Each time a prominent honors show draws close, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to recognize unsung work and satisfy the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
