The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Story 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 individual or team whose work has furthered the interactive experience through the creation of a game world — whether an original creation, one adapted from existing material, or an extension of an existing property which best exemplifies the coalescence of setting, character, and plot". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as a game designer or producer are qualified to vote for this award. It was first offered at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, with its first winner being Pokémon Red and Blue.
The award's most recent winner is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive.
History The award was originally presented as Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development, recognizing "the individual or team whose work has furthered the interactive experience through the creation of a memorable character or a memorable story within an interactive title." This was renamed to Outstanding Achievement in Story and Character Development for the 2006 Awards, and then simplified to Outstanding Achievement in Story Development for the 2008 Awards. The award was separated into Outstanding Achievement in Original Story and the Outstanding Achievement in Adapted Story for the 2009 Awards; Original Story for the "creation of an original game world", and Adapted Story for "a game based on previously existing material" which "can be an adaptation or an extension of existing licensed property or brand". The two categories were eventually merged back into one category at the 2011 Awards. Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development (1999–2005) Outstanding Achievement in Story and Character Development (2006–2007) Outstanding Achievement in Story Development (2008) Outstanding Achievement in Original Story (2009–2010) Outstanding Achievement in Adapted Story (2009–2010) Outstanding Achievement in Story (2011–present)
Winners and nominees 1990s + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)1998/1999 (2nd) Pokémon Red and BlueGame FreakNintendoGrim FandangoLucasArtsLucasArtsHalf-LifeValveSierra On-LineKing's Quest: Mask of EternitySierra On-LineMetal Gear SolidKonamiKonamiSanitariumDreamForge IntertainmentASC GamesThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeNintendo EADNintendoThe X-Files GameHyperBole StudiosFox Interactive1999/2000 (3rd) Age of Empires II: The Age of KingsEnsemble StudiosMicrosoft GamesThief: The Dark ProjectLooking Glass StudiosEidos InteractiveNoxWestwood StudiosWestwood Studios, Electronic ArtsOmikron: The Nomad SoulQuantic DreamEidos InteractivePlanescape: TormentBlack Isle StudiosInterplay Entertainment
2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2000 (4th) Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of AmnBioWareInterplay EntertainmentFinal Fantasy IXSquareSoftSquare Electronic ArtsShenmueSega AM2SegaSkies of ArcadiaOverworks2001 (5th) IcoJapan StudioSony Computer EntertainmentBlack & WhiteLionhead StudiosElectronic ArtsConker's Bad Fur DayRareRareMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyKonamiKonamiMyst III: ExilePresto StudiosUbisoft2002 (6th) Eternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemSilicon KnightsNintendo Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityRockstar NorthRockstar GamesKingdom HeartsSquareSoftSquare Electronic ArtsSyberiaMicroidsThe Adventure CompanyThe Mark of KriSan Diego StudioSony Computer Entertainment2003 (7th) Star Wars: Knights of the Old RepublicBioWareLucasArtsBeyond Good & EvilUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftPrince of Persia: The Sands of TimeUbisoft MontrealRatchet & Clank: Going CommandoInsomniac GamesSony Computer EntertainmentThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerNintendo EADNintendo2004 (8th) FableLionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosForgotten Realms: Demon StoneStormfront StudiosAtari, Inc.Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasRockstar NorthRockstar GamesHalf-Life 2ValveVivendi Universal GamesPsi-Ops: The Mindgate ConspiracyMidway GamesMidway Games2005 (9th) Call of Duty 2: Big Red OneTreyarchActivisionBrothers in Arms: Earned in BloodGearbox SoftwareUbisoftGunNeversoftActivisionKing KongUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftSly 3: Honor Among ThievesSucker Punch ProductionsSony Computer Entertainment2006 (10th) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessNintendo EADNintendo24: The GameGuerrilla Cambridge2K GamesDreamfall: The Longest JourneyFuncomAspyrSaints RowVolitionTHQSam & Max Episode 1: Culture ShockTelltale GamesTelltale Games2007 (11th) BioShock2K Boston, 2K Australia2K GamesDrawn to Life5th CellTHQMass EffectBioWareMicrosoft Game StudiosThe DarknessStarbreeze Studios2K GamesUncharted: Drake's FortuneNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2008 (12th) Outstanding Achievement in Original StoryFallout 3Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksBrothers in Arms: Hell's HighwayGearbox SoftwareUbisoftFable IILionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game StudiosGrand Theft Auto IVRockstar NorthRockstar GamesProfessor Layton and the Curious VillageLevel-5Nintendo Outstanding Achievement in Adapted StoryStar Wars: The Force UnleashedLucasArtsLucasArtsLego Batman: The VideogameTraveller's TalesWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentMortal Kombat vs. DC UniverseMidway GamesMidway GamesNaruto: The Broken BondUbisoft MontrealUbisoft007: Quantum of SolaceTreyarchActivision2009 (13th) Outstanding Achievement in Original StoryUncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBrütal LegendDouble Fine ProductionsElectronic ArtsProfessor Layton and the Diabolical BoxLevel-5NintendoRatchet & Clank Future: A Crack in TimeInsomniac GamesSony Computer Entertainment Outstanding Achievement in Adapted StoryBatman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentGhostbusters: The Video GameTerminal RealityAtari, Inc.Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2Vicarious VisionsActivision
2010s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2010 (14th) Mass Effect 2BioWareElectronic ArtsAlan WakeRemedy EntertainmentMicrosoft Game StudiosEnslaved: Odyssey to the WestNinja TheoryNamco Bandai GamesHeavy RainQuantic DreamSony Computer EntertainmentMetro 20334A GamesTHQ2011 (15th) The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksBastionSupergiant GamesWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentL.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar GamesPortal 2ValveValveUncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2012 (16th) The Walking DeadTelltale GamesTelltale GamesDishonoredArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksJourneyThatgamecompanySony Computer EntertainmentSleeping DogsUnited Front GamesSquare EnixSpec Ops: The LineYager Development2K Games2013 (17th) The Last of UsNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentBeyond: Two SoulsQuantic DreamSony Computer EntertainmentBioShock InfiniteIrrational Games2K GamesThe NovelistOrthogonal GamesOrthogonal GamesTomb RaiderCrystal DynamicsSquare Enix Europe2014 (18th) Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentSouth Park: The Stick of TruthObsidian Entertainment, South Park Digital StudiosUbisoftThe Wolf Among UsTelltale GamesTelltale GamesThis War of Mine11 Bit Studios11 Bit StudiosValiant Hearts: The Great WarUbisoft MontpellierUbisoft2015 (19th) The Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt RedCD ProjektFallout 4Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda SoftworksHer StorySam BarlowSam BarlowRise of the Tomb RaiderCrystal DynamicsSquare Enix EuropeTales from the BorderlandsTelltale GamesTelltale Games2016 (20th) Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentFirewatchCampo SantoCampo SantoInsidePlaydeadPlaydeadOxenfreeNight School StudioNight School StudioThat Dragon, CancerNuminous GamesNuminous Games2017 (21st) Horizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentHellblade: Senua's SacrificeNinja TheoryNinja TheoryNight in the WoodsInfinite Fall, Secret LabFinjiWhat Remains of Edith FinchGiant SparrowAnnapurna InteractiveWolfenstein II: The New ColossusMachineGamesBethesda Softworks2018 (22nd) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentAssassin's Creed OdysseyUbisoft QuebecUbisoftFlorenceMountainsAnnapurna InteractiveMarvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentReturn of the Obra DinnLucas Pope39092019 (23rd) Disco ElysiumZA/UMZA/UMControlRemedy Entertainment505 GamesOuter WildsMobius DigitalAnnapurna InteractiveTelling LiesSam Barlow, Furious BeeThe Outer WorldsObsidian EntertainmentPrivate Division
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) The Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment13 Sentinels: Aegis RimVanillawareSegaGhost of TsushimaSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentHadesSupergiant GamesSupergiant GamesKentucky Route ZeroCardboard ComputerAnnapurna Interactive2021 (25th) Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyEidos-MontréalSquare Enix EuropeBefore Your EyesGoodbyeWorld GamesSkybound GamesInscryptionDaniel Mullins GamesDevolver DigitalPsychonauts 2Double Fine ProductionsXbox Game StudiosThe Forgotten CityModern StorytellerDear Villagers2022 (26th) God of War RagnarökSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentElden RingFromSoftwareBandai Namco EntertainmentI Was a Teenage ExocolonistNorthway GamesFinjiImmortalityHalf Mermaid ProductionsHalf Mermaid ProductionsNorcoGeography of RobotsRaw Fury2023 (27th) Baldur's Gate 3Larian StudiosLarian StudiosAlan Wake 2Remedy EntertainmentEpic GamesDave the DiverMintrocketMintrocketThirsty SuitorsOuterloop GamesAnnapurna InteractiveVenbaVisai GamesVisai Games2024 (28th) Indiana Jones and the Great CircleMachineGamesBethesda Softworks1000xResistSunset VisitorFellow Traveller GamesMetaphor: ReFantazioStudio ZeroAtlusStill Wakes the DeepThe Chinese RoomSecret ModeThank Goodness You're Here!Coal SupperPanic Inc.2025 (29th) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Sandfall InteractiveKepler InteractiveConsume Me Hexecutable LLC Hexecutable LLCDespelote Julián Cordero, Sebastián Valbuena Panic Inc.South of Midnight Compulsion Games Xbox Game StudiosThe Drifter Powerhoof Powerhoof
Multiple nominations and wins Developers and publishers Sony has published the most nominees and winners, with its first-party developer Naughty Dog having developed the most nominees and winners. Sony is also the only publisher to have published back-to-back winners. The only other developers to have developed more than one winner are BioWare, Bethesda Game Studios, and Sony's Santa Monica Studio. Ubisoft has published the most nominees without a single winner.
+ Developer Nominations WinsNaughty Dog 6 4BioWare 4 3Bethesda Game Studios 3 2Santa Monica Studio 2 2Telltale Games 4 1Lionhead Studios 3 1Nintendo EAD 3 12K Boston/Irrational Games 2 1LucasArts 2 1MachineGames 2 1Treyarch 2 1Insomniac Games 3 0Quantic Dream 3 0Remedy Entertainment 3 0Rockstar North 3 0Ubisoft Montpellier 3 0Ubisoft Montreal 3 0Valve 3 0Double Fine Productions 2 0Gearbox Software 2 0Konami 2 0Level-5 2 0Midway Games 2 0Ninja Theory 2 0Obsidian Entertainment 2 0Sam Barlow 2 0SquareSoft 2 0Sucker Punch Productions 2 0Supergiant Games 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsSony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 19 8Nintendo 7 3Bethesda Softworks 6 3Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 7 2Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 4 2LucasArts 3 2Electronic Arts 6 12K Games 5 1Eidos Interactive/Square Enix Europe 5 1Activision 4 1Telltale Games 4 1Interplay Productions 2 1Ubisoft 11 0Annapurna Interactive 6 0Rockstar Games 4 0Sega 3 0THQ 3 0Atari 2 0Bandai Namco Entertainment 2 0Finji 2 0Konami 2 0Midway Games 2 0Panic Inc. 2 0Sierra On-Line 2 0SquareSoft 2 0Valve 2 0
Franchises Uncharted is the most nominated franchise, and is one of five franchises to have won more than once; the other four being Baldur's Gate, God of War, The Last of Us, and Star Wars. Grand Theft Auto is the most nominated franchise that has never won.