Whenever a major awards ceremony approaches, you'll find a clamor for the addition of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the spirits of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an essential concession in the world of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
