As any prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category that year
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
