Whenever a significant honors show nears, there’s always a demand for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category that year
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals 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
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
