Each time a significant honors show approaches, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories actually cover many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees 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 in important events. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
