As any major honors show approaches, there’s always a demand to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
