Whenever a major honors show draws close, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, developing some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
