Each time a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices a demand for introducing of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover many game types, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
