Each time a prominent honors show approaches, you'll find a clamor for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.
