Whenever a major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a clamor to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles claiming status as 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.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
