As any major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything that year
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
