As any major prize-giving event draws close, you'll find a clamor for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier game development, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
