Each time a major awards ceremony nears, one notices an outcry for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored in 2021
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — 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. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
