Each time a prominent awards ceremony approaches, you'll find an outcry for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and satisfy the hearts of followers with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories actually cover many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything that year
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
