Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize unsung work and delight the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Just some puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
