Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, one notices a demand for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences globally and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. It would be easy to populate a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
