As any significant prize-giving event approaches, there’s always an outcry for introducing fresh award types to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
