As any major prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
