Whenever a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices a demand to include additional classifications to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely that year
- Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, however the design in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge game development, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
