Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart sweeps 25th annual D.I.C.E. Awards

Josh Broadwell, Saturday, February 26th, 2022 12:10 am

The winners of the 25th annual D.I.C.E Awards are in, and while some of the victors might seem familiar to those who followed The Game Awards 2021, D.I.C.E.’s commemorations recognize a broader array of work in games befitting the organization’s focus on achievements that push the medium forward.

It Takes Two, winner of The Game Awards’ game of the year, won both Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design. Forza Horizon 5 and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy also mirrored their Game Awards achievements, winning D.I.C.E.’s awards for Best Racing Game and Best Narrative, respectively. Yet another similarity is Psychonauts 2 from Double Fine winning absolutely nothing.

That’s not to say D.I.C.E. ignored platformers, though. Insomniac’s Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart won four awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Technical Achievement, a feat made more significant considering Insomniac’s announcement that the game was completed without crunch.

  • Game of the Year—It Takes Two (Hazelight)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Game Design—It Takes Two (Hazelight)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction—Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
  • Action Game of the Year—Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
  • Online Game of the Year—Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
  • Fighting Game of the Year—Guilty Gear Strive (Arc System Works)
  • Racing Game of the Year—Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
  • Role-Playing Game of the Year—Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (Square Enix)
  • Sports Game of the Year—Mario Golf: Super Rush (Camelot/Nintendo)
  • Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year—Age of Empires IV (World’s Edge/Microsoft)
  • Family Game of the Year—Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
  • Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game—Unpacking (Witch Beam)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Animation—Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction—Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
  • Outstanding Technical Achievement—Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition—Returnal (Housemarque)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design—Returnal (Housemarque)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Story—Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Square Enix)
  • Adventure Game of the Year—Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Square Enix)
  • Immersive Reality Technical Achievement—Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn)
  • Immersive Reality Game of the Year—Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn)
  • Mobile Game of the Year—Pokémon Unite (TiMi Studio)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Character—Resident Evil Village – Lady Dimitrescu

While 2021’s slate of games left many wondering which efforts deserved recognition, it’s a question 2022 will likely avoid. Already, less than three months into the year, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Horizon Forbidden West, and Elden Ring have all released to critical acclaim and praise for how they push gameplay, visuals, and world design forward. All told, it’s shaping up to be another banner year for the video games medium.

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