As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of followers with niche passions.
My colleague has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover 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 outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
