Each time a prominent awards ceremony draws close, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, 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.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Logic title developers function at the hard edge of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
