As any major awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide continuing this trend for many years.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, 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 every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
