Each time a major honors show draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
