Whenever a prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category that year
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.
