Whenever a prominent awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category that year
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
