th) | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Monolith Productions | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2014 (18th) | Dungeon of the Endless | Amplitude Studios | Amplitude Studios |
| 2014 (18th) | Far Cry 4 | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2014 (18th) | Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 2014 (18th) | Titanfall | Respawn Entertainment | Electronic Arts |
| 2015 (19th) | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | CD Projekt Red | CD Projekt |
| 2015 (19th) | Fallout 4 | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2015 (19th) | Her Story | Sam Barlow | Sam Barlow |
| 2015 (19th) | Lara Croft Go | Square Enix Montreal | Square Enix Europe |
| 2015 (19th) | Massive Chalice | Double Fine Productions | Double Fine Productions |
| 2016 (20th) | Overwatch | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 2016 (20th) | I Expect You to Die | Schell Games | Schell Games |
| 2016 (20th) | Inside | Playdead | Playdead |
| 2016 (20th) | Owlboy | D-Pad Studio | D-Pad Studio |
| 2016 (20th) | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2017 (21st) | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2017 (21st) | Gorogoa | Jason Roberts | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2017 (21st) | Horizon Zero Dawn | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2017 (21st) | PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds | PUBG Corporation | Bluehole |
| 2017 (21st) | Super Mario Odyssey | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2018 (22nd) | God of War | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (22nd) | Into the Breach | Subset Games | Subset Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Marvel's Spider-Man | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (22nd) | Return of the Obra Dinn | Lucas Pope | 3909 |
| 2018 (22nd) | Subnautica | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| 2019 (23rd) | Baba Is You | Hempuli | Hempuli |
| 2019 (23rd) | Disco Elysium | ZA/UM | ZA/UM |
| 2019 (23rd) | Outer Wilds | Mobius Digital | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2019 (23rd) | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | FromSoftware | Activision |
| 2019 (23rd) | Slay the Spire | MegaCrit | Humble Bundle |

### 2020s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| 2020 (24th) | Hades | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games |
| 2020 (24th) | Ghost of Tsushima | Sucker Punch Productions | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2020 (24th) | Half-Life: Alyx | Valve | Valve |
| 2020 (24th) | The Last of Us Part II | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2020 (24th) | Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2021 (25th) | It Takes Two | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts |
| 2021 (25th) | Deathloop | Arkane Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2021 (25th) | Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital |
| 2021 (25th) | Loop Hero | Four Quarters | Devolver Digital |
| 2021 (25th) | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2022 (26th) | Elden Ring | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2022 (26th) | God of War Ragnarök | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2022 (26th) | Marvel Snap | Second Dinner | Nuverse |
| 2022 (26th) | Tunic | Isometricorps Games | Finji |
| 2022 (26th) | Vampire Survivors | poncle | poncle |
| 2023 (27th) | Baldur's Gate 3 | Larian Studios | Larian Studios |
| 2023 (27th) | Cocoon | Geometric Interactive | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2023 (27th) | Dave the Diver | Mintrocket | Mintrocket |
| 2023 (27th) | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2023 (27th) | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2024 (28th) | Astro Bot | Team Asobi | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2024 (28th) | Animal Well | Shared Memory | Bigmode |
| 2024 (28th) | Balatro | LocalThunk | PlayStack |
| 2024 (28th) | Helldivers 2 | Arrowhead Game Studios | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2024 (28th) | UFO 50 | Mossmouth | Mossmouth |

## 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.
Developers :
| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
| Nintendo EAD/SPD/EPD | 14 | 5 |
| Valve | 4 | 1 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 3 | 1 |
| Harmonix | 3 | 1 |
| Santa Monica Studio | 3 | 1 |
| FromSoftware | 2 | 1 |
| DMA Design/Rockstar North | 2 | 1 |
| Ubisoft Montreal | 2 | 1 |
| Naughty Dog | 4 | 0 |
| Bethesda Game Studios | 3 | 0 |
| Japan Studio | 3 | 0 |
| Insomniac Games | 3 | 0 |
| BioWare | 2 | 0 |
| Double Fine Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Infinity Ward | 2 | 0 |
| Lionhead Studios | 2 | 0 |
| Neversoft | 2 | 0 |
| Ubi Pictures/Ubisoft Montpellier | 2 | 0 |
Publishers :
| Publisher | Nominations | Wins |
| Nintendo | 19 | 6 |
| Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment | 22 | 3 |
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 3 | 3 |
| Electronic Arts | 8 | 2 |
| Namco/Bandai Namco Entertainment | 2 | 2 |
| Ubisoft | 4 | 1 |
| Valve | 4 | 1 |
| Rockstar Games | 2 | 1 |
| Activision | 5 | 0 |
| Microsoft Game Studios | 5 | 0 |
| Annapurna Interactive | 3 | 0 |
| Bethesda Softworks | 3 | 0 |
| 2K Games | 2 | 0 |
| Devolver Digital | 2 | 0 |
| Sega | 2 | 0 |
| Vivendi Universal Games | 2 | 0 |

### Franchises

The Legend of Zelda franchise is the most nominated franchise in this category, and is the only franchise to have won more than once.
Franchises :
| Franchises | Nominations | Wins |
| The Legend of Zelda | 6 | 3 |
| God of War | 3 | 1 |
| Grand Theft Auto | 2 | 1 |
| Mario | 4 | 0 |
| Half-Life | 3 | 0 |
| Marvel | 3 | 0 |
| Call of Duty | 2 | 0 |
| Fable | 2 | 0 |
| Fallout | 2 | 0 |
| Marvel's Spider-Man | 2 | 0 |
| Tony Hawk's | 2 | 0 |
| Uncharted | 2 | 0 |
| Warcraft | 2 | 0 |