Whenever a significant prize-giving event draws close, one notices a demand to include of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
