Whenever a significant awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a demand for the addition of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely that year
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games globally and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
