Whenever a significant awards ceremony nears, one notices a clamor to include fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
