As any major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
