As any prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices a demand to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
