Whenever a major awards ceremony approaches, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would board games, which is someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications successfully include many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
