As any prominent honors show nears, there’s always an outcry to include additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
