Each time a prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices an outcry for introducing of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types successfully include many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
