The Last of Us leads DICE awards show with 13 nominations

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences today announced the nominees for the 17th annual D.I.C.E. Awards, with Naughty Dog's acclaimed PlayStation 3 game The Last of Us leading the way with 13 nominations, including a nod for overall Game of the Year.

Also up for Game of the Year is Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, BioShock Infinite, Grand Theft Auto V, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The Last of Us also led the pack for the 2014 Game Developers Choice Awards with five nominations.

"Floored and deeply honored that The Last of Us has been nominated for 13 awards this year. So exciting," Naughty Dog said on Twitter.

The D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony will be held Thursday, February 6 at the the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas as part of the 2014 D.I.C.E. Summit. A live-stream will be available beginning that night at 7:30 PDT.

In addition to handing out awards for individual games, the 17th annual D.I.C.E. Awards will honor Defender and Robotron: 2084 designer Eugene Jarvis as its Pioneer Award recipient. Titles nominated for awards this year were played and evaluated by members of the Academy's Peers Panel. The Academy's 22,000+ members will now vote to determine the final winners to be announced the evening of the show.

The full list of Awards categories and nominees is below.

Game of the Year

• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
• BioShock Infinite
• Grand Theft Auto 5
• The Last of Us
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Beyond: Two Souls
• BioShock Infinite
• Puppeteer
• rain
• Rayman Legends

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

• Battlefield 4
• BioShock Infinite
• God of War: Ascension
• Grand Theft Auto V
• The Last of Us

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Beyond: Two Souls
• BioShock Infinite
• The Last of Us
• The Novelist
• Tomb Raider

Outstanding Character Performance

• Grand Theft Auto V --Trevor
• Ryse -- Marius Titus
• The Last of Us -- Ellie
• The Last of Us -- Joel
• The Stanley Parable -- Narrator

Downloadable Game of the Year

• Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
• Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
• Gone Home
• Papers, Please
• The Stanley Parable

Casual Game of the Year

• Candy Box
• Peggle 2
• Plants vs. Zombies 2
• Rayman Fiesta Run
• Ridiculous Fishing - A Tale of Redemption

Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year

• Diablo III
• Dota 2
• Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
• Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
• Pokémon X and Y

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

• Grand Theft Auto V
• Papers, Please
• Tearaway
• The Last of Us
• The Stanley Parable

Sports Game of the Year

• FIFA 14
• Madden NFL 25
• MLB 13 The Show
• NBA 2K14
• NHL 14

Racing Game of the Year

• Forza Motorsport 5
• Gran Turismo 6
• Grid 2
• Need for Speed Rivals
• Real Racing 3

Fighting Game of the Year

• DiveKick
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
• Killer Instinct

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Europa Universalis 4
• Fire Emblem: Awakening
• Sid Meier's Civilization V: Brave New World
• StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
• XCOM: Enemy Within

Family Game of the Year

• Disney Infinity
• Lego Marvel Super Heroes
• Rayman Legends
• Skylanders Swap Force
• Super Mario 3D World

Mobile Game of the Year

• Fetch
• Flick Kick Football Legends
• Plants vs. Zombies 2
• Ridiculous Fishing - A Tale of Redemption
• The Wolf Among Us

Handheld Game of the Year

• Fire Emblem: Awakening
• Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
• Pokémon X and Y
• Tearaway
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Adventure Game of the Year

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Tearaway
• The Last of Us
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
• Tomb Raider

Online Game of the Year

• Battlefield 4
• Borderlands 2
• Diablo III
• The Last of Us
• World of Tanks

Action Game of the Year

• Battlefield 4
• BioShock Infinite
• Dead Rising 3
• DmC: Devil May Cry
• Resogun

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Beyond: Two Souls
• Puppeteer
• Rayman Legends
• The Last of Us

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• BioShock Infinite
• Puppeteer
• Rayman Legends
• Tearaway
• The Last of Us

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Battlefield 4
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Ryse
• The Last of Us

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Forza Motorsport 5
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Super Mario 3D World
• The Last of Us

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Papers, Please
• Tearaway
• The Last of Us