As any significant honors show draws close, you'll find an outcry to include additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and delight the hearts of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial above others. 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 spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
