Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
