Each time a major awards ceremony approaches, you'll find a clamor for the addition of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of fans with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent above others. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories actually cover many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything that year
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
