Whenever a prominent honors show draws close, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and fill the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories successfully include many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Only a few brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge game development, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
