As any major honors show draws close, there’s always a clamor for the addition fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely that year
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Just some puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
