Each time a prominent awards ceremony draws close, one notices a demand for the addition fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
