As any major honors show approaches, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.
