Each time a significant awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier game development, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
