Each time a significant honors show nears, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
