As any prominent honors show draws close, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, 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, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
