As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
