As any significant honors show nears, one notices a clamor to include fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and delight the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories successfully include numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely that year
- Another creative title missed out that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
