As any significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
