Each time a significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
