Each time a significant honors show approaches, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories successfully include many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored recently
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
