D.I.C.E. Award for Fighting Game of the Year


The D.I.C.E. Award for Fighting Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award recognizes "titles that offer the use the virtual experience of controlling a character engaging in individual combat with another character usually from a fixed camera perspective. The opponent can either be controlled by another player or by the game". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category. It was originally titled Console Fighting Game of the Year, before it was simplified to just Fighting Game of the Year. It is one of two categories, the other being Online Game of the Year, that is not limited to release within the calendar year but must be supported by significant new content.
The award's most recent winner is Tekken 8, developed and published by Bandai Namco.

Winners and nominees

1990s

YearGameDeveloperPublisher
1997/1998
(1st)		WCW vs. nWo: World TourAsmik Ace EntertainmentTHQ
1997/1998
(1st)		Bloody RoarHudson SoftSony Computer Entertainment
1997/1998
(1st)		Bushido BladeLightweightSony Computer Entertainment
1997/1998
(1st)		Street Fighter EX Plus αArikaCapcom
1997/1998
(1st)		WCW NitroInland ProductionsTHQ
1998/1999
(2nd)		WCW/nWo RevengeAKI CorporationTHQ
1998/1999
(2nd)		Bushido Blade 2LightweightSquare Electronic Arts
1998/1999
(2nd)		WWF War ZoneIguana WestAcclaim Entertainment
1999/2000
(3rd)		SoulcaliburNamcoNamco
1999/2000
(3rd)		Ready 2 Rumble BoxingMidway Studios San DiegoMidway Games
1999/2000
(3rd)		Super Smash Bros.HAL LaboratoryNintendo
1999/2000
(3rd)		WWF WrestleMania 2000AKI CorporationTHQ

Multiple nominations and wins

Developers and publishers

The combined nominations of Namco and Bandai Namco makes them the most nominated and award-winning developer. As a publisher, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Warner Bros. Games has won the most awards.
There have been numerous developer/publishers with back-to-back wins:
THQ is the only publisher with back-to-back wins with different developers:
DeveloperNominationsWins
Namco/Bandai Namco177
NetherRealm Studios86
Capcom114
Dimps93
Sora Ltd.33
Team Ninja42
Arc System Works91
Midway Games61
AKI Corporation51
EA Chicago21
Yuke's60
EA Canada50
SNK40
Iron Galaxy30
Eighting20
Fair Play Labs20
HAL Laboratory20
Messhof20
Sega AM220

PublisherNominationsWins
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Warner Bros. Games97
Namco/Bandai Namco185
Capcom134
Nintendo83
THQ112
Tecmo/Koei Tecmo42
Electronic Arts101
Midway Games51
Sony Computer Entertainment41
Acclaim Entertainment21
Arc System Works21
Aksys Games40
Atari30
Atlus20
Cygames20
GameMill Entertainment20
Messhof20
Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios20
Riot Games20
Sega20
SNK20

Franchises

The most nominated franchises are Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken. The Mortal Kombat franchise has won the most awards, with Street Fighter having the second-most wins. The WWE has garnered the most nominations without a win.
There have been numerous franchises with back-to-back wins:
Street Fighter IV and Mortal Kombat 11 are two games with multiple wins with re-releases. Virtua Fighter 4, Tekken 5, Killer Instinct, Guilty Gear Xrd, and Mortal Kombat 1 have had multiple nominations with re-releases and DLC expansions.
FranchiseNominationsWins
Mortal Kombat115
Street Fighter94
Soulcalibur63
Super Smash Bros.53
Tekken92
Dead or Alive42
WCW/nWo32
Injustice22
Fight Night41
Guilty Gear31
WWF/WWE80
Ultimate Fighting Championship50
Dragon Ball40
BlazBlue20
Bushido Blade20
Def Jam20
Granblue Fantasy20
Killer Instinct20
Marvel vs. Capcom20
Nickelodeon Brawl20
Nidhogg20
Ready 2 Rumble20
The King of Fighters20
Virtua Fighter20