Whenever a prominent awards ceremony draws close, one notices an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored in 2021
- Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
