As any significant prize-giving event nears, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and fill the hearts of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- Another creative title missed out that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Just some logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles globally and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
