Whenever a major prize-giving event nears, there’s always an outcry for introducing fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles in the world and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge of video game design, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
