As any major prize-giving event nears, there’s always a clamor to include additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
