Each time a significant awards ceremony nears, you'll find a demand for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
