As any prominent prize-giving event nears, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. So would tabletop games, representing someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
