As any major prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a clamor for the addition additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
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
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category that year
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
