As any major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing fresh award types to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
