The D.I.C.E. Award for Racing Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This recognizes "titles that allow the user to participate in a contest in which the objective is to convey an object through a course of virtual physical progress as quickly as possible. Racing games may involve competition against other user-controlled competitors or against system controlled competitors. Racing games must simulate vehicular motion". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category. It was originally presented as Console Racing Game of the Year, with its first winner being Diddy Kong Racing, developed and published by Rare.
The award's most recent winner is Mario Kart World, developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo.
Winners and nominees 1990s + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)1997/1998 (1st) Diddy Kong RacingRareRareMario Kart 64Nintendo EADNintendoMoto RacerDelphine Software InternationalElectronic ArtsNASCAR 98Stormfront Studios1998/1999 (2nd) Gran TurismoPolyphony DigitalSony Computer EntertainmentExtreme-G 2Probe EntertainmentAcclaim EntertainmentF-Zero XNintendo EADNintendoNeed for Speed III: Hot PursuitEA Canada, EA SeattleElectronic Arts1999/2000 (3rd) Star Wars: Episode I RacerLucasArtsLucasArtsCrash Team RacingNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentDriverReflections InteractiveGT InteractiveGran Turismo 2Polyphony DigitalSony Computer Entertainment
2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2000 (4th) SSXEA CanadaElectronic ArtsF355 ChallengeSega AM2SegaRidge Racer VNamcoNamcoSan Francisco Rush 2049Midway GamesMidway Games2001 (5th) Gran Turismo 3: A-SpecPolyphony DigitalSony Computer EntertainmentNASCAR Thunder 2002EA TiburonElectronic ArtsProject Gotham RacingBizarre CreationsMicrosoft Game StudiosSplashdownRainbow StudiosInfogrames2002 (6th) Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2EA Black BoxElectronic Arts ATV Offroad Fury 2Rainbow StudiosSony Computer EntertainmentMotoGP: Ultimate Racing TechnologyClimax BrightonTHQNASCAR Thunder 2003EA TiburonElectronic ArtsRalliSport ChallengeDICEMicrosoft Game Studios2003 (7th) Need for Speed: UndergroundEA Black BoxElectronic ArtsBurnout 2: Point of ImpactCriterion GamesAcclaim EntertainmentF-Zero GXAmusement VisionNintendoMario Kart: Double DashNintendo EADProject Gotham Racing 2Bizarre CreationsMicrosoft Game Studios2004 (8th) Burnout 3: TakedownCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsRalliSport Challenge 2DICEMicrosoft Game Studios2005 (9th) Need for Speed: Most WantedEA Canada, EA Black BoxElectronic ArtsBurnout RevengeCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsForza MotorsportTurn 10 StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosMario Kart DSNintendo EADNintendoProject Gotham Racing 3Bizarre CreationsMicrosoft Game Studios2006 (10th) Burnout RevengeCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsExcite TruckMonster GamesNintendoFull Auto 2: BattlelinesPseudo InteractiveSegaNeed for Speed: CarbonEA Canada, EA Black BoxElectronic ArtsTest Drive UnlimitedEden GamesAtari2007 (11th) MotorStormEvolution StudiosSony Computer EntertainmentColin McRae: DirtCodemastersCodemastersForza Motorsport 2Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosNeed for Speed: ProStreetEA Black BoxElectronic ArtsProject Gotham Racing 4Bizarre CreationsMicrosoft Game Studios2008 (12th) Burnout ParadiseCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsRace Driver: GridCodemastersCodemastersMario Kart WiiNintendo EADNintendoMotorStorm: Pacific RiftEvolution StudiosSony Computer EntertainmentPureBlack Rock StudioDisney Interactive Studios2009 (13th) Forza Motorsport 3Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosColin McRae: Dirt 2CodemastersCodemastersNeed for Speed: ShiftSlightly Mad StudiosElectronic Arts
2010s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2010 (14th) Need for Speed: Hot PursuitCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsGran Turismo 5Polyphony DigitalSony Computer EntertainmentModNation RacersUnited Front Games, San Diego StudioSplit/SecondBlack Rock StudioDisney Interactive Studios2011 (15th) Forza Motorsport 4Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosMario Kart 7Nintendo EADNintendoReal Racing 2 HDFiremintElectronic Arts2012 (16th) Need for Speed: Most WantedCriterion GamesElectronic ArtsForza HorizonPlayground GamesMicrosoft StudiosLittleBigPlanet KartingUnited Front Games, San Diego StudioSony Computer EntertainmentMotorStorm: RCEvolution StudiosTrials EvolutionRedLynxMicrosoft Studios2013 (17th) Forza Motorsport 5Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft StudiosGran Turismo 6Polyphony DigitalSony Computer EntertainmentGrid 2CodemastersCodemastersNeed for Speed RivalsGhost GamesElectronic ArtsReal Racing 3Firemonkeys Studios2014 (18th) Mario Kart 8Nintendo EADNintendoThe CrewIvory TowerUbisoftForza Horizon 2Playground GamesMicrosoft Studios2015 (19th) Forza Motorsport 6Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft StudiosNeed for SpeedGhost GamesElectronic ArtsProject CARSSlightly Mad StudiosBandai Namco Entertainment2016 (20th) Forza Horizon 3Playground GamesMicrosoft StudiosDriveclub VREvolution StudiosSony Interactive Entertainment2017 (21st) Mario Kart 8 DeluxeNintendo EPDNintendoDirt 4CodemastersCodemastersForza Motorsport 7Turn 10 StudiosMicrosoft StudiosGran Turismo SportPolyphony DigitalSony Interactive EntertainmentProject CARS 2Slightly Mad StudiosBandai Namco Entertainment2018 (22nd) Forza Horizon 4Playground GamesMicrosoft StudiosF1 2018CodemastersCodemastersWreckfestBugbear EntertainmentTHQ Nordic2019 (23rd) Mario Kart TourDeNA, Nintendo EPDNintendoCrash Team Racing Nitro-FueledBeenoxActivisionDirt Rally 2.0CodemastersCodemastersF1 2019Trials RisingRedLynx, Ubisoft KyivUbisoft
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) Mario Kart Live: Home CircuitValen StudiosNintendoDirt 5CodemastersCodemastersF1 20202021 (25th) Forza Horizon 5Playground GamesXbox Game StudiosF1 2021CodemastersElectronic ArtsHot Wheels UnleashedMilestoneMilestone2022 (26th) Gran Turismo 7Polyphony DigitalSony Interactive EntertainmentF1 22CodemastersElectronic ArtsNeed for Speed UnboundCriterion Games2023 (27th) Forza MotorsportTurn 10 StudiosXbox Game StudiosF-Zero 99Nintendo Software TechnologyNintendoHot Wheels Unleashed 2: TurbochargedMilestoneMilestoneLego 2K DriveVisual Concepts2K2024 (28th) F1 24CodemastersElectronic ArtsMotoGP 24MilestoneMilestoneNight-Runners ProloguePlanet JemPlanet Jem2025 (29th) Mario Kart WorldNintendo EPDNintendoF1 25 Codemasters Electronic ArtsKirby Air Riders Sora Ltd. NintendoWheel World Messhof Annapurna Interactive
Multiple nominations and wins Developers and publishers Criterion Games and Turn 10 Studios have developed the most racing game award winners, with Codemasters receiving the most nominations as a developer. Bizarre Creations and Evolution Studios both received the most nominations without a win as developers. Electronic Arts has published the most finalists and the most winners. Electronic Arts has also published five consecutive award winners from 2003 to 2007. EA Black Box is the only developer with back-to-back wins for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 in 2003 and Need for Speed: Underground in 2004. Nintendo and Microsoft Studios also have back-to-back wins as publishers: Microsoft Studios won with Forza Motorsport 6 in 2016 and Forza Horizon 3 in 2017, and Nintendo won with Mario Kart Tour in 2020 and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit in 2021.
+ Developer Nominations WinsCriterion Games 8 5Turn 10 Studios 8 5Nintendo EAD/EPD 10 4Polyphony Digital/Polys Entertainment 7 3EA Black Box 5 3Playground Games 5 3EA Canada 4 2Codemasters 14 1Bizarre Creations 4 0Evolution Studios 4 0Milestone 3 0Slightly Mad Studios 3 0Black Rock Studio 2 0DICE 2 0EA Tiburon 2 0Ghost Games 2 0Rainbow Studios 2 0RedLynx 2 0San Diego Studio 2 0United Front Games 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsElectronic Arts 27 10Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 20 8Nintendo 15 5Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 15 4Codemasters 10 0Milestone 3 0Namco/Bandai Namco Entertainment 3 0Acclaim Entertainment 2 0Disney Interactive Studios 2 0Sega 2 0THQ/THQ Nordic 2 0Ubisoft 2 0
Franchises The three most nominated and award-winning franchises, Forza, Need for Speed, and Mario Kart, all have back-to-back wins for Racing Game of the Year: Need for Speed: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (2003) and Need for Speed: Underground (2004). Forza: Forza Motorsport 6 (2016) and Forza Horizon 3 (2017). Mario Kart: Mario Kart Tour (2020) and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2021). Mario Kart 8 and Burnout Revenge are the only games that have been nominated twice; both the Wii U original and the Switch Deluxe versions of Mario Kart 8 have won the awards, while Burnout Revenge has won on its second nomination for the Xbox 360 version. The Dirt franchise has the most nominations without a win. + Franchise Nominations WinsForza 13 8Need for Speed 12 5Mario Kart 10 5Gran Turismo 7 3Burnout 5 3F1 7 1MotorStorm 3 1Dirt 5 0Project Gotham Racing 4 0F-Zero 3 0NASCAR 3 0Crash Team Racing 2 0Grid 2 0Hot Wheels 2 0MotoGP 2 0Project CARS 2 0RalliSport Challenge 2 0Real Racing 2 0Trials 2 0
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