Whenever a prominent prize-giving event draws close, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Only a few logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences worldwide continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary of video game design, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
