Whenever a major prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category that year
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with popular creative games for the title of 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 that issue. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
