As any major prize-giving event draws close, you'll find an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
