Whenever a major honors show draws close, one notices a clamor to include of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, 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, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
