The 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards was the 16th edition of the D.I.C.E. Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2012. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), and were held at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 7, 2013 (2013-02-07). It was also held as part of the Academy's 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit, and was hosted by stand-up comedian Chris Hardwick.^[1]

The award for "Web Based Game of the Year" was offered as a "Game of the Year" award. The "Social Networking Game of the Year" award would no longer be offered.^[2]^[3]

Journey received the most nominations and won the most awards, including "Game of the Year". Sony Computer Entertainment was the most nominated and award-winning publisher, with Thatgamecompany as the top developer.^[4] Microsoft Studios had the most nominated games and Electronic Arts had the most award-winning games.

Gabe Newell, founder of Valve Corporation and lead developer of the digital storefront Steam, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. Infocom co-founders Marc Blank and Dave Lebling both received the "Pioneer Award".^[5]

Winners and Nominees

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Game of the Year Awards

Game of the Year Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Borderlands 2 — Gearbox Software, 2K Games Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal The Walking Dead — Telltale Games XCOM: Enemy Unknown — Firaxis Games, 2K Games	Downloadable Game of the Year The Walking Dead — Telltale Games‡ Fez — Polytron Corporation, Microsoft Studios Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment Mark of the Ninja — Klei Entertainment, Microsoft Studios The Unfinished Swan — Giant Sparrow, SCE Santa Monica Studio
Handheld Game of the Year Paper Mario: Sticker Star — Intelligent Systems, Nintendo‡ Gravity Rush — SCE Japan Studio Resident Evil: Revelations — Capcom Sound Shapes — Queasy Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Uncharted: Golden Abyss — SCE Bend Studio	Mobile Game of the Year Hero Academy — Robot Entertainment‡ Fairway Solitaire — Big Fish Studios Horn — Phosphor Studios, Zynga Rayman Jungle Run — Ubisoft Montpellier, Pastagames
Web Based Game of the Year SimCity Social — Playfish, Electronic Arts‡ Bingo Bash — Bash Gaming Burrito Bison Revenge — Juicy Beast Studio, Adult Swim Games CityVille 2 — Zynga SongPop — FreshPlanet, Gameloft	Outstanding Innovation in Gaming Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Nintendo Land — Nintendo EAD Sound Shapes — Queasy Games, Sony Computer Entertainment The Unfinished Swan — Giant Sparrow, SCE Santa Monica Studio The Walking Dead — Telltale Games

Craft Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Dishonored — Arkane Studios, Bethesda Softworks Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal The Unfinished Swan — Giant Sparrow, SCE Santa Monica Studio The Walking Dead — Telltale Games
Outstanding Achievement in Animation Assassin's Creed III — Ubisoft Montreal‡ Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal Hitman: Absolution — IO Interactive, Square Enix Europe Mark of the Ninja — Klei Entertainment, Microsoft Studios Uncharted: Golden Abyss — SCE Bend Studio	Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Borderlands 2 — Gearbox Software, 2K Games Dishonored — Arkane Studios, Bethesda Softworks Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal Halo 4 — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios
Outstanding Character Performance - Male or Female Lee Everett *(The Walking Dead)* — Telltale Games‡ Tiny Tina (Borderlands 2) — Gearbox Software, 2K Games Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3) — Ubisoft Montreal Cortana (Halo 4) — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios Female Commander Shepard (Mass Effect 3) — BioWare, Electronic Arts	Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity Halo 4 — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios‡ Call of Duty: Black Ops II — Treyarch, Activision Nike+ Kinect Training — Sumo Digital, Microsoft Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering XCOM: Enemy Unknown — Firaxis Games, 2K Games‡ Dishonored — Arkane Studios, Bethesda Softworks Gravity Rush — SCE Japan Studio Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment The Walking Dead — Telltale Games	Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Borderlands 2 — Gearbox Software, 2K Games Call of Duty: Black Ops II — Treyarch, Activision Diablo III — Blizzard Entertainment Halo 4 — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Diablo III — Blizzard Entertainment Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal Mass Effect 3 — BioWare, Electronic Arts World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria — Blizzard Entertainment	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Assassin's Creed III — Ubisoft Montreal Diablo III — Blizzard Entertainment Medal of Honor: Warfighter — Danger Close Games, Electronic Arts Syndicate — Starbreeze Studios, Electronic Arts
Outstanding Achievement in Story The Walking Dead — Telltale Games‡ Dishonored — Arkane Studios, Bethesda Softworks Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment Sleeping Dogs — United Front Games, Square Enix Europe Spec Ops: The Line — Yager Development, 2K Games	Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering Halo 4 — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios‡ Call of Duty: Black Ops II — Treyarch, Activision Hitman: Absolution — IO Interactive, Square Enix Europe Need for Speed: Most Wanted — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai — Creative Assembly, Sega

Genre Awards

Action Game of the Year Borderlands 2 — Gearbox Software, 2K Games‡ Far Cry 3 — Ubisoft Montreal Halo 4 — 343 Industries, Microsoft Studios Hitman: Absolution — IO Interactive, Square Enix Europe Sleeping Dogs — United Front Games, Square Enix Europe	Adventure Game of the Year The Walking Dead — Telltale Games‡ Assassin's Creed III — Ubisoft Montreal Darksiders II — Vigil Games, THQ Dishonored — Arkane Studios, Bethesda Softworks New Super Mario Bros. U — Nintendo EAD
Casual Game of the Year Journey — Thatgamecompany, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Fairway Solitaire — Big Fish Studios Puzzle Craft — Ars Thanea, Electronic Arts Rayman Jungle Run — Ubisoft Montpellier, Pastagames Sound Shapes — Queasy Games, Sony Computer Entertainment	Family Game of the Year Skylanders: Giants — Toys for Bob, Activision‡ Dance Central 3 — Harmonix, Microsoft Studios Just Dance 4 — Ubisoft Milan/Paris/Reflections/Bucharest/Pune Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes — Traveller's Tales, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Nintendo Land — Nintendo EAD
Fighting Game of the Year PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale — SuperBot Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Persona 4 Arena — Arc System Works, Atlus Soulcalibur V — Project Soul, Namco Bandai Games Street Fighter X Tekken — Capcom Tekken Tag Tournament 2 — Namco Bandai Games	Racing Game of the Year Need for Speed: Most Wanted — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts‡ Forza Horizon — Playground Games, Microsoft Studios LittleBigPlanet Karting — United Front Games, SCE San Diego Studio MotorStorm: RC — Evolution Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment Trials Evolution — RedLynx, Microsoft Studios
Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year Mass Effect 3 — BioWare, Electronic Arts‡ Diablo III — Blizzard Entertainment Dust: An Elysian Tail — Humble Hearts, Microsoft Studios Guild Wars 2 — ArenaNet, NCSoft Torchlight II — Runic Games	Sports Game of the Year FIFA 13 — EA Canada‡ MLB 12: The Show — SCE San Diego NBA 2K13 — Visual Concepts, 2K Games
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year XCOM: Enemy Unknown — Firaxis Games, 2K Games‡ FTL: Faster Than Light — Subset Games Minecraft: 360 Edition — Mojang Studios, 4J Studios, Microsoft Studios Orcs Must Die! 2 — Robot Entertainment, Microsoft Studios Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai — Creative Assembly, Sega

Special Awards

Hall of Fame

Gabe Newell

Pioneer

Multiple nominations and awards

Multiple Nominations

Games that received multiple nominations
Nominations	Game
11	Journey
8	The Walking Dead
7	Far Cry 3
6	Halo 4
5	Borderlands 2
5	Dishonored
4	Diablo III
3	Assassin's Creed III
	Call of Duty: Black Ops II
	Hitman: Absolution
	Mass Effect 3
	Sound Shapes
	The Unfinished Swan
	XCOM: Enemy Unknown
2	Fairway Solitaire
	Gravity Rush
	Mark of the Ninja
	Need for Speed: Most Wanted
	Nintendo Land
	Rayman Jungle Run
	Sleeping Dogs
	Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai
	Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Nominations by company
Nominations	Games	Company
25	9	Sony Computer Entertainment
16	10	Microsoft Studios
13	4	Ubisoft
11	1	Thatgamecompany
10	7	Electronic Arts
10	4	2K Games
8	1	Telltale Games
6	1	343 Industries
5	2	Square Enix Europe
	1	Arkane Studios
		Bethesda Softworks
		Blizzard Entertainment
		Gearbox Software
4	3	Nintendo
4	2	Activision
3		Firaxis Games
		United Front Games
	1	BioWare
		Giant Sparrow
		IO Interactive
		Queasy Games
		Treyarch
2	2	Capcom
		Namco Bandai Games
		Robot Entertainment
		Zynga
	1	Big Fish Studios
		Creative Assembly
		Criterion Games
		Klei Entertainment
		Pastagames
		Sega

Multiple awards

Games that received multiple awards
Awards	Game
8	Journey
4	The Walking Dead
2	Halo 4
2	XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Awards by company
Awards	Games	Company
9	2	Sony Computer Entertainment
8	1	Thatgamecompany
4	4	Electronic Arts
4	1	Telltale Games
3	2	2K Games
2	1	Microsoft Studios
		343 Industries
		Firaxis Games

External links

References

^ "16th DICE Award Winners FINAL 2-7-13" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
^ "16th Annual DICE Awards Rules & Procedures" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^ "15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards Rules and Procedures" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 24, 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^ Bryant, Paul (2013-02-08). "Journey takes top honors including Game of the Year at 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards". Gaming Age. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ "Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Special Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^ "16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ "Journey Reaches the Top with Eight Awards, Including Game of the Year, at 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ Haley, Sebastian (February 7, 2013). "Journey dominates the 2013 D.I.C.E. Awards (full winner list)". VentureBeat. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
^ Arts, Electronic (2013-02-07). "EA Wins Four D.I.C.E. Awards". Electronic Arts Inc. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
^ Khan, Calvin (2013-02-08). "16th Annual D.I.C.E Awards Winners List". IGN Southeast Asia. Retrieved 2022-07-10.

v t e D.I.C.E. Awards
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Game of the Year Mobile Online Independent Game Immersive Reality (Technical Achievement)
Craft Awards	Game Direction Game Design Animation Art Direction Character Original Music Composition Audio Design Story Technical
Genre Awards	Action Adventure Family Fighting Racing Role-Playing Sports Strategy/Simulation
Ceremonies	1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Related	Cybermania '94

D.I.C.E. Awards' Game of the Year

GoldenEye 007 (1997/1998)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998/1999)
The Sims (1999/2000)
Diablo II (2000)
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
Battlefield 1942 (2002)
Call of Duty (2003)
Half-Life 2 (2004)
God of War (2005)
Gears of War (2006)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
LittleBigPlanet (2008)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Mass Effect 2 (2010)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Journey (2012)
The Last of Us (2013)
Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014)
Fallout 4 (2015)
Overwatch (2016)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
God of War (2018)
Untitled Goose Game (2019)
Hades (2020)
It Takes Two (2021)
Elden Ring (2022)
Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)