Supergiant Games’ Arcade knockout Bastion has ranked alongside some of the most prolific AAA titles of the past year in the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 2011 awards.

The awards ceremony, which takes place during the 2012 D.I.C.E summit on February 9, champions all corners of the games industry with prizes for retail, downloadable and mobile games as well as individual categories for specific genres. Said Martin Rae, president of the AIAS:

“These games exemplify the highest standard of excellence and quality, from the breathtaking cinematics, to the bold storytelling and the innovative technology. Our industry has really outdone itself this year and continues to exceed expectations with its creativity and craftsmanship. Bravo!”

Indeed. But how did Xbox Live Arcade’s 2011 repertoire fare? Very well indeed. 2011 was a grand year for strategy games and Arcade titles notched a respectable three out of the five spots in the Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year bracket; Orcs Must Die!, Iron Brigade and Toy Soldiers: Cold War the nominees. Fruit Ninja Kinect earned a coveted spot in the Casual Game of the Year category while Bastion, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Ms. Splosion Man and Orcs Must Die! swept up the Downloadable Game of the Year nominations; a real testimony to the current strength and depth of XBLA.

But it was Bastion, which was met with much praise last summer, that came out on top with additional nominations in the Outstanding Achievement in Storytelling and Outstanding Achievement in Innovation brackets. Its rivals in that final field? Only the likes of Skyrim, L.A. Noire and Portal 2. Cor!

Supergiant, who are no stranger to being told they’re pretty good at what they do having racked up some 60 awards for Bastion thus far, announced earlier in the year that its game had ploughed through the 500K sales barrier. The studio has remained coy on the prospect of a sequel but did put out the Stranger’s Dream DLC pack toward the end of 2011. The expansion pack doesn’t tamper with Bastion’s narrative, but instead offers up a new Who Knows Where scenario and two additional campaign modes. At a measly 80 points it’s worth a look.

For the full list of nominations head here.